• Society

Following Japanese Exchange Program, Student Creates Robot

• By Sam Sopich
• January 26, 2022 11:49 AM

A student at the Royal University of Phnom Penh has created a motion sensor robot, but is already thinking about how robotics could help Cambodia address issues like traffic jams

PHNOM PENH--Fourth-year computer science students at the Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP) have created a robot controlled by hand gestures from its operator. The AI program uses a camera that records hand motions, analyzes the data and sends commands to the robot.

Suy Kosal, one of the students responsible for the robot, said that he was inspired by robot competitions on Japanese TV and has dreamt of studying robotics in Japan ever since.

Originally from Battambang Province, Kosal is the youngest of eight siblings and the only one in his family to continue higher education in Phnom Penh which he did with the support of a scholarship from Smart that enabled him to study computer science.

Among the biggest challenges Kosal has encountered has been learning English, which has been necessary to understand a lot of contemporary research, but even getting his hands on the equipment needed to make robots has proven difficult due to the costs of importing parts, many of which come from China.

“My family didn’t support me because I cannot generate much profit [while studying], only expend and they don’t know why this robot is really useful, because they don’t understand the value of technology, but I never give up my dream,” he said.

In 2018, he came second place in a robotics competition and then went on to organize online robotics courses in order to do more research while teaching young students about mobile apps, web applications, robots and programing—all of which he did for free.   

Last year, he opened eight courses and this year he has started two courses which each have 25 students enrolled.

In early 2020, Kosal got the chance to go to Japan for an exchange program on account of his achievements in robotics, a trip that further cemented his vision of a future for Cambodia that entails robots helping to develop both the workplace and the economy.

“It’s just a passion for technology that I’ve had since I was young, but now I realized that my passion is focused on the right direction of IR 4.0 that Cambodia and the rest of the world really need experts to help develop,” he said

Next up, Kosal said he wants to upgrade his robot to be able to walk around the university campus as a form of security, taking photos of poorly parked vehicles, improperly disposed of garbage and other issues which will then be sent to a computer for data analysis.

Beyond this, he said he wants to see robots used to solve traffic jams and other issues in Cambodian society.

“It would be great if the government and the private sector can provide funding and technical support for the young generation who have the passion to build technology for our country and build our human resources,” he said. “Technology can change our lives; I had a chance to visit Japan for three months and work in a standard Japanese company.”  



Chor Chandara, deputy head of Computer Science Department of RUPP said that an increasing number of young Cambodians are engaged in technology, but their capacity is still imperfect and that needs to be sharpened through help from government and the private sector.

The modernization of technology and subsequently work will see an increase in demand for students like Kosal, but while some 5,000 students enrolled to study at the Computer Science Department in 2020, only some 800 made it to the fourth year.

“I’ve known Kosal for four years. He has struggled, been very patient and tries very hard,” he said. “He’s involved in a lot of extra curriculum activities and that’s why he got the chance to visit Japan and work in a Japanese company.”

“We need more youth who have a passion in technology to promote our national value” he said.