Kit

Robomaster 2021

Computer Science, The 3rd Engineering InnoShow / By

Robomaster is a national robotic competition for university students, hosted by DJI during the summer vacation on a yearly basis. It combines technology and e-gaming competition style, thus being exciting and unconventional. HKU Robomaster has been recruiting enthusiastic engineering students since 2017. We aim to cultivate the quality of members that will benefit their career with the practical experience gained during the preparation and participation process. Our work is divided into technical management, machinal & hardware management, and software & algorithm development.

BREED Robotics: World’s fastest Robotic Fish

Mechanical Engineering, The 3rd Engineering InnoShow / By

The main purpose of this project is to show the previous robotic fish and come up with the design and control-system for a robotic fish which is more efficient, faster and easily-maneuverable.
The students worked on the existing design, from the VAYU-project, making it faster and better with the goal to break the existing World-Record as well as supplement the fish with additional electrical and software features like controller, feedback-system and directional-control. Additional features such as servo-fins and underwater camera detection coming in next semester. The project goal is (i) to make the fish controllable, i.e. maneuverable in water and (ii) break the World-Record for the fastest Robotic-fish again.

Smart Ozone Sterilizing Robot

Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering, The 3rd Engineering InnoShow / By

Due to the outbreak of COVID 19 pandemic, over millions of people infected in foreign countries every day. To fight back the coronavirus, we are here to present our product – SORBOT. SORBOT is an ozone sterilizing robot combining AGV technology and ozone generator. Ozone is a non-polluting method to sterilize the air. Robot Operating System will act as a bridge for the controlling programs of both motors and the sensors to communicate and coordinate. Using both cloud and database platforms, we can provide an easy monitoring system for our customers to track the ozone concentration and robot inside a room area. We believed that it is beneficial to the public.

A Smart Robotic Walker with Intelligent Close-proximity Interaction Capabilities for Elderly Mobility Safety

Computer Science, The 3rd Engineering InnoShow / By

We propose a novel smart robotic walker that targets a convenient-to-use indoor walking aid for the elderly. The walker supports multiple modes of interactions through voice, gait, or haptic touch, and allows intelligent control via learning-based methods to achieve mobility safety. Our design enables a flexible, initiative, and reliable walker due to three main functions. Our walker tracks users in front by detecting lower limb gait while providing close-proximity walking safety support. By monitoring force pressure on a specially designed soft-robotic interface on the handle, the walker can detect human intentions and predict emergency events. Our walker performs reinforcement learning-based sound source localization to locate and navigate to the user based on his/her voice signals.

Smart Mask

Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering, The 3rd Engineering InnoShow / By

Due to the outbreak of COVID-19, a face mask has help us to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 viruses. The use of the mask has been substantially increased. For further enhancing the functionality of the mask, it is desirable for developing a smart product with an integration of digital technologies, including IoT, AI, mobile devices, and cloud computing. The smart product has the following features to minimize the spread of the COVID-19:

Chair Stacking System

Mechanical Engineering, The 3rd Engineering InnoShow / By

The Chair Stacking System(CSS) aims to build an intelligent system for the centre that helps to stack up chairs in conference rooms. The chair stacking system detects and stacking chairs automatically. The machine mainly consists of lifting system and robotic arms system, which is programmed by using Arduino platform. The lifting system acts as the basic support, and it controls vertical position of the arms. The robotic arms provide accurate movement to grab chairs in hand. Various mechanisms that are used, including belt-driven actuator, lead screw actuator, rack and pinion, and etc.

Performance of Sustainable Cement for Marine Construction

Civil Engineering, The 3rd Engineering InnoShow / By

Chloride attack of concrete in particular for marine structures is a serious global issue where it can lead to severe deterioration of the concrete, drastic reduction in strength of structures and safety concerns. The world is urging for a remedy to this situation. A green alternative to Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC), Alkaline-activated Slag (AAS), is found to be having 70%-150% higher chloride binding capacity than that of OPC, making it a potential antidote to this issue. This project aimed to analyse the chloride resistance of AAS in the marine environment, to provide better predict the service life of marine structures and to find ways to enhance the durability of concrete in aggressive conditions. With AAS, let us ‘cement’ a sustainable future.

Preparing a Novel Pressure Driven Membrane with High Performance for Seawater Desalination

Civil Engineering, The 3rd Engineering InnoShow / By

Seawater desalination offers the vast potential of producing unlimited clean water. Membrane-based desalination technologies can be used to produce alternation water source. Reverse osmosis (RO) is regarded as a reliable technique for seawater desalination. Most RO membranes have a thin-film composite (TFC) structure, and the performance of the membrane is predominantly determined by the physiochemical properties of the polyamide (PA) layer. The performance and the formation mechanism of the PA layer have been intensively studied in recent years. This project aims at fabricating the TFC membrane using a support-free IP reaction, and to explore the formation mechanisms of the PA layer in the SFIP reaction system. Results show that the performance of the fabricated RO membranes is satisfactory.

Smart Product Development – AGV Robot

Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering, The 3rd Engineering InnoShow / By

We created an Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV), in the shape of a Hong Kong Tram. This AGV is able to autonomously follow, turn, and pause at a path by only given basic information about its environment. To complete this project, our team has to combine our skills in CAD modelling, 3D Printing, Advanced Machining, Laser Cutting, and Programming. Our objective in this project is to create a more fun and approachable learning tool for primary or secondary students, to learn more about the world of robotics, logistics, and automation.

Electrospun reusable nanofibrous membrane filters for environmental applications

Civil Engineering, The 3rd Engineering InnoShow / By

Our team developed highly efficient nanofibrous membrane filters for different environmental applications, including water and air purification. We utilized electrospinning as a platform to fabricate functional nanofibrous membrane filters for pollutant removal, including heavy metals, particulate matters, etc. Thanks to the high porosity of nanofibers, the filtration consumes almost zero electricity without sacrificing efficiency. Moreover, after saturation of contaminants, the filters can be easily regenerated by simple washing with daily accessible agents like citric acid and ethanol. The project aims at offering a more sustainable and healthier lifestyle for modern society. Thus, commercialization opportunities are highly welcome.