President's Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Knowledge Transfer (KT)

Awardee: Prof. LI Pei, Professor, Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology

Tamper-proof ink is a special nano-based formulation with two or more colorants. After being printed on a food package, part of the dyes in a droplet will interact with the plastic surface to form a permanent mark, while the rest of the dyes will float on top which is removable with an organic solvent. If a vendor tries to tamper with the expiration date, they can remove the top-layer dye only, revealing the bottom-layer dye in another color, thereby exposing their dishonest behavior for all consumers to see.  More details.

Awardee: Prof. WU Bo, ADoRCDSE, Fiona Cheung Professor in Spatial Science, Associate Head, Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics

Innovative planetary remote sensing and mapping technologies generate high-precision, high-resolution topographic models of celestial bodies by combining images and laser measurement data from various sources across various platforms, and reconstructing fine topographic details. To automate the analysis of surface hazards such as rock and crater distributions on planetary surface, solutions powered by artificial intelligence (AI) are developed. The resulting 3D topographic model could achieve resolution as high as 1 cm/pixel, and the AI solution could achieve 85% correctness, indispensable to landing site selection and surface operation for space missions. 

Awardee: Dr HSU Li-Ta, Limin Endowed Young Scholar in Aerospace Navigation, Associate Head and Associate Professor, Department of Aeronautical and Aviation Engineering

The 3D mapping aided GNSS technology improves positioning accuracy in dense urban areas, such as Hong Kong and Tokyo, by ten times. It substantially enhanced the location services on the mobile phones of PolyU’s industrial partner, HUAWEI, paving the way for their long-term research partnership with an investment of no less than HK$10 million over a three-year period. The research team will develop key positioning and navigation algorithms that can improve the experience of over 40 million users of Huawei smartphones and autonomous vehicles in the world.

Awardee: Ir Prof. ZHENG Yong-ping, DoRISA, Henry G. Leong Professor in Biomedical Engineering, Chair Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Biomedical Engineering

Scolioscan is a radiation-free 3D ultrasound scanning system designed for scoliosis screening and monitoring spinal curvature progression without any radiation harzard. With patented scanning and image reconstruction and processing methods, spine deformity can be assessed in 3D and even future scoliosis progression can be predicted. An ultra-portable version known as Scolioscan Air is designed to be used in clinics and brought into schools and local communities, such as remote ones, for mass screening and monitoring for scoliosis. Scolioscan Air is only comprised of a palm-sized scanning probe and a tablet computer, which can fit easily in a suitcase.  More details.

Awardees:
Prof. TAO Xiao-ming, DoRI-IWEAR, Vincent and Lily Woo Professor in Textiles Technology, Chair Professor of Textile Technology, School of Fashion and Textiles
Prof. XU Bin-gang, Professor, School of Fashion and Textiles
Dr HUA Tao, Associate Professor, School of Fashion and Textiles

Nu-Torque is a revolutionary yarn-spinning technology that uses physical means to create yarns with lower torque and twist while achieving the same strength as conventionally spun yarns. Fabrics made with Nu-Torque yarns are less prone to deformation even after repeatedly washed, while also feel softer, look shinier and with less hairiness. Compared with conventional yarn-spinning technology, Nu-Torque also improves productivity, saves energy and reduces pollutions. Fabrics and garments made with Nu-Torque yarns are widely sold in the U.S., Europe, Japan and China.  More details.

Awardees:
Ir Prof. WANG Shengwei, DoRISE, Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Professor in Smart Building, Chair Professor of Building Energy and Automation, Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering
Prof. XIAO Fu, Associate Dean of Faculty of Construction and Environment, ADoRISE, Professor of Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering
Dr LI Hangxin, Research Assistant Professor, Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering
Dr SHAN Kui, Research Assistant Professor, Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering

Awardees:
Prof. TAM Hwa-yaw, ADoPRI, Head of Department of Electrical Engineering, Chair Professor of Photonics
Ir Dr LEE Kang-kuen, Professor of Practice (Transportation), Department of Electrical Engineering
Dr LIU Shun-yee, Michael, Senior Scientific Officer, Department of Electrical Engineering
Dr CHO LH, Stephen, Research Fellow, Department of Electrical Engineering
Mr AU HY, David, Project Associate, Department of Electrical Engineering

Optical fibre-based railway monitoring system incorporates fibre Bragg grating (FBG) sensors that only reflect light of a certain wavelength. These sensors change their lengths when subject to pressure or vibration, thereby changing the wavelength of light that they reflect. By analysing the reflected light, the system can tell the excessive and abnormal vibrations on a rail track, identifying potential faults in advance. These sensors don’t need electricity to operate and are immune to electromagnetic interference. Hundreds of sensors can be put on one single optical fibre as long as 100 kilometres in length.

