The 3rd Engineering InnoShow

Smart Ozone Sterilizing Robot

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

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

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

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.

Self‐healing, microencapsulation and granular materials

Foundation quality is of paramount importance to all civil engineering works. Since it governs the safety of the structures and buildings stood above it. However, settlement in foundation is found very common, in which it comes as a natural deterioration process. Maintenance work for foundation can be challenging and costly. Having said that, inspired by the adopting of self-healing capsules in concrete improvement, this study aims to mimic and incorporate similar self-healing technology in strengthening of soil.

Performance of Sustainable Cement for Marine Construction

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

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

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

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.

Automatic Chair Parking System

Automatic Chair Parking System aims to provide a smart solution in classroom and other similar environment by helping to move and arrange chairs, while reducing the risk of occupational injuries and potential dangers related to the repetitive works. This can also reduce the reliance on labour force and ultimately improve the efficiency. The system therefore is designed to autonomously transport chairs to the designated parking area with minimal human control.