SETU graduate and member of the Irish Defence Forces, Stephen Cooper, achieved global recognition for his innovative project, the ‘LIDAR Smart-Chair Navigator’ by the International Society of Automation (ISA) at an awards ceremony in Cork.
Stephen's international award comes on the heels of his having been declared the Island of Ireland regional winner at the Global Undergraduate Awards (GUA) in November 2024, where his project was ranked among the top 10% of engineering projects worldwide.
“I am deeply honoured to receive this recognition from the International Society of Automation, awarded to the top final-year degree student in the field of Instrumentation and Control. This award underscores the importance of leveraging innovation to address real-world challenges.
My experience at SETU and within the Defence Forces has been instrumental in fostering my skills and enabling the development of the LIDAR Smart-Chair Navigator. This achievement highlights the opportunities provided by SETU and the Defence Forces, and I hope it inspires others to pursue impactful solutions through engineering and collaboration.”
Stephen Cooper, on receiving his award.
These remarkable achievements follow the successes of two other SETU graduates from the Defence Forces, Corporal Craig Cooper in 2022, and Signalman Mark Gaughran in 2019, who won the MIDAS Ireland industry-led cluster third level project competition with their respective projects entitled, ‘STEM (Solar Tracking and Energy Management System)’ and ‘Vehicle Breathalyzer and Safety Monitoring System’.
These outstanding accomplishments underscore the growing significance of the academic collaboration between SETU and the Defence Forces in developing highly skilled personnel for critical roles within the Communications and Information Services (CIS) and Ordnance Corps through the Trainee Technician Scheme (TTS). Recognising the importance of retaining highly skilled personnel, the Defence Forces are actively implementing measures to improve the TTS, including enhanced flexibility and increased accessibility to the public, as recommended by the Commission on the Defence Forces.
"This is an excellent achievement for Stephen, representing both SETU and the Defence Forces in demonstrating excellence in automation as selected by industry professionals. It represents the importance of SETU’s longstanding partnership with the Defence Forces and the advancements made in Military Communications Systems.”
Dr Frances Hardiman, Head (Carlow), Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, on the importance of the recognition of excellence in this discipline.
“Stephen’s exceptional achievement serves as a powerful testament to the positive impact of partnerships such as SETU and the Defence Forces. Our partners prioritise continuous learning and professional development.
In addition to the MCS programme, SETU delivers a Bachelor of Arts in Leadership, Management and Defence Studies, as well as masters programmes in Communications Technology Management, Military Engineering Management, and Weapons, Ordnance, Munitions and Explosives. These programmes provide invaluable opportunities for personnel to expand their knowledge and enhance their skills within the Electronic Engineering and Communications domains.”
Keith Smyth, SETU lecturer, programme director, and Stephen’s project supervisor.
For more information on the International Society of Automation (ISA), visit isa.org