April 2023 – Innovation Academy

Developing Educational VR Games For Chinese Second Language Learners

This project looks into VR’s potential as a Chinese language learning tool for students whose first language is other than Chinese. Particularly, the study focuses on the efficiency of VR based educational games to raise Hong Kong’s non-Chinese local secondary school students’ confidence in interacting in Chinese and using it for common daily tasks. The project is done in collaboration with IBEL – a center that provides educational support to underprivileged non-Chinese Speaking (NCS) communities in Hong Kong.

Follo

The 8th Engineering Inno Show / By kit

Follo is an automated shopping trolley that lifts up for you to load,holds your groceries and follows you back home. It also functions as a seat whenever you need a moment of rest.
It is safe, secure, elderly tailored and cost efficient. It can bare up to 20 kg of weight inside and can support up to 80 kg outside. 3 simple buttons for easy control of cart height with a companion wristband or app, It has secure ownership with unique signal transmission and lid opening orders restricted to your device. With Follo, it can eliminate average 10 kg weight carrying, encourage elderly’s outings by 20% and bring the shopping experience to a whole new level.

Game: Ocean Trader

Computer Science, The 8th Engineering Inno Show / By kit

Ever dream of being a sailor on the sea; travelling all around; trading everywhere? You are about to experience that! Upon entering the game, what you only got is some money to buy a boat and there are only few ports to travel to. Explore the “Exchange” in different cities where you can buy/sell goods to make some fortune! Go to bar, update the boat…there are functionalities to find out! It all starts with a trade. Try to make as much as possible, also, build Chinatowns for future generations to come. Go and “sail it out”!

LEAPS(local environment alliance project series)

Biomedical Engineering, SIG Projects, The 8th Engineering Inno Show / By kit

Our project aims at solving existing local environmental issues from different aspects. Last year, we focused on the local aquatic environment. Dealing with the problem of Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) affecting the local fish industry. We designed a transgenic AMP-expressing microalgae fish feed supplement that can deliver passive immunity and nutrition to fish in aqua systems plagued with AMR. This year, we continue our project by focusing on lithium ion waste. We propose bioleaching as an alternative to the current recycling methods, which both enhances the recovery rate and also reduces the leaching of toxic reagents leading to soil and water acidification.

RoboMaster @ 8th Inno Show

Computer Science, SIG Projects, The 8th Engineering Inno Show / By kit

RoboMaster is an international robotics competition for university students organized by DJI. It integrates robotics with e-gaming elements to create an exciting and unconventional competition experience. The ground robots mainly use projectiles to shoot at enemy robots, outposts and the base. In addition, there are also drones and darts to carry out air strikes, and radars to assist in battlefield communications. HKU RoboMaster Team (HerKules) has been recruiting enthusiastic students from all faculties since 2017, and aim to provide members with a comprehensive understanding of robotics, including mechanical hardware and software aspects.

OpenMANIPULATOR-P Bartender

Mechanical Engineering, The 8th Engineering Inno Show / By kit

In this project, the viability and feasibility of employing robotic bartenders would be examined through a thorough analysis of their practicality and potential impact. The aim of this project is to design and develop a robotic system that can automatically prepare and serve cocktails. Apart from the robotic arm and the automation system, an overall design layout is customized for the arm, including a customized shaker cup, to provide a safety user experience and help facilitate the serving and bartending process. Ultimately, our visions are to alleviate the workload of bartenders and minimize the risk of occupational injuries by introducing robotic bartenders.

Bomber

Computer Science, The 8th Engineering Inno Show / By kit

BOMBER is a Strategy base 3D online 1v1 multiplayer Grenade-only FPS game. We aim to let people who are bad at aiming, also able to have fun in FPS games. This game contains 3 types of grenades, they are cracker, remote, and gas grenades; and 2 self-protection mechanisms, which are barrier and dash. The game design encourages players to win the game by hiding their remote grenades, then using cracker and gas grenades to force their enemy, to walk into the remote grenades’ explosion radius. The way to win is how well you can lead and predict where your enemy goes.

Exit Finder – navigational assistance for VIPs

The 8th Engineering Inno Show / By kit

Through interviewing Visually Impaired Person(s) (VIPs) from the Hong Kong Society for the Blind, our team identified the struggle that VIPs face when having to use the MTR. VIPs have difficulty travelling to new places with the MTR on their own due to the lack of accessibility in the MTR stations. The mobile application “The Exit Finder” aims to provide an offline in-station barrier-free navigational assistance for VIPs. The proposed mobile application will present text-to-speech information about the directions towards the chosen MTR exit based on the tactile paths available in every MTR station. The success of this strategy, without the requirement of installation of additional facilities, improves the railway travelling experience of VIPs particularly travelling around unfamiliar stations, as public transport should be accessible for everyone.

Simulation and big data analytics for on-demand ride-hailing services

Civil Engineering, The 8th Engineering Inno Show / By kit

Advances in technology and the popularisation of mobile phones have enabled ride-hailing services to emerge and heighten their market penetration in the transportation industry. Along with the Hong Kong government’s vision to develop smart mobility, a review of the current outdated policies regulating taxis and ride-hailing services is essential for developing a sustainable, efficient, and environmentally friendly on-demand transportation service. The main goal of the study is to recommend policies and operating strategies to assist in developing ride-hailing services in Hong Kong. This study uses a simulation platform to undergo sensitivity analysis for policies and operating strategies for ride-hailing services.

Smart Soccer Robot (ii) @ 8th Inno Show

Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering, The 8th Engineering Inno Show / By kit

We Built a Smart Soccer Robot with Arduino Core and added innovative designs to the Robot, including a dinosaur head and self-lock pincers. The Robot has relatively high performance in carrying or intercepting balls and thus could excel in Scoccer Matches. It is a light-weighted educational smart robot, suitable for teenagers to learn hands-on robot building and programming.