The first spark of interest in Robotics

Suriya: My love for robotics started with movies. I, Robot and Iron Man had a huge impact on me as I was growing up. It led me to pursue Mechatronics in Temasek Poly, where there are many fields for me to pursue.

Wen Hui: I was in the Infocomm and Robotics club in school, which built my passion for robotics, but my passion for creating really came about when I coded my first website.

Valerie: Iron Man was definitely an inspiration, but my love for robotics truly blossomed in Poly, where I created a Telepresence robot for my FYP. I get so much satisfaction seeing the final product materializing, and it made me want to be part of the growing robotics industry.

The RAUS family

Suriya: I feel that the RAUS team is bonded like a family. They are always so open, never failing to invite me for lunch. It’s really easy to fit in with them, and we all learn new things about robotics from each other.

Wen Hui: This is my first formal internship, and RAUS has really set the bar high. It is really inclusive and friendly, and everyone is so open in sharing their expertise. The different domains interact, provide advice to each other, guide newer staff, and are very supportive.

Valerie: I really love the culture at RAUS. Everyone was so friendly to me, and they even made the effort to come over to my desk to talk to me. In University, I sometimes feel lonely as there aren’t many females who share the same passion for robotics as I do, but I feel so at home with the women at RAUS. They can understand me better!

The RAUS CoE Team (Photo Credit: Valerie)

Their Project

Suriya: Remote-controlled mobile platform with a live video feed

Wen Hui: Universal Robot Gripper with force sensitivity

Valerie: Precise robotic arm with computer vision

Valuable guidance from Mentors

Suriya: Dr Daniel was a really good mentor. Apart from my project, he guided me to look beyond what I was doing in HTX, gave me a lot of advice on choosing my university, and even helped me with my application for the Public Service Commission scholarship.

Wen Hui: Dr Daniel and Jeremy were so encouraging and patient, it feels like there’s no hierarchy and I can ask them anything I want. They were receptive to the ideas and suggestions I had, and also provided their past experiences to guide me in improving my design.

From left to right: Suriya, Dr Daniel and Wen Hui. (Photo Credit: HTX)

Valerie: Guo Ming gave me so many opportunities to expand my understanding of robotics and the work at HTX. He would bring me onto different project trials and expose me to situations beyond my jobscope or domain. I remember one instance, where he got me to follow the RAUS team as they gave a mini learning session to officers at the Civil Service Academy.

Valerie and Guo Ming attempting a TikTok Challenge. (Photo Credit: HTX)

Closing Takeaways

Suriya: I’m really thankful for my mentors, they really made my experience at RAUS a memorable one. I have also extended my internship so that I can continue working with RAUS before I enter university.

Valerie: The robotics industry is growing and is becoming more attractive for women. No matter where I end up working in the future, it will definitely be in robotics.

Wen Hui: Interning at RAUS has given me a good breadth of exposure beyond what I could learn in school. With the patience of my mentor and the experiences of the team, it has given me a better idea of what I can expect in the robotics industry.

Suriya and Wen Hui were also recipients of the Public Service Commission Scholarship 2021. Click on the links to read more about their achievements!

Do you know anyone interested to eXponentially impact Singapore’s safety and security?

Check out our internship opportunities here!