Article Summary
A UPM final-year student, Muhamad Iman Syafuan Mohamad Santosa, has developed a real-time robotic navigation system to address labour shortages in agriculture. The system operates without relying on AI processing, offering a practical alternative for farm automation. Lacking robotics experience, he learned circuit reading and soldering in the process. The project showcases the potential of UPM student-led research to drive technological transformation in the country's agricultural sector through robotics and automation.

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By: Zarith Sofea Ibrahim
Photo by: Noor Azreen Awang

 

SERDANG, 7 August – The increasingly critical shortage of labour in the agricultural sector has prompted a final-year student at Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) to develop a real-time robotic navigation system with the potential to support farm automation.

 

Muhamad Iman Syafuan Mohamad Santosa, a Bachelor of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering with Honours student, said the research idea stemmed from the needs of the country’s agricultural industry for technological solutions to reduce reliance on human labour.

 

He said the research could be further developed as an alternative to improve the efficiency of agricultural operations.

 

“The most interesting outcome of this research is that we have successfully developed a real-time robotic navigation technique without relying on Artificial Intelligence (AI) processing,” he said.

 

Muhamad Iman said that the approach enables robots to move and navigate directly without requiring complex AI processes, creating opportunities for the development of more practical robotic systems for agricultural applications.

 

He said the project could serve as a foundation for future research in agricultural robotics at UPM, particularly in the development of mobile robot navigation systems for farm environments.

 

“In the future, this research can be expanded to a larger scale to support the development of smart agricultural technologies,” said Muhamad Iman.

 

Among the main challenges he faced in completing the project was his limited background in robotics, which required him to learn the technology from the ground up.

 

 

“I had to explore different ideas to design a stable control system to ensure that the robot could operate in real time. At the same time, I faced time constraints as I had to balance a demanding academic schedule with part-time work to support myself,” he said.

 

Nevertheless, the experience strengthened his problem-solving skills and critical thinking abilities in preparation for entering the workforce.

 

He also gained practical skills throughout the research, including reading circuit schematics and carrying out soldering work.

 

The research demonstrates the potential of UPM student-led research to develop technological solutions that can support the transformation of the country’s agricultural sector through robotics and automation.

Date of Input: 07/08/2026 | Updated: 04/09/2026 | zarithsofea