A project supporting people with disabilities by Duy Tan University students won second prize at the ASEAN Hackathon 2025.

Not only outstanding for its technological elements but also impressive for its profound humanitarian spirit, the "The Magic Hand" project – a prosthetic finger design solution to assist people with disabilities – by four Duy Tan University students includes:

- Nguyen Ngoc Anh Quyen,

- Dao Duc Anh Hoang,

- Nguyen Huynh Dang Khoa, and

- Doan Le Anh Thu

They excellently won second prize at the ASEAN Entrepreneurship Hackathon 2025 Finals, held on November 11, 2025 at Universitas Islam Indonesia (UII).

“ Through our research on people with disabilities in Vietnam, we realized that the number of people with hand and finger disabilities is increasing due to various reasons such as: work accidents, chronic arthritis, complications from diabetes, bone cancer, and especially the lingering effects of war. Notably, the types of finger disabilities in Vietnamese people vary significantly from case to case, making the creation of assistive devices very difficult. Based on this reality, we decided to research and design a low-cost, high-quality, and flexible prosthetic finger with the hope of helping people with disabilities feel more comfortable and confident in their daily lives, ” shared student Nguyen Ngoc Anh Quyen about the meaningful and humane starting point of the group's project, “ The Magic Hand .”

*The "The Magic Hand" project won second prize at the ASEAN Entrepreneurship Hackathon 2025 Finals.*

As soon as they determined how to implement the idea, the team began designing the product. They scanned and collected biometric data from many different disability cases to create a set of size standards suitable for Vietnamese people.

“ From this data, each part of the prosthetic finger was redesigned using 3D simulation software, allowing for testing of durability, load-bearing capacity, and flexibility before moving on to the production phase. After passing the technical tests, the product entered the clinical trial phase, where disabled individuals directly used it and provided feedback on comfort, aesthetics, grip, and the level of support in daily activities ,” said student Nguyen Huynh Dang Khoa.

This clip introduces the project "The Magic Hand".

To create a product that provides stable quality, safety, and reasonable cost to assist people with finger disabilities, the Duy Tan University student team developed a production process based on two main pillars:

3D printing technology, and
Mechanical machining.

“ The prosthetic finger product in the 'The Magic Hand' project was designed by our team in a 'modular' form, meaning each part can be easily detached and replaced. This is especially suitable for the limited income of many disabled people, as they only need to replace the damaged component with a new one instead of having to buy a whole new device.”

"In addition, the product uses 304 stainless steel, nylon 12, silicone, and carbon fiber fabric, allowing for a load capacity of up to 10 kg and natural bending/extension movements up to 90°. These are specifications that previously, disabled people in Vietnam could only access through expensive imported products ," added student Dao Duc Anh Hoang.

Another outstanding advantage of the prosthetic finger in the " The Magic Hand " project is its ability to be customized to each individual's size, providing a feeling like a "real hand." For people with disabilities, this is not only about convenience but also about regaining a sense of control over their lives, allowing them to continue working in professions requiring dexterity and grasping skills such as: garment making, mechanics, agriculture , handicrafts, or to independently handle objects, eat, and work without assistance from others.

*The "The Magic Hand" project - a prosthetic finger design solution to assist people with disabilities, developed by DTU students.*

With the support of machinery, technology, and expertise from Duy Tan University's faculty and staff, the student group successfully completed all steps of a comprehensive technology project, from researching the current situation and community needs, designing models, conducting tests, to perfecting the prototype and conducting trial production along with user evaluation.

Student Doan Le Anh Thu shared her concerns during the project: “ Each person with a finger disability has different finger sizes, missing joint locations, and grip strength, so we didn't have a standard model to measure accurately. The group spent a lot of time refining the design with the determination to recreate the feel of a finger by adjusting it using spring mechanisms, swivel joints, and soft materials. Our design process was greatly facilitated by Duy Tan University's Mechanical Engineering Practice Rooms, Manufacturing & STEM Labs, etc., equipped with 3D printers, CNC machines, force measuring devices, and close guidance from lecturers, which helped us complete the product as expected. ”

The prosthetic finger design solution for the "The Magic Hand" project has passed:

National Round: The best project,
Semi-finals: The competition will feature 10 teams from 9 universities in the ASEAN region.
Final Round: Featuring the 3 best teams from the ASEAN region.

and won second place at the ASEAN Entrepreneurship Hackathon 2025 Finals .

“ The Magic Hand ” is not only a practical technology project developed by Duy Tan University students in their lab, but also a testament to compassion and the belief that technology is only truly valuable when it serves humanity.

Source: https://tienphong.vn/du-an-ho-tro-nguoi-khuyet-tat-cua-sinh-vien-dh-duy-tan-gianh-giai-nhi-hackathon-asean-2025-post1803549.tpo