The 20th “Holtek MCU Creative Design Competition” was held on December 20 at Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology, attracting hundreds of teams nationwide to showcase innovative smart-technology applications. Organized by Holtek Semiconductor and the STEAM Education Development Association, the competition featured three categories encouraging students to apply MCU technology to practical innovation.
CYCU teams delivered outstanding results, winning eight major awards including one Gold, two Excellence Awards, one Outstanding Award, one Merit Award, and multiple corporate special prizes. A cross-disciplinary team from the Department of Electrical Engineering, Interior Design, and Architecture won the Gold Award in the Creative Product Design category and second place in Cross-Domain Design Integration with their project “Following the Light: Solar Tracking Sunshade Control Device,” marking CYCU’s fifth consecutive championship.
The award-winning project addresses global warming and green building needs by solving the limitation of traditional sunshades that cannot adjust with the sun’s movement. It features a dual-axis smart solar-tracking system using light sensors and solar-position algorithms to optimize shading even under cloudy conditions. The hardware integrates a DFR0535 power module for seamless switching between solar power, lithium battery, and AC power, and supports WiFi/Bluetooth with app control for remote monitoring and user interaction. Team member Lin Mei-Ling shared that although the competition was stressful, cross-disciplinary collaboration helped turn the concept into a successful final product, providing valuable learning and growth.
Another CYCU team won an Excellence Award and third place in Cross-Domain Creative Integration with their project “SnowMate: Multifunctional Smart Companion Doll.” Designed in a snowman form, it integrates voice interaction, posture recognition, and health monitoring to address loneliness and wellness needs among young people, offering learning, entertainment, and health modes under the concept of “companionship without intrusion.”
Team member Kao Yu-Jun shared that the journey from idea to finished product involved major challenges in system integration and user interaction design, highlighting that successful innovation requires not only technical depth but also real human-centered insight.
Another CYCU team won the Outstanding Award in Group B and third place in the Avnet Creative Mobility & Smart Energy Award with their Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting Module, which focuses on recovering energy from vehicle suspension systems by converting wasted kinetic energy into reusable electricity. Team member Kao Kuo-Che noted that the project strengthened their system integration skills and laid a solid foundation for future innovations in smart mobility and energy technology.
A cross-disciplinary team from the Smart Computing & Big Data program and Commercial Design Department developed the “Infinity Interactive Story Machine,” winning an Excellence Award in Group B, first place in Cross-Domain Creative Integration, and second place in the Wireless Creative Application Award. Using motion-sensing and voice interaction, it transforms traditional storytelling by allowing children to physically and verbally participate in the plot, becoming part of the story. The design combines education and entertainment, demonstrating strong market potential and innovation value.
Another project, “Sang ‘Ji’ Le,” which focuses on senior health care, won a Merit Award in Group B. Designed as a robot with integrated sensing technology, it uses Tai Chi learning as its core, providing visual and audio feedback to guide safe movement and support elderly exercise. Team members noted that it could potentially integrate with health management systems in the future, highlighting diverse possibilities for technology-assisted wellness.
Professor Liao Yu-Ping emphasized that CYCU’s achievements reflect strong cross-disciplinary education and hands-on learning, thanking USR programs and industry partners for their support. He noted that CYCU will continue cultivating innovative, practical talent to advance smart technology and sustainability.
The Holtek MCU Competition serves as a platform for youth creativity and strengthens industry–academia collaboration, with CYCU’s annual success demonstrating outstanding innovation capacity and educational excellence.
