Nothing surpasses Allah…

My tight schedule has driven me up the wall. This blog has not been updated for weeks. However, it all seem worthwhile. The time spent, the energy driven, the efforts put into seem meaningful when success awaits you at the end of the tunnel. Even though we only managed to garner a Silver Medal at ITEX 2010 for our invention, it has cast enough happiness in our hearts as a research team.

The most important thing was that we were able to showcase our work to the public, a system that may be of use in a vast number of applications. Numerous parties have expressed their interest in developing and enhancing the basic platform. For example the Department of Irrigation and Drainage in managing the illegal sand digging at their rivers.

Today, in the STAR, there is news coverage for the press conference which was held yesterday at the main campus lake in Minden, Penang. (Read here)

Our invention is named Drosobot (Drosophila Robot). They may be deployed as a group (or swarms - in technical terms) to enable contour mapping of lakebeds, rivers and dams. The cost incurred is substantially reduced, extra manpower is not necessary while the results of the mappings may be looked at there and then (in real time). Compare this to the available equipment system in the market, (originating from where else but the West?) which is so exorbitant (costs RM 200,000 to buy, if rented then the charges would be RM8,000 per kilometer; it also needs to have at least 4 people to man the equipment)and most importantly, the results of the mappings are not instant - only made available 2 weeks later.

The most interesting fact that we discover is that, lake contour mappings are not available as yet. (We did not know this when we first embarked on the project). Only land and the sea (for seafarers). Considering the vast number of lakes available in Malaysia, we are glad that we are able to contribute in making contour mappings of lakes to be easily done. Amongst our interested visitors (in charge of maintenance of one of the dams) during ITEX 2010 expressed his gratitude and appreciation because he knew and understood the problems. He has been doing the job manually.

We were inspired by the foraging and searching movements of the fruit fly (scientific name being Drosophila Melanogaster) to be adopted as the intelligent algorithm integrated in the school of autonomous water surface vehicles. Adopting the algorithm means that the movements of the group of robots become faster and optimized in the contour mappings as they glide across the surface of waters.

Did not Allah give us mankind the power to think? Nature and its happenings may be used as a source of inspiration for creative inventions. Creatures - be them large or as small as the ants, bees, all have their specialties. If only we take the time to contemplate and use our minds to focus. Thinking has been advocated by our Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) in a Hadith:

“Purposive thinking (tafakkur) for an hour is better than a year’s worship.”

The humble fly which we would not even look with one eye has a lot to offer – only if we stop, think and observe. The tiny creatures go about their ways according to the ordained paths set by its Creator. However, that is all they can do. It is only us – mankind who has the ability to explore, formulate and venture further than the other creatures. For we are bestowed with powerful brains by our Creator to think and relate. However, there is only one thing that we as mankind should do and never forget i.e. we must remember that no matter how great and high we soar, we can never surpass His powers.

".. of knowledge it is only a little that is communicated to you, (O men!)" Al Isra’: 85

Unto Allah belongeth All Praises…