Nurturing ‘robotics’ skills in Malaysia
Robotics is an interdisciplinary field made up of multiple fields of study: computer science, mechanical and industrial engineering, and electrical and computer engineering. Advanced computer science such as machine learning programmes and complex artificial intelligence (AI) are usually part of a robot’s control system.
Talent in the robotics field also requires skills such as creative thinking, programming and the ability to work in teams and solve complex problems.
“The field of robotics is always innovating. There is always something new to learn. It could be a new AI concept to test or new programming language to pick up,” says Yong Chong Soon, CEO of UURobot Asia Sdn Bhd and President of MyAIRA.
UURobot Asia, a joint venture between a local entity and Bejing Canbot Technology Co, Ltd/ShenZhen JustGood Technology Co, Ltd
(CANBOT), is looking to establish an Asean regional hub for CANBOT service robots in Greater KL.
CANBOT is among the top robot service manufacturers in China. While the hardware is developed in China, UURobot develops the software that powers these robots for clients in the region.
“UURobot provides robotic solutions to local industries by enhancing the capacity of CANBOT’s robot. This is done by building the software that tells the robot what to do. The result is a robot that can be used by companies regionally and a technologically advanced product that Malaysia can be proud of,” says Yong.
He agrees that the future of robotics looks bright if the right steps are taken to continuously nurture and support the ecosystem as it matures into a thriving and vibrant community.
“The local robotics industry should be able to solve industry pain points and compete regionally as developers of technology. Talent is central to this ecosystem. They must be inquisitive and eager to explore things that have never been done before. Development of local talent with the various tech and soft skills for this industry should be a top priority among all stakeholders in Malaysia’s digital economy,” he says.
UURobot Asia and ABB collaborate with local universities to secure talent pipeline for their companies.
On the job, they provide hands-on learning to their university interns, a necessity for young talent to gain a comprehensive understanding of real-world robotic skills. Interns also benefit from being a part of the innovation process and the development of new solutions.
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