Five APU engineering students clinch the Grand Champion title at International AgriXcelerate 2026 with W.A.V.E,an AI-powered, solar-assisted water-monitoring boat designed to help fish farmers protect their livelihoods through smarter, more sustainable aquaculture.

What if a small boat could help fish farmers detect water pollution before it threatens their livelihoods? Five engineering students from the Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU) have turned this idea into an award-winning innovation, demonstrating how technology can address challenges faced by farming communities.

Representing the Asia Pacific Centre of Robotic Engineering (APCORE), Team W.A.V.E emerged as Grand Champion at International AgriXcelerate 2026 (AgriXcelerate), held at APU in Kuala Lumpur on 28 September 2026 as part of Robotech Week.

Their winning project, W.A.V.E (Water Assessment Vessel for Ecosystems), is a solar-assisted water-monitoring boat that combines artificial intelligence (AI) with real-time water quality assessment, potentially offering fish farmers a more affordable and practical way to protect their stock and livelihoods.

The five-member team comprised Farhan Aziz Umrani, Ahmed Mohammed Ahmed Greynoon, Ian Omonda Obura, Sugan Raaj Nadaraja and Chisomo Mbewe, representing APU's undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in electrical and electronic engineering, mechatronics, computer engineering and engineering research.

They were mentored by Ts Suresh Gobee, Head of APCORE and Senior Lecturer at APU's School of Engineering (SoE).

Turning a Farming Challenge into Innovation

For smallholder fish farmers, deteriorating water quality can be devastating. Many rely on visual observations or occasional water sampling, while laboratory testing may take days. Sudden pollution following heavy rainfall can therefore go unnoticed until fish become sick or die.

Recognising this challenge, the students developed W.A.V.E to make water monitoring faster, more accessible and more informative.

Measuring just 80 cm long, the prototype features a lightweight, 3D-printed twin-hull design, two water-propulsion units and a 50-watt solar panel. Its sensors measure key indicators of water quality, including acidity, temperature and other chemical properties.

Rather than leaving farmers to interpret complicated readings, the onboard AI system classifies water conditions into five categories, from Class A (pristine) to Class E (toxic).

During testing, the AI achieved an F1 score of 0.944 across more than 106,000 previously unseen records, indicating strong performance in distinguishing between water-quality categories.

Readings are transmitted every 20 seconds through a mobile network to an online dashboard, allowing users to view water conditions across different locations. 

A second AI system draws on biodiversity records to identify fish species potentially suited to the detected conditions, while mapping nearby possible pollution sources.

With an estimated construction cost of RM1,124, W.A.V.E could become particularly attractive to farming cooperatives. If shared across 10 ponds, the estimated equipment cost would be approximately RM112 per pond, excluding operational and maintenance expenses.

Beyond Engineering: Winning Through Teamwork

AgriXcelerate challenged international participants to develop practical agricultural innovations using AI, robotics and other emerging technologies.

Competing in the Sustainability category, Team W.A.V.E faced two demanding pitching rounds: an Innovation Pitch evaluating technical feasibility and originality, followed by a Farmer Impact Pitch assessing practical benefits and adoption.

Team leader Farhan Aziz Umrani explained that preparation went well beyond developing the prototype.

"We prepared two separate presentations to address the different judging criteria. The first focused on our engineering innovation, testing results and business model, while the second demonstrated how farmers could benefit from the technology and how we planned to introduce it in phases," he said.

"More importantly, we ensured every team member understood the entire project, rather than only their assigned sections. This allowed us to support one another, respond confidently to questions and present W.A.V.E as a united team."

Their lake-tested prototype, information website and live monitoring dashboard strengthened the presentation by demonstrating a functioning system rather than merely proposing an idea.

The team's perseverance paid off when all five students celebrated the Grand Champion title, accompanied by an RM1,000 cash prize. 

From Competition Success to Community Impact

Despite their victory, the students recognise that W.A.V.E remains a developing innovation.

The current prototype is remotely operated, with autonomous navigation, additional water-quality sensors and more extensive testing among its planned improvements.

Their next ambition is to conduct pilot studies at local fish farms, compare results against laboratory findings and further refine the technology for practical adoption.

W.A.V.E has also been nominated for the MD APICTA Awards 2026, under the Tertiary Student Project category, opening another opportunity for recognition.

For APCORE, the achievement reflects the importance of nurturing engineers who can connect technological expertise with real community needs.

Ts Suresh Gobee, Head of APCORE, commended the students' determination and their commitment to developing technology with a purpose.

"What makes this achievement especially meaningful is that our students did not simply build an impressive engineering prototype; they challenged themselves to understand the everyday struggles of smallholder farmers and develop a solution that could genuinely make a difference. Their perseverance, technical ingenuity and teamwork demonstrate the strength of APU's practice-oriented engineering education. 

At APCORE, we are proud to nurture young innovators who look beyond competition victories and recognise their responsibility to society. W.A.V.E represents that spirit of innovation, where engineering knowledge becomes a force for sustainability, community empowerment and a better future."