Research

Working closely with students to design and build everything from autonomous robots to assistive devices for people with disabilities, MSc. Dang Ngoc Sy is the inspiring mentor behind these highly practical, socially meaningful innovations.

MSc Dang Ngoc Sy, Acting Director of the Center for Mechanical Engineering (CME),

DTU School of Engineering and Technology (SET). Photo: DTU

Each project bears the hallmarks of innovative thinking and a determination to create value for the community. Guided by this spirit, MSc. Dang Ngoc Sy has inspired and supported generations of DTU students as they have taken on international competitions such as the International PBL Expo, the ASEAN Hackathon, and many other prestigious events.

A passion for community-focused research

“Who will benefit from this product?” This question is always on MSc. Dang Ngoc Sy’s mind and serves as the starting point for every research idea he pursues as Acting Director of the Center for Mechanical Engineering (CME) at DTU’s School of Engineering and Technology (SET).

“I have always believed that scientific research is truly meaningful only when it creates value in people’s lives. That is why I consistently orient research projects toward practical applications, especially products that can support vulnerable people or address challenges in manufacturing and everyday life,” MSc. Dang Ngoc Sy said.

MSc. Dang Ngoc Sy has been involved in numerous research projects, including:

-    “Research and Development of an Improved AI-Integrated Semi-Active Prosthetic Leg for Above-Knee Amputees,” funded by Vietnam’s National Foundation for Science and Technology Development (NAFOSTED).
-    “Development of Novel Smart Electrochromic Windows for Energy-Efficient Buildings and Heat-Shielding Automotive Applications,” funded by the Vingroup Innovation Foundation (VinIF).

In the field of intellectual property, MSc. Dang Ngoc Sy has been granted a utility solution patent for a “Wheelchair Towing Mechanism.” The invention was incorporated into DTU’s electric wheelchairs, which were donated to dozens of people with disabilities facing financial hardship in Da Nang.

He also has five other patent applications under examination, focusing on medical assistive devices and optimized mechanical systems. In addition to serving as Acting Director of the Center for Mechanical Engineering, MSc. Dang Ngoc Sy is pursuing a PhD in Mechanical Engineering at the National Research Institute of Mechanical Engineering. He has published seven scientific papers in reputable Vietnamese and international journals and co-authored two nationally published textbooks.

Inspiring innovation and guiding students to first-place finishes

For many years, MSc. Dang Ngoc Sy has directly mentored DTU student teams competing in academic and innovation contests in Vietnam and abroad.

Products developed by DTU students have won numerous first prizes at Vietnamese and international competitions. Photo: DTU

With his guidance, DTU student teams have carried out a series of notable projects and achieved impressive results:

-    A semi-active prosthetic leg for people with disabilities: Designed to suit the biometric characteristics of Vietnamese users, the product is safe and affordable. It won first prize at the 2024 ASEAN Green Entrepreneurship Hackathon and second prize in the 2024 National Startup Competition.
-    The Magic Hand - an assistive prosthetic finger: A technological solution with a strong humanitarian purpose, the product won first prize at the 2025 Global Vietnamese Startup Challenge and second prize at the 2025 ASEAN Entrepreneurship Hackathon.
-    An automated warehouse transport robot: Using precision-positioning technology, the system optimizes the movement of goods while offering flexible costs and strong potential for practical deployment. The product won first prize at the 2025 International Project-Based Learning Expo in Indonesia.

MSc. Dang Ngoc Sy has helped research and develop numerous products donated to people with disabilities. Photo: DTU

“When students encounter difficulties, what they need most is not more pressure, but someone willing to sit down with them and analyze the problem,” MSc Dang Ngoc Sy said.

Rather than simply providing the final answer, he chooses to work alongside his students, guiding them through questions and suggesting possible approaches. This allows them to explore, test, and defend their ideas using data, experimentation, and real-world evidence.

He also puts this philosophy into practice across the university’s laboratory system, the starting point for students’ journeys of discovery. He consistently encourages students to begin working in laboratories early by participating in research projects at DTU’s Center for Mechanical Engineering (CME), Center for Electrical and Electronic Engineering (CEE), and Institute of Aerospace Engineering (IAE).

MSc. Dang Ngoc Sy said: “DTU students have many advantages, including foreign-language proficiency, a globally oriented mindset, and the courage to take on challenges. When they have access to modern laboratory facilities and support from faculty members and researchers, they are fully capable of turning their initial ideas into real products, winning international awards, and ultimately launching their own startup projects,” 

After more than 17 years at DTU, MSc. Dang Ngoc Sy’s journey cannot be measured solely by the number of research projects, patents, or awards he has earned. Its impact can also be seen in generations of students who have matured with an innovative spirit and the courage to think boldly and take action.

(Media Center)