An active contribution in implementing the Tri Dharma Tenets has been shown by a student of the Faculty of Engineering (FT) Universitas Dian Nuswantoro (Udinus), namely, Shobiha Awwaliyah . With her success, Shobiha earned funding from an international agency, which was hosted by the Engineering Projects in Community Service (EPICS) in the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).
Shobiha, who is primarily known as ‘Obi.’ Proposed a research program entitled ‘F-Scales for Early Detection of Toddler Growth at Integrated Service Posts’ for Kemuning Infant and Mother Health Center in Muktiharjo Kidul area, Pedurungan Sub-district, Semarang City. The device itself is a weighing scale equipped with a webcam to take pictures of children’s soles automatically during the weighing process.
“This device is also equipped with a particular analytical software that can measure the arches of the feet (arch angle) to identify children’s leg types per the medical standards. For example, if the foot is curved at an angle of 31 to less than 45 degrees, it is classified as a normal foot. If less than 31 degrees, it is a flat foot. If the foot curved more than 45 degrees, it is a cavus foot,” she explained.
Obi also revealed that the device was developed to detect problems concerning sole development, including flat and curved feet that could affect children’s postures and motoric development.
“If a child were to be identified with flat foot or cavus foot, there would be several therapeutic steps we should consider. One of those steps is by monitoring our children’s feet using the E-Growth website, which is also equipped with a feature to analyze children’s soles. Through this website, User can also see their arches of the feet directly. The data from this analysis can also be uploaded to a cloud-based cloud-based to be accessed anywhere and anytime by medical professionals,” she explained.
Starting as a Final Project
Obi, who was a Biomedical Engineering Student, revealed that her motivation for participating in the funding program started off as a topic for her final project. Over time, Obi developed the urge to invent a product that could benefit the public directly.
“The project itself has started since I uploaded the proposal in October 2024, and I got the funding in January 2025. This project is funded by the Jon C. Taenzer Memorial Fund. Now, I have started developing the device itself, as well as registering children, at the Kemuning Infant and Mother Health Center, Muktiharjo Kidul, Pedurungan Sub-district, Semarang City, to the E-Growth website,” she uttered.
Moreover, Obi, who was born in 2003, revealed that the Engineering Faculty also supported her in some ways in handling the projects by providing her a laboratory, as well as lending her tools, such as solderers, multimeters, webcams, and a lens set.
“I also have to thank my lecturers and fellow students for their support. During this project, I was and still am guided by Ms. Menik Dwi Kurniatie. Not only that, I’m also helped by my friends, namely, Elisabet Cantika Dhana and Dzikru Khayat. Also, during the composition of my thesis, I received support from my advisor, Mr. Dedi Nurcipto, as well as my capstone design colleague, Qalbu Rivantona,” she emphasized.
In the future, Obi holds the hope for this device to be applied in many health centers so that children’s growth problems can be identified and addressed. (Humas Udinus/Penulis: Ika. Editor: Haris. Foto: Dok. Pribadi)