Awardees:
Ir Prof. YUNG K.L., BBS, DoRCDSE, Sir Sze-yuen Chung Professor in Precision Engineering, Associate Head of Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Chair Professor of Precision Engineering

Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering
Dr KWAN Folk-year, Senior Project Fellow; Mr KO Sui-man, Senior Scientific Officer; Mr LAM Chi-wo, Scientific Officer
Dr James Abbott FOSTER, Research Fellow; Mr CHAN Chi-leung, Project Fellow; Mr TANG Jing-jung, Project Fellow; Ms CHAN Chi-wa Nicole, Project Associate; Mr LAM Ho-yat, Project Associate; Mr LOK Ching-ho, Project Associate; Mr TAM Wai-ming, Project Associate; Mr CHOI Sheung-wai, Research Assistant; Ms WONG Yei-ting, Project Assistant

Industrial Centre
Ir Dr TAM Wai-man Robert, Associate Director; Mr KONG Kang-hoi, Senior Engineer; Ir TAM Mei-yuk Juliana, Engineer; Mr CHAN Kwan-yau, Associate Engineer; Mr CHANG Ka-ho, Associate Engineer; Mr CHEUNG Cheuk-kin, Associate Engineer; Mr LI Yan-lung, Associate Engineer; Mr WAN Chan-tong, Associate Engineer; Mr YU Tin-lun, Associate Engineer; Mr TANG Wing-lok, Assistant Engineer; Mr WAN Chin-ting, Assistant Engineer; Mr SO Kin-tak, Project Assistant; Mr CHAN Chi-keung, Project Technical Assistant; Mr CHAN Hon-man, Project Technical Assistant; Mr HO Yiu-cheong, Technical Assistant

PolyU has long been contributing to space explorations with innovative engineering solutions. In Chang'e-3 and 4 lunar missions, the Camera Pointing System (CPS) captured stunning panoramic images and enabled the monitoring of the rovers’ motion on the Moon’s near and far sides respectively. The Surface Sampling and Packing System brought back the first Chinese acquired lunar regolith in Chang’e-5 mission, and will be used in Chang’e-6 as well. In Tianwen-1 mission, PolyU’s Mars Landing Surveillance Camera has also landed on the red planet. Back on Earth, such high-precision engineering knowledge was applied in robotics, creating advanced robots such as the in-line pipe robot for water pipe inspection and repair.

Awardees:
Prof. TO Chi-ho, DoRCSV, Henry G. Leong Professor in Elderly Vision Health, Head of School of Optometry, Chair Professor of Experimental Optometry
Prof. Carly LAM, Professor, School of Optometry
Dr Dennis TSE, Associate Professor, School of Optometry

Myopia control using vision correction simultaneously with myopic defocus lets the user see clearly, while also focussing peripheral images slightly in front of the retina, so that the eye will adapt and shorten itself to receive the images. That would slow down the eyes from growing longer and near-sightedness from getting worse. The technology led to the invention of two products, DISC soft contact lens and DIMS spectacle lens, both proven to slow myopia progression among children by about 60%.  More details.

Awardees:
Prof. CHAN Shui-duen, Research Professor, Department of Chinese and Bilingual Studies
Prof. ZHU Xinhua, Professor, Department of Chinese and Bilingual Studies

Scholars from PolyU’s Department of Chinese and Bilingual Studies have been conducting research on the teaching and assessment of Chinese language in Hong Kong’s educational system. For over 30 years, they have contributed to the shaping of the Chinese language curriculum, updating students’ practical and integrated language skills to keep abreast of the times, encouraging higher-level thinking among students, bridging the gap in Chinese proficiency between non-Chinese speaking students and ethnic Chinese, and perfecting the language assessment standards.