SP team Champion at SUTD X Armstrong 3D Printing & Design Innovation Challenge 2022

08 Jun 2022

SP team Yammy participated in the SUTD X Armstrong 3D Printing & Design Innovation Challenge 2022, and emerged as champion in the polytechnic category of the competition on 8 Jun 22, winning $5,000. The team constructed a 3D printed dish. The bowl-like base of their winning dish was made from food ingredients such as mashed potatoes, cottage cheese and spinach stem blended together to form puree that became the ink for the 3D printer. The bowl also had three round cavities into which the students injected spice-heavy pastes inspired by Indian coconut chutney and chicken tikka masala. It was placed on a leaf-shaped acrylic sheet that lights up in bright green when pressure is applied, e.g. when one digs a spoon into it.

The competition, organised by SUTD, was the first 3D food printing competition in Singapore. It hoped to foster awareness among budding engineers of how design and innovation could and should complement technology to advance the economy. By promoting 3D printing technology as a tool in the food industry, the competition aimed to inspire innovation and creativity in engineering beyond the classroom.

This technology, while in the nascent stage, promises increased efficiency in the food industry by allowing food preparation processes to be automated. It has the potential to solve labour issues and also create food that would be difficult to prepare by hand. An example would be incorporating medication in a small pore of the dish.

Year 3 DEB student from EEE, Chong Ing Kai, was among the SP team, which also comprised Year 3 DMRO student Yew Zi Hon from MAE. Reflecting on the team’s success, Ing Kai surmised that teamwork is a key aspect. He said, “Zi Hon is a more of a technical hands-on maker, and was able to programme and create the LED plate, allowing me time to focus on the dish conceptualisation and actual cooking.” “Which is great since cooking is my passion!” he quipped.

Watch the team’s winning dish being printed here.

Read more about the competition in the Straits Times coverage:

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/polytechnic-students-impress-audience-with-a-3d-printed-dish-inspired-by-indian-palak-paneer