Over recent years, numerous science and technology contests have been organised in Da Nang, having captured much attention from a large number of university and junior college students across the city.

A group of students from the Da Nang University of Science and Technology introducing a solar panel cleaning robot to some experts

The contests have provided the good opportunities for students to turn their theory they learn in their schools into prototypes for technological solutions to real-world problems.

Recently-mentioned is the ‘IoT-AI Hackathon 2019’ contest for students from universities and junior colleges in the central and Central Highlands regions in September.

Organised by the Faculty of Information Technology of the Da Nang University of Science and Technology, the contest aimed at encouraging the spirit of creation amongst students in terms of artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT), and facilitating constestants to access funds for their creations.

Accordingly, a group of students from the University won the first prize for their project on a multifunctional robot for cleaning solar panels. The winning group members were Vo Hoang Nguyen Phuong, Ho Van Cuong, Luu Thi Ngoc Lan, Nguyen Tien Dat and Nguyen Dac Quy.

Nguyen Phuong said he and his teammates came up with the idea to create a solar panel cleaning robot after their field trips to solar power plants in Ninh Thuan Province.

Phuong said the country is now home to about 100 solar power plants, and each of the plants has between 150,000 to 300,000 solar panels. He emphasised the importance of cleaning solar panels every 3 months in order to get the most efficiency out of solar panels and extend their life. It takes one month to clean all solar panels at each of these plants and requires 20 cleaners. The total service cost is approximately 150 million VND.  

He remarked that these plants will save manpower and money for the cleaning service with his group’s creation. In addition, these plants will enjoy great benefits from using their creation in providing early warning of battery problems to help them reduce their costs for handling the problems.

Apart from organising science and technology contests, university and junior colleges citywide have facilitated their students to bring their scientific research to fruition.

Specifically mentioned is the ‘BIO-MS bio-product and BIO-MS1 microbial organic fertiliser, both created from quail droppings’ project by a group of students from the Da Nang University of Education. The talented students are Phan Phuoc Thanh Thuan, Nguyen Chau Giang, and Tran Thi Diem Quynh.

Most recently, the project’s developers have been invited to participate in an incubation programme launched by the Da Nang Entrepreneurship Support Company Ldt (DNES).

Since 2017, the municipal Department of Science and Technology and the city-based Youth Union have launched scientific research contests for university students across the city.

The intention of the annual event is to seek creative solutions, and promote the spirit of scientific research and technological applications amongst students from universities, junior colleges and intermediate schools in the city. In addition, the contest helps to bring their scientific research to fruition, and connect their ideas to business incubators and investors.

By PHONG LAN - Translated by MAI DUNG