News

PolyU Teams Excel at CIC BIM Competition 2024 with IC Mentorship

Congratulations to the PolyU teams for their excellent performance in the Construction Industry Council (CIC) Building Information Modelling (BIM) Competition 2024: Polyers (PolyU) - Champion BIM BIM有力 (PolyU) – 2nd Runner-up and Best Presentation Team Blueprint Visionaries (PolyU) – Merit IC is delighted to serve as the mentor of Polyers and BIM BIM有力. We provided students with professional advice on statutory and sustainability considerations, in addition to workflow and technical support for using BIM to investigate the design and planning processes of the project. Through this competition, students not only gained BIM software skills but also developed the ability to use BIM as a project management tool for project design coordination and collaboration. Additionally, they learned how to ensure their project met statutory and sustainability requirements during the design and planning process. CIC BIM Competition 2024 

PolyU develops and manufactures space instruments for the Nation’s Chang’e-6 mission, successfully completing the first lunar far side sampling in human history

In support of the Nation’s landmark sample return mission from the far side of the moon, a research team at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) collaborated with the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST) to develop and manufacture the “Surface Sampling and Packing System” for this historic task. On June 3, the PolyU-developed system accomplished the tasks of automatic sample collection and packaging on the lunar surface, following the soft landing of the Chang’e-6 probe, marking a milestone in human space exploration. The probe has already taken off from the moon with the cargo of the first-ever lunar soil samples from the far side set to return to Earth on June 25. For more details please visit https://www.polyu.edu.hk/media/media-releases/2024/0607_polyu-develops-and-manufactures-space-instruments-for-the-nations-change-6-mission/

SFT student wins Creativity Scholarship at PolyU Fashion Show 2024

Congratulations to student Hui Hei-yan from the School of Fashion and Textiles (SFT), whose project named "I am rooted, but I flow," was featured in the PolyU Fashion Show 2024 and ultimately awarded the Scholarship of Creativity by the HKFDA. Hei-yan developed a concept that combines solid and fluid illusions to represent the ideas of roots and flow. This concept was tested at IC using various materials to create a visual impact. Hei-yan's concept was further inspired by the infinity mirror design proposed by a School of Design (SD) student for IC's installation project earlier this year. The final design featured laser engraving on both fully reflective and reciprocal mirrors to visualize different physical phases. To further enhance the contrast between solid and fluid elements, we proposed a simple metallic mounting solution to Hei-yan to assemble the mirrors on a soft leather body. This approach resulted in a better contrasting visual effect of her design. Encouraged by this success, Hei-yan developed an additional design for her collection. She finally won the award at the PolyU Fashion Show 2024 and was shortlisted for the upcoming Hong Kong Young Designers' Contest.Hei-yan is currently using a project base at IC to further develop her design. She is shortlisted in the coming Hong Kong Young Designers' Contest.

IC received two awards in PolyU OSH Excellence Award 2023

The application of legged robot in inspecting chemical lab leakage jointly proposed by IC, the Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering (BEEE) and the Department of Health Technology and Informatics (HTI) was awarded the Best Use of Technology in the PolyU Occupational Safety and Health Excellence Award 2023. At the same occassion IC was also awarded the Best Innovation Award. The award ceremony was held on 22 September 2023. IC has actively promoting the use of new technologies such as immersive technologies, robot, in safety. These new technologies and applications was introduced to students as part of the learning activities as well as in workplaces. For more details of the application of legged robot in inspecting chemical lab leakage, please visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_kd50QChLc&t=12s 

IC won the first ever Geneva Award with its innovative HiVE

The HiVE (Hybrid Immersive Virtual Environment) has won IC's first ever award at the 48th International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva (Geneva Inventions Expo), held from 26 - 30 April 2023. HiVE together with the other 27 PolyU innovations received a total of 31 prizes at the Expo, the highest number of prizes PolyU teams have ever received at this event. The HiVE is the world’s first large-scale X-Reality hybrid classroom developed by PolyU. HiVE adopts fully immersive Cave Automatic Virtual Environment (CAVE) technology for practical and collaborative learning. The 6-sided CAVE platform creates an immersive 2D or 3D environment to help students visualise abstract concepts and experience the limitless possibilities of the digital world. Additionally, this platform provides a virtual training environment that enables students to experience and practice critical hands-on skills in realistic scenarios like fire outbreaks, medical procedures, and aircraft maintenance that are not easily accessible in the actual world. The Hybrid CAVE also allows teachers to seamlessly switch between face-to-face and immersive teaching, blending virtual technology with conventional learning to enhance students’ learning experience. HiVE has started supporting PolyU academic departments (including APSS, HTI, BEEE, SN, ENGL, ABCT) in teaching activities since Semester One of 2022/2023 Academic Year. Watch our introduction of HiVE on YouTube Press Release published by PolyU  

