Team Invictus zooms to victory
AN effort among students and staff from Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU) and the Asia Pacific Institute of Information Technology (APIIT) led to the production of the university’s first concept car named - Invictus.
The Invictus was a working prototype designed and assembled by team Invictus to compete in the Proton DRB-Hicom Creative Car Challenge (PD3C) 2018, which concluded last month.
The car emerged as the champion of the challenge and the team walked away with a cash prize of RM7,000.
In addition, third year Transport Design student Khoo Wern Sheung, who was part of the team achieved a third Prize at the Design Battle.
Prior to the final challenge, the team from APU was one of the 13 finalists at the PD3C pitching session held in March.
At the pitching session, the team proposed the use of the Proton Preve as the base model of the Invictus’s concept design.
They were then given a Proton Preve and were required to re-design and re-engineer the given car model with brand new ideas and concepts.
Under the guidance of academic staff from the School of Media, Arts & Design (SoMAD) at APIIT, 20 students from the Product Design, Transport Design and Engineering disciplines worked on sketching, designing, modelling, assembling and styling the Invictus over nine months.
Animation and Visual Effects students applied their skills and knowledge in creating the promotion video and designing the electronic display panels available within Invictus.
Personnel from the PD3C committee visited the team and were kept updated of the progress twice throughout the progression. The car development process was fully documented in the logbook as required by the organisers.
This was the first concept car assembled by APU & APIIT stu- dents, as they participated in the PD3C for the first time.
The car featured futuristic design elements that cater for an urban living lifestyle, in line with APU, a technology-savvy and innovative university.
Some key features on the concept car include artificial intelligence (AI) integrated headlamps, integrated side view cameras to replace traditional wing mirrors, smart auto door with facial recognition system, fully digital infotainment system and touch-screen and fully-interactive panel to replace traditional dashboard, speedometer, odometer and fault indicators.
Invictus team member, Lee Kian Chong, expressed his gratitude to the university lecturers and his team mates for the support.
“It’s been such a wonderful experience!
“There were times we felt frustrated but the great team work makes us proud of the final outcome.
“We managed to turn the impossible to possible,” said Lee.
APIIT academic staff Saifullizan Abdul Wahab recalled the team’s efforts and the strong passion demonstrated by the staff and students over the nine months while working on the Invictus.
“The Invictus is born out of the teamwork among all staff and students, as well as the strong support by the management and our colleagues at APU and APIIT,” he said.
APIIT Education Group CEO Datuk Dr Parmjit Singh said the team worked with passion, perseverance and dedication to achieve a concept that is revolutionary.
“An awesome effort by students and staff from across different schools, working together as an integrated effort,” he said.
The Invictus is on display at APU’s campus located in Technology Park Malaysia, Bukit Jalil from December onwards.