News

Mr ANG Jershon Ainsleigh Entote Awarded HKIE Scholarship Renewal for 2024/25

We are delighted to share that Mr ANG Jershon Ainsleigh Entote has once again been recognized for his outstanding academic performance, receiving a renewed installment of the HKIE Scholarship for the 2024/25 academic year. The award was presented to Jershon at the HKIE Prize Presentation Ceremony cum New Members’ Reception held on 17 January 2026. Jershon’s continued dedication to his engineering studies and his exemplary achievements throughout 2024 have earned him this prestigious honour for a second consecutive year. His commitment to academic excellence and professional growth truly embodies the spirit of the HKIE Scholarship, which supports and encourages promising full-time engineering undergraduates to become future leaders in the field. For more information about the HKIE Scholarship scheme, please visit the HKIE official website. Congratulations to Jershon on this well-deserved recognition!

AAE Student Receives Merit Award in Best URIS Research Project Award 2025

The annual Best URIS Research Project Award recognizes outstanding undergraduate research that demonstrates exceptional innovation and academic rigor. We are delighted to announce that Miss Zhou Jiayi, one of our undergraduate students, has been honoured with the Merit Award for 2025. Under the supervision of Prof. Hsu Li-ta and co-supervision of Prof. Zhang Guohao, Miss Zhou conducted an insightful study titled “Research and Modelling of GNSS Signal Scattering Effects in Urban Areas.” Through extensive large-scale experiments in Hong Kong and France, her research highlighted that signal propagation through vegetation differs significantly from urban building interference. These findings led to the development of a novel weighting model that accounts for satellite elevation angles, substantially improving positioning accuracy in vegetated environments—a vital advancement for location-based services in forested areas. Miss Zhou Jiayi’s research was showcased at prestigious international platforms, including the ION Pacific PNT conference in Honolulu and the IEEE/ION PLANS symposium in Salt Lake City. Please join us in congratulating Miss Zhou on this recognition and her dedication to the field of navigation. Read more about the Best URIS Research Project Award 2025 here.  

PolyU AAE Students Win Award of Excellence at The 3rd Space Universities CubeSat Challenge - China Finals with Innovative Mars Mission Design

The Department of Aeronautical and Aviation Engineering (AAE) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is proud to announce that its students achieved the Award of Excellence at the 3rd Space Universities CubeSat Challenge (SUCC), held on 19 November 2025 at the Wenchang Space Launch Centre in Wenchang, Hainan, China.   The PolyU team, supervised by Research Assistant Professor, Dr Wang Tianqi, comprising PhD student Mr Samba Zhou Zihong and undergraduate student Mr Wang Lexuan, represented PolyU at this prestigious international competition. In collaboration with the Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT), the team advanced to the final round and received the Award of Excellence in the category of Proposals and Products.   The award-winning team presented their innovative project titled "Design and Implementation of a CubeSat System for Observing the Entry, Descent, and Landing (EDL) Process of a Mars Lander". This novel proposal aims to deploy a CubeSat to achieve the first-ever complete imaging of the Mars EDL process, incorporating multiple pioneering technologies including perturbation-based orbit control, reinforcement learning-based angular momentum management (AMM), and infrared (IR) attitude tracking and scanning systems.   AAE’s participation and success in the SUCC underscore the department’s high level of astronautical engineering research and education, particularly in addressing key challenges in interplanetary space exploration, nanosatellite design, and deep space navigation, guidance, and control.   About the Space Universities CubeSat Challenge (SUCC) The SUCC is organised by the International Astronautical Federation (IAF) and its Space University Administrative Committee (SUAC) in cooperation with the Chinese Society of Astronautics (CSA), the Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT), and the Dalian University of Technology (DUT). Themed "CubeSat, a platform for new technology verification and international cooperation", the competition encourages the cultivation of next-generation space talent, promotes international collaboration, and advocates for the peaceful and sustainable development of space technologies.   The competition topics focus on CubeSat innovation missions, conceptual CubeSat platform and component innovation system design, innovative CubeSat payloads and applications, as well as other new concepts, ideas, and viewpoints in CubeSat design and applications.   More about the 3rd SUCC: http://www.csaspace.org.cn/n2489262/n2489292/c4490161/content.html.