Launch of AIR Lab

Joining hands with Hai Robotics, PolyU officially launched the cutting-edge Smart Delivery System in IC's new Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Lab (AIR Lab). The Smart Delivery System aims to strengthen PolyU’s robotics education and encourage co-creation and innovation among students and researchers. The AIR Lab is an innovative teaching and research platform, with a total area of 1,800 square metres. It is equipped with advanced robotic arms, robots, automatic guided vehicles, drones, as well as machine learning kits related to AI robotics and Industry 4.0. The Laboratory allows educators, students and researchers to explore various aspects of the emerging field of collaborative robotics, including application development, component fabrication, control system design, autonomous system development, and intelligent and AI algorithm design for robots. The Smart Delivery System comprises three components: Hai Robotics’ Autonomous Case-handling Robot system, IC’s Autonomous Mobile Robots, and an enterprise resource planning software system. It will support researchers in developing various collaborative robot application technologies, and offer a communal logistics service for the Lab’s users, making the venue a living laboratory. The AIR Lab currently houses 15 PolyU project teams that focus on the use of AI and robotic technologies in areas such as healthcare, rehabilitation, sports technology, engineering, energy, computing, and sustainability. Demonstration of Smart Delivery System Press Release published by PolyU  

4D VR Application for Computer Game Showcased in GIES 2022

IC supported Dr Joyce LAU, a Post-doctoral Fellow from PolyU's Department of Rehabilitation Sciences (RS), to develop a computer game for carrying out physical exercies in a 4-dimensional virtual reality environment. Upon completion of specific tasks, the system releases aroma accordingly. It attracts the participants to be more active in the game. The development was exhibited in Gerontech and Innovation Expo cum Summit (GIES) 2022 in November 2022. It was well-received by the professionals, academics and Government officials. They tried the system and projected possible future applications for the elderlies.

Student Project awarded "Best Usability" Award in gSIC 2022

A student team led by IC received the “Best Usability” award in the Design Category of the 15th International Convention on Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Global Student Innovation Challenge (gSIC) 2022 Hong Kong SAR held in August 2022 with their project “PolyCARE”. A total of 23 teams from different countries and cities participated in the competition. PolyCARE is a smart human-like robot designed and fabricated by PolyU students under the supervision and guidance of IC. PolyCARE can carry out public hygiene monitoring such as face mask detection, social distancing and body temperature measurement. It can also be used as an intelligent personal assistant as well as companion to patients by monitoring patient’s health data and vital signs, conducting remote medical consultation and detecting emotions. The student team generated the idea of fabricating a care robot in times of pandemic when they saw the manpower in care industry was facing a serious shortage and many patients were suffering from psychological health issues.

IC supported iCREATe 2022

IC supported the 15th International Convention on Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology 2022 (i-CREATe 2022). The objectives of i-CREATe are to provide a common platform for researchers/academics, practitioners, end-users/caregivers, industry players and policy makers to interact and share knowledge, information and experiences in assistive and rehabilitation technologies; to promote awareness, acceptance and adaptation of assistive and rehabilitation technologies in ASEAN; and to encourage and strengthen research, education and commercialization of assistive and rehabilitation technologies in ASEAN.  The event included paper presentation and the Student Innovation Challenge. Dr CHEUNG Ching-ching, Senior Engineering Manager of IC was invited to serve as Moderator of the Student Innovation Challenge.  A visit to IC's Smart Elderly Home was also arranged for the participants.

Outstanding achievement in knowledge transfer hailed by PolyU

Congratulations to the Space Project Team who was presented the President’s Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Knowledge Transfer 2021! Led by Ir Prof K. L. Yung, BBS, Sir Sze-yuen Chung Professor in Precision Engineering; Chair Professor of Precision Engineering and Associate Head, Department of Industrial & Systems Engineering, the team has successfully transferred and applied the technologies and knowledge developed in the series of space tools project for the China Lunar Exploration Missions in local medical and industrial projects. Research and development of space tools is challenging and costly. Yet through the research and development process the project team can always create some sophisticated, remarkable, valuable, innovative technological knowledges across various scientific and engineering disciplines, not only beneficial to the industry but also to the society. The Camera Pointing System (CPS) used in the Chinese Lunar Exploration Programme Phase 2’s Chang’e 3 and 4 soft landing missions and Surface Sampling and Packing System (SPSS) employed in the Phase 3’s Chang’e 5 and 6 sample return missions are not only critical to the success of the missions but their associated technologies developed have also generated inspiring, promising solutions to novel miniaturized internally motorized non-invasive surgical robotic system (NSRS) for different guided surgical operations via natural orifice as well as in-line inspection pipe robot for automatic water mains in-situ pipe cleaning, inspection and repairment. Below are the technologies and knowledge researched and developed: • High Strength Lightweight Materials – payload of space instrument is always a prime concern due to the cost and power consideration, thus lightweight but high strength materials are researched and successfully transferred to the surgical robot and pipe robot to reduce the driving power significantly. • High Precision Motion Technology – the knowledge of sophisticated mechanism and motion control technologies developed for precise motion by the space instruments was transferred to enable the surgical robot and pipe robot move accurately. • Compact Integrated Design – the integrated design technique to minimize the weight and volume of the space instruments was transferred to enhance the maneuverability of the surgical robot and pipe robot in a very limited confined space. • System Miniaturization – the miniaturization technology developed for mechanical and electrical components was transferred to the surgical robot and pipe robot to reduce the sizes, weights and associated power consumption. • Anti-vibration Mechanisms – the design of anti-vibration mechanisms developed for space instruments against shock and vibration during launching, cruise and landing was transferred to the surgical robot and pipe robot to increase the operation stability. • Extreme environment Protection Technology – the thermal and radiation protection technology developed for space instruments to survive in extreme planetary environment was transferred to the surgical robot and pipe robot to withstand the harsh environment of the surroundings inside the human body and water pipe respectively.