BU Engineering Team Breaking Through 40 Teams Nationwide to Reach TOP 8 at National Automation & AI Stage
Amid one of the country's most intense technology competitions, a student team from the School of Engineering — led by Natthanarong Tiangjit, Panupong Sangkatin and oannes Paulus Macarayan Ople — achieved a standout result by advancing to the Top 8 of a national-level Automation & AI competition, outlasting more than 40 teams from across Thailand. They made history as the only team from Bangkok University to reach the final stage.
A Stage Beyond Competition — A Real-World Arena
The Automation & AI competition was elevated beyond a knowledge test into a "Robot Hackathon" simulating real industrial scenarios. Teams had to design and develop a functional system under a strict time limit.
The core challenge: integrating Computer Vision AI with a robotic arm to build a real-time automated product-sorting system capable of detecting and classifying 5 product types from camera input, then commanding the arm to pick and place items into the correct bins — all within just 20 minutes, from AI training to full robot control.
Crucially, the robotic arms were only available on-site, meaning teams had to learn the equipment live under maximum pressure.
From Selection to the Real Stage: Speed Was Key
The journey began with a nationwide portfolio screening, narrowing the field to 40 teams, followed by online tool training. "In the morning qualifying round, our team developed a complete system in just 3–4 minutes — far faster than many teams that took over 7 minutes — securing our ticket to the Top 8."
The Final 8: A Game of Pressure and Starting from Scratch
In the afternoon finals, every team started from zero — no pre-built code allowed. The competition tested genuine understanding, precision, and decision-making under time pressure. "We divided responsibilities clearly: the first member handled AI training, the second developed the robot arm control program and coordinates, and the third oversaw the big picture and internal coordination."
Despite challenges — unfamiliar equipment and technical limitations — the team adapted swiftly. "Everyone's hands were shaking, sweating despite the air conditioning. Normally we'd prepare for months, but this was 20 minutes to make everything work."
When "Limitations" Become a Driving Force
A key differentiator: the team had no robotic arm to practice with beforehand, unlike many competitors. Instead, they weaponized their ability to learn fast and problem-solve on the spot, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the other seven finalists.
The Power of Teamwork
This success was no accident — it was the result of continuous collaboration. All three members had competed together across multiple events, reaching a level where communication required almost no explanation. "We didn't need to say much, because everyone knew what to do. That's what kept us in sync every second."
Behind the Scenes: Faculty Support
A key behind-the-scenes contributor was A.Pruttapon Maolanon from the School of Engineering, who provided in-depth guidance on Robot Pose and AI-to-robot communication systems, enabling the team to work with new equipment systematically.
