Award-winning research by HaUI students supports people with disabilities

A group of second-year students from the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Hanoi University of Industry (HaUI) has developed a meaningful and innovative product to support people with disabilities: an automatic handwriting system controlled by voice commands. Their project, titled “Application of Stepper Motors in Building a Writing Support System for People with Disabilities”, won Second Prize at HaUI’s university-level scientific research competition - an impressive result for a team participating for the very first time.

From Idea to Invention

The idea stemmed from real-life difficulties faced by individuals with disabilities in performing basic tasks like writing. Motivated by the desire to contribute to the community through engineering, three students - Nguyen Van Tinh (project leader), Nguyen Quang Hung, and Tran Manh Hieu - worked together to research and build an automated writing device that can write letters and numbers based on voice commands. The system uses stepper motors and integrates voice recognition - offering a low-cost, practical, and user-friendly solution.

The project was implemented from January 2024 to May 2025, under the dedicated guidance of Dr. Pham Van Hung and M.Sc. Mai The Thang. Despite being newcomers to formal research, the students were no strangers to innovation, having previously won the First Prize in the “Water Rocket” contest in Ha Nam and the “Mini Robot” competition organized by the Faculty in 2024.

Overcoming challenges

As second-year students diving into advanced research for the first time, the team faced numerous difficulties. Every stage of the project - from mechanical design and electronic circuit building to programming and voice recognition integration - demanded high levels of precision, patience, and perseverance.

“Our biggest challenge was the lack of hands-on experience and deep technical knowledge. There were times when we felt like giving up, but our determination, teamwork, and especially the enthusiastic support from our mentors gave us strength,” shared Nguyen Van Tinh.

The most unforgettable moment, according to the team, was when the pen in their device successfully completed its first handwritten letter. “After so many failures, sleepless nights of coding and testing, the first visible line brought tears to our eyes. In that small rented room, we were overwhelmed. It wasn’t just a technical achievement - it was the result of passion, effort, and belief,” said Tran Manh Hieu.

Technical highlights

The writing system comprises two main components:

- Electronic part: controlled using Arduino IDE, Python, and Benbox software, along with safety-protection circuitry.

- Mechanical part: built on a compact HGR iron frame, featuring a 57BYG250H-8 stepper motor and SG90 servo motor.

Performance testing showed:

- 99.5% accuracy on the X and Y axes.

- 92% voice recognition accuracy in quiet environments.

Ability to write all uppercase letters (A-Z), digits (0-9), and short sample sentences - bringing real usability to individuals with disabilities.

A journey of growth and unity

Beyond the technical work, the students experienced something deeper: the bond of collaboration and shared ambition. Between tight schedules and long experiments, they also shared quick meals, daily stories, and laughter around the workbench. That spirit of solidarity helped them persist through hardship and stay focused on their goal.

While the product still has areas for improvement - such as writing speed, voice recognition in noisy settings, and mechanical design optimization - the project has already demonstrated both technical feasibility and social value. More than just an award-winning product, it marks the team’s first step into the world of scientific research.

“Research has taught us that knowledge isn’t only in books - it lives in every screw, wire, and useful creation. As Vietnam moves forward with innovation and creativity, we students must also step up and contribute our minds and energy to that mission,” said Nguyen Quang Hung.

This project is a vivid example of the HaUI student spirit - bold, creative, and driven by a desire to serve the community. It also affirms that with passion, collaboration, and perseverance, even young students can make a meaningful impact on society through science and technology.