The ‘knowledge revolution’ of the 21st century has created challenges that demand different ways of thinking and the development of new skills. One of the critical skills required to solve complex “wicked” problems identified by the Sustainability Development Goals (SDG), is the ability to think and integrate knowledge across disciplines and to understand their relations.

The PDM x EEE Smart Robot Project is a pioneering interdisciplinary collaboration project between the BEng Product Design and Manufacture (PDM) and BEng Electronics and Electrical Engineering (EEE) programs that exemplifies the interdisciplinary learning model. In the project, students from both cohorts work in interdisciplinary teams to design and develop an Autonomous Smart Robot, programming the internal functional components and 3D printing the exterior body design. Led by Mr. Amarpreet Gill, Dr Sandro Guenter, and Dr Jing Wang, the project provides students with a practical learning experience that advances their understanding of each discipline, cultivates key 21st-century skills, and prepares them to succeed in real-world situations. This year the tutor increased the interaction opportunities between cohorts and provided additional scaffolding and support for 3D printing.

An exhibition of the students’ Smart Robots was taking place in IEB Lobby A from April 22nd to April 26th, 2024. Some of the highlights from this year’s collaboration include the Anglerfish, designed by Ertong Wei, Gabriela G. Gunawan, Rukai Huang, Huapeng Liu, Sihan Wang, Yining Gao, and Xiaotian Chen. This design used multiple components to create a dynamic and flexible design that included additional electronics to realise the Anglerfish's unique headlight. Another noteworthy design was WALL·E, designed by Zhiyuan Xiang, Shiguang Yang, Reyner Rency Wijaya, Siying Chen, Kailiang Peng, and Zhonghe Gao, which captivated attendees’ imagination with its accurate representation of the Disney character and extreme cuteness.

In a compelling speech, Dr C.F. Kwong, Head of the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, highlighted the crucial importance of multi-disciplinary collaboration in contemporary education and industry. He detailed the evolution of railway development to exemplify this shift: whereas a century ago, such projects mainly involved train, mechanical, and civil engineers, today's endeavours require a broad team including computer engineers, electronics specialists, electrical engineers, and product designers. This diversity reflects the complex interconnectivity of today’s world. Dr Kwong also reflected on the personal growth and learning derived from tackling challenges, especially in collaborative environments between EEE and PDM students. He congratulated the students on their perseverance through various challenges and compromises, encouraging them not to be disheartened by failure, as today’s setbacks pave the way for tomorrow’s successes.

The collaboration received the Zhejiang Province Higher Education 14th Five-year Plan Teaching Transformation/Innovation Project Award in 2022 and has been highly praised by course accrediting bodies, Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) and Institution of Engineering Designers (iED).