The Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering (BEEE) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is proud to announce that two teams of our PhD students, each team led by WONG Ho Yin and ZHANG Xiaoning, both supervised by BEEE Associate Professor Dr HUANG Xinyan, have won the Second and Third Prize in the 10th Hong Kong University Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition (HKUSIEC).
Ho Yin’s project, “Generation Alpha Building Emergency System”, initiated in the PolyU Maker Fund Programme 2021 and thus established a start-up, GABES Limited, received the Second Prize in the Start-up Category in the 10th HKUSIEC. The project is an Internet of Things (IoT) system comprising a wireless detectors mesh network and dynamic exit signs. The fire detector system, which utilizes artificial intelligence technology, can significantly reduce the number of false alarms and provide an early warning, while the dynamic exit sign system guides evacuees towards the safest evacuation paths, reducing evacuation time.
Xiaoning's project, “Smart Firefighting Robot”, began with the support of the 2023 PolyU Micro Fund (led PhD student WANG Meng) and received the Third Prize in the Entrepreneurship Proposal Category at the 10th HKUSIEC. Various artificial intelligence technologies are utilized to enable autonomous actions and support firefighters. Unlike other firefighting robots, this smart robot boasts high levels of autonomy and intelligence, making it user-friendly and efficient in improving the effectiveness of fire rescue and firefighting. By reducing casualties and property damage caused by fires, this invention provides vital support to firefighters and ushers in a new era of smart firefighting aimed at saving more lives.
Both projects are crucial to the novel smart firefighting technology developed at PolyU (the SureFire Project). This technology will be applied to the next generation of smart and resilient buildings, helping Hong Kong become the world's leading smart city.
HKUSIEC, which began in 2015, is the largest, most representative, and most authoritative innovation and entrepreneurship competition for university students in Hong Kong. The competition focuses on innovation and entrepreneurship, with categories in "Innovation" and "Entrepreneurship." To enhance the competition's credibility and acceptance, judges are invited from various fields, including the innovation and technology sector (academicians, university professors, experts, and scholars), as well as representatives and well-known individuals from the entrepreneurial and investment communities. Exceptional innovation and entrepreneurship projects will be selected to form the "Hong Kong SAR Delegation" to participate in the China International College Students' "Internet+" Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition, known as the "world's largest and best roadshow platform," and the "Challenge Cup," which is praised as the "Olympic event for contemporary Chinese university students in science and technology innovation."
The Department of BEEE congratulates Ho Yin, Xiaoning, and their teams on their outstanding achievements and wishes them continued success.
