University of Waikato (New Zealand) Waikato mechatronics connecting with the world

Dr Shen Hin Lim, Senior Lecturer of Mechatronics and Programme Leader of Mechatronics at the University’s School of Engineering is looking forward to a quiet summer after a couple of months traveling back and forth to Korea.

Hin travelled to Robot World in October and then to the Daegu Global Robot Forum in November.

As Chair of New Zealand Robotics, Automation and Sensing (NZRAS), Dr Lim was invited as the VIP for the opening ceremony for Robot World Korea.

“Organised by Korea Association of Robot Industry (KAR) and Korea Institute of Robot Industry Advancement (KIRIA), Robot World Korea is held in Seoul and supported by the Korean government,” Hin says. “It’s an opportunity for the Korea Robot industry and community to showcase their products and research development. It’s also a great chance for industry professionals, academics and educators to engage potential buyers or collaborators.”

Robot World features more than 150 exhibitors from 30 countries and over 30,000 square metres of display space. It highlights innovations in industrial robots, service robots, robot parts, factory automation, smart logistics, medical and rehabilitation robots, personal mobility, drones, delivery robots, cooking robots and Artificial Intelligence.

Hin was invited as a speaker at the Daegu Global Robot Forum, as the director of Global Robot Cluster.

“This is a forum that has 28 clusters from 23 countries at present and aims to connect all the robot communities all around the world so we can better collaborate.”

Hin presented in two sessions: one on the robotics in horticulture projects he’s been involved with over the last 2 years and one on the NZRAS roadmap.

“It is very exciting to be part of this industry, and have the opportunities to connect with international colleagues and industry professionals at events like this. Mechatronics and robotics really are the pathway to the future and University of Waikato is recognised around the world as a key part of that future.

“To be able to share our research and learn from others is something that we have all missed over the last two years of the pandemic, but that itself has been a good reminder about how important our work is.”