AAE PhD Students Shine with First Prize at the 11th China Graduate Future Flight Competition

The China Graduate Future Flight Vehicle Innovation Competition is one of the themed events under the "China Graduate Innovation & Practice Series Competitions." Organized by the Ministry of Education and the China Academic Degrees & Graduate Education Society, and co-organized by the Chinese Society of Astronautics and the Chinese Society of Aeronautics, the competition is inspired by the vision of "Innovation Shapes the Future (创新改变未来)." Focusing on technological advancements in aircraft, the competition aims to foster innovative thinking, entrepreneurial spirit, and practical skills among graduate students. It serves as a platform to cultivate and identify high-calibre, forward-thinking talent, driving the development of the next generation of leaders in aviation and aerospace innovation.   Since its launch in May 2025, this year's competition has attracted 700 teams and 3,871 participants from 166 institutions. After the preliminary reviews, 286 teams and 1,376 participants from 72 institutions advanced to the national finals. In the final round, a total of 27 first prizes, 72 second prizes, and 142 third prizes were awarded, recognising outstanding achievements and innovative excellence among the participants.   Led by Prof. Wen Chih-Yung, Chair Professor of Aeronautical Engineering, the student team comprising Mr. Tan Zheng, Mr. Yang Wenyu, and Mr. Li Yuzhou, ultimately won the first prize in the finals. Congratulations to the team!  

Prof. Hsu Li-Ta, Prof. Wen Weisong, and Dr Zhang Guohao Honored with the 2024 Most Cited Manuscript Award by the Institute of Navigation

The Department of Aeronautical and Aviation Engineering at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University is proud to announce that the paper “Hong Kong UrbanNav: An Open-Source Multisensory Dataset for Benchmarking Urban Navigation Algorithms”, co-authored by Prof. Hsu Li-Ta, Prof. Wen Weisong, and Dr Zhang Guohao, together with their collaborators, has been awarded the 2024 Most Cited Manuscript Award by the NAVIGATION: Journal of the Institute of Navigation (ION). The award was presented at ION GNSS+ 2025, held from September 8–12, 2025, at the Hilton Baltimore Inner Harbor in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. The recognition celebrates the paper as the most frequently cited publication in 2024, highlighting its strong influence on the global research community in positioning, navigation, and autonomous systems. The awarded paper, published in NAVIGATION (Vol. 70, No. 4), introduces Hong Kong UrbanNav, a publicly available multisensory dataset designed for benchmarking urban navigation algorithms. By enabling researchers worldwide to evaluate and compare navigation solutions under complex urban conditions, the dataset has accelerated innovation in autonomous driving, robotics, and smart city development. The award-winning team includes: Prof. Hsu Li-Ta Prof. Wen Weisong Dr Bai Xiwei Dr Huang Feng Dr Ng Hoi-Fung Dr Zhang Guohao Mr Zhong Yihan  Their collaborative achievement exemplifies the importance of open science and international cooperation in addressing key challenges in mobility and intelligent transportation. This international recognition not only honors the authors’ pioneering contributions but also underscores PolyU’s leadership in advancing navigation and positioning research for the future of intelligent transportation systems.

PolyU delegation participated the 8th COMAC International Science and Innovation Week

