Students from Curtin Dubai’s School of Engineering showcased their vision for the future at the 8th edition of the Innovators Competition, a national platform supported by the Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Medical and Educational Sciences.
The competition unites the UAE’s brightest minds to develop solutions that address real-world challenges. Following a rigorous multi-stage evaluation that narrowed 160 teams down to a select group of finalists, two student-led projects from Curtin University Dubai emerged as leaders in the final round.
VocaBuddy: Giving a voice to the non-verbal
One of the winning projects, ‘VocaBuddy’, is a wearable assistive communication device designed to empower non-verbal individuals on the autism spectrum. Developed by Erdzean Nathaniel Sybico, a third-year Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering (Honours) student, the project explores how wearable technology can transform lives by bridging communication gaps.
The vision for VocaBuddy was sparked by a curiosity to find a scalable solution for families navigating the challenges of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). What began as a personal reflection in late 2023 evolved into a refined prototype through meaningful engagement with families and autism specialists, including practitioners formerly associated with the Dubai Autism Centre.
The device was designed, prototyped, and refined using the world-class fabrication facilities at FabLab UAE. VocaBuddy was announced as a Winning Project, securing a cash prize of AED 20,000, which will be formally presented at an upcoming award ceremony.
Terra Ping: Redefining safety in the UAE desert
Another Curtin Dubai team was celebrated for their project ‘Terra Ping’, an emergency detection system engineered for off-road desert environments. The concept emerged from a desire to solve a real safety risk after a team member encountered an overturned vehicle in a remote area with no mobile coverage.
Motivated to make tomorrow better, the team developed a compact crash-detection system that triggers automatic alerts in low-connectivity environments, improving response times during accidents.
The Terra Ping team, including Jedah Alaska Mariano (Cyber Security), Moayad Khiralla, Aatish Shibu Nair, and Mohamed Hamdan Mohamed Jawsan (Mechanical Engineering), navigated the complexities of electronics integration and environmental testing to bring their prototype to life. Their commitment earned them an ‘Encouragement Award’, acknowledging the project’s transformative potential.
Translating knowledge into action
Participating in national initiatives like the Innovators Competition empowers students to test ideas and collaborate with real stakeholders. For many, this journey of discovery is a critical step in translating academic theory into practical technological solutions that benefit society.
For Curtin Dubai, the success of both projects reflects a learning environment that supports curiosity, experimentation, and the ambition to address the world’s most pressing challenges.
Written by Erdzean Nathaniel Sybico, Class of 2028
