The Imagine Cup Junior serves as a platform for students to explore critical thinking and digital skills, leveraging AI and Microsoft’s Azure Framework to create projects with real-world impact. — 123rf
IN a noteworthy achievement for Malaysian innovation, Ravindran Surandran and his team from SMK Kota Kemuning in Shah Alam, Selangor, ranked in the top 10 in Microsoft’s Imagine Cup Junior 2024 AI For Good competition earlier this year.
Their winning creation, Strip4u is a battery- operated device surgically placed in the body to aid stroke patients in recovery and rehabilitation.
The Imagine Cup Junior, Microsoft’s international competition, encourages students aged 13-18 to identify pressing global issues and develop artificial intelligence-driven solutions.
The event serves as a platform for students to explore critical thinking and digital skills, leveraging AI and Microsoft’s Azure Framework to create projects with real-world impact.
This year, Ravindran and his team (all between the ages of 16 and 17), aptly named Stroke Of Luck, not only rose to the challenge but also became the first Malaysian team to earn a top-10 spot since the competition’s inception in 2020.
Reflecting on the team’s journey, Ravindran said, “We participated in this competition with no prior experience and only learned about it this year. To our surprise, we managed to place among the top 10 globally. We’re proud to represent Malaysia at this level and hope to inspire others.”
The team’s concept is an innovative AI-powered device designed to help stroke patients regain mobility.
Inspired by advanced neurological treatments like Motor Cortex Stimulation (MCS) and Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS), Ravindran and his team devised a system that uses electrode implants and AI-driven data to stimulate motor functions and restore mobility to affected limbs.
Ravindran said: “Our ‘aha’ moment came when we understood how neuromodulation, like DBS, could restore motor function. We wondered if AI could make this process more accessible and effective.”
The device functions through a network of electrodes that interact with a central processing unit, battery and storage device.
It collects data on brain responses and transmits it to an AI-powered server, which analyses patterns and develops impulse sequences tailored to each patient’s rehabilitation needs.
As the system learns, it can even apply insights from one patient to assist another, making rehabilitation a collective learning process.
From left: Niraj, Ravindran, teacher Suganthi, Tan, Loo, Lee, Gan and teacher Chan showcasing a device designed to aid stroke patients in recovery and rehabilitation. — RAVINDRAN SURANDRAN
Ravindran elaborated, “If Patient A’s working arm is recorded, those impulse patterns can help guide movement in Patient B’s immobile arm, and vice versa. This cross-learning ability could revolutionise stroke recovery, making it faster and more adaptive.”
Building the device was no small feat, especially given the competition’s timeline and the team’s limited experience.
With only one month to research, conceptualise and present their solution, the six-member team – Niraj Praveen, Kendra Gan Shan Yinn, Lee Jia Chen, Loo Zhang Jing, Sophie Tan and Ravindran – relied heavily on strategic planning and tight time management.
“We spent a week brainstorming different ideas, from agriculture to music, searching for a problem that AI could meaningfully address.
Once we settled on stroke rehabilitation, we assigned specific tasks based on each member’s strengths,” said Ravindran.
The technical aspects fell to the team’s “tech experts”, Loo and Lee, who researched Microsoft Azure’s offerings and integrated relevant tools to enhance the device’s functionality. Meanwhile, other team members focused on ethical considerations and stakeholder impact.
Ravindran himself oversaw the project’s presentation and visual appeal, even designing fun animations with teammate Tan to make their video submission engaging for the judges. “We worked on it both during school hours and after,” Ravindran shared. “Sometimes staying back at school well into the evening.”
Throughout their development process, the team benefitted from the support of their teachers, Suganthi Kupusamy and Chan Shook Leng, who provided invaluable guidance on refining the concept and ensuring it was understandable to a wide audience.
Ravindran said, “Our teachers helped us stay grounded and clear-headed, especially when it came to simplifying our presentation without sacrificing the science behind it.
"They were the perfect litmus test as to whether we had effectively communicated our idea. Our headmaster, Mohd Fauzi Zailan, was also extremely supportive of our efforts. And he was the one who told us about the competition and encouraged us to take part.”
The team’s commitment to thorough research included consulting with Datuk Dr Jegan Thanabalan, a neurosurgeon who advised them on the medical feasibility of Strip4u.
His insights on safety considerations and the latest developments in neuromodulation were instrumental in refining the device’s design. “Dr Jegan not only validated our approach but also opened our eyes to areas we hadn’t considered,” said Ravindran.
While they have yet to test the device directly with stroke patients, the team remains hopeful for its future potential.
Ravindran expressed a deep commitment to seeing the product’s development beyond the competition, saying, “We believe in Strip4u’s potential to improve lives, and we’re eager to explore opportunities to work with stakeholders to make this idea a reality.”
As Microsoft continues to champion AI-driven educational initiatives, Ravindran and his team’s success highlights the boundless possibilities that arise when young minds are empowered to innovate.
The device not only exemplifies the impact of the Imagine Cup Junior competition but also underscores the role of emerging technologies in addressing healthcare challenges on a global scale.