The 8th Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) International Science and Technology Innovation Week, themed “Sky Link: Sustainable Aviation for the Future,” was launched at the Beijing Civil Aircraft Technology Research Center of COMAC on 8 September 2025. This year, the focus was on new-energy aircraft, artificial intelligence, the low-altitude economy, and the transformation of the air transport system. It brought together over 500 experts and stakeholders from government, academia, industry, research institutes, and industry associations across nine countries and regions.   A delegation from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) participated in this event, including Professor Chih-Yung WEN, Chair Professor of Aeronautical Engineering and Director of the COMAC–PolyU Research Institute for Large Aircraft (RILA); Professor Siyang ZHONG, Assistant Professor in the Department of Aeronautical and Aviation Engineering; as well as representatives from the PolyU Research and Innovation Office (RIO) and RILA. PolyU delegation took part in the opening ceremony, the SciTech and Young Talent Forum, and thematic seminars such as the Low‑Altitude Economy seminar, engaging in in‑depth discussions with representatives from leading institutions, including Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Khalifa University, Beijing Institute of Technology, and the Chinese Society of Aeronautics and Astronautics, exploring opportunities for future collaboration.   COMAC–PolyU Research Institute for Large Aircraft (RILA) Established in November 2024 as a joint initiative between COMAC and PolyU, RILA is dedicated to advancing the development, innovation, and deployment of large‑aircraft technologies in support of China’s strategic aviation objectives. Leveraging PolyU’s strengths in aeronautical engineering and digital technologies, alongside COMAC’s extensive expertise in aircraft design, manufacturing and operations, RILA addresses critical challenges across the full aircraft lifecycle. Currently, RILA is supporting research projects focusing on digital‑intelligent manufacturing, predictive maintenance, operations optimisation, and sustainable recycling solutions. Through joint efforts between PolyU and COMAC in research projects, patent applications, high-quality publications, and training for postgraduate students, RILA aims to enhance the competitiveness, reliability, and sustainability of China’s large aircraft sector, positioning Hong Kong as a significant contributor to both national and global aerospace innovation.

AAE Scholars ranked among World’s Top 2% Most-Cited Scientists

Nine PolyU AAE scholars are ranked the world’s top 2% most-cited scientists in 2025. This prestigious acknowledgment, compiled and announced annually by researchers at Stanford University, USA, is determined by citations, h-index, co-authorship-adjusted hm-index, citations to papers in various authorship positions, and a composite indicator. Congratulations to our academic staff for their unwavering dedication to achieving research excellence! This recognition highlights their significant contributions and influence within their respective fields of expertise. Prof. CHEN Wen-Hua  Prof. WEN Chih Yung Prof. LIU Wei Prof. NG Kam Hung Prof. HSU Li Ta Prof. HUANG Hailong Prof. SHEN Xi Prof. WEN Weisong Dr ZHANG Guohao Data available at Elsevier: https://elsevier.digitalcommonsdata.com/datasets/btchxktzyw/8 Published: 19 September 2025|Version 8|DOI:10.17632/btchxktzyw.8

AAE Student Wins Best Poster Award at The 15th International Conference on Indoor Positioning and Navigation (IPIN)

We are pleased to share that AAE student Mr LYU Zhen excelled at the 15th International Conference on Indoor Positioning and Navigation (IPIN), held in Tampere, Finland during 15 - 18 September 2025. His innovative work was voted for the "Best Poster Award" by all the conference attendees.   The award-winning research, titled "Enhanced Radio SLAM Algorithm Based on Architectural Geometric Constraints", introduces an innovative navigation method that utilises building floor plans to locate Wi-Fi access points in unknown areas rapidly. Under the supervision of Prof. ZHANG Guohao, Mr Lyu's work demonstrates how architectural features can be leveraged to enhance positioning capabilities, offering a new environmental perception for indoor positioning services. This research is particularly applicable to smart buildings, indoor navigation, and other fields requiring precise perception in complex environments.

Mr Ang Jershon Ainsleigh Entote's Journey with The HKIE Scholarship in 2024-25

We are excited to share that Mr ANG Jershon Ainsleigh Entote, a recipient of the HKIE Scholarship, has shared a new video showcasing his involvement in HKIE activities over the past year. As a 2022/23 awardee, he has excelled in his studies and met all scholarship requirements throughout his four years of study. The HKIE Scholarship scheme recognises the academic achievements of outstanding full-time engineering undergraduate students and aims to develop them into future leaders in the field. We invite you to view Jershon's video, embedded below.     Congratulations to Jershon for his achievements and contributions to the engineering community! --- Read more about Jershon's achievement and the award presentation ceremony: https://www.polyu.edu.hk/aae/news-and-events/news/2023/13mar-aae-student-awarded-hkie-scholarships-202223/.

AAE Students Take Flight in China Universities Aircraft Design Competition

Seven Aerospace and Aeronautical Engineering (AAE) students recently participated in the China Universities Aircraft Design Competition (CUADC), marking the department’s debut in this meaningful event. Organized by the Chinese Society of Aeronautics and Astronautics, CUADC