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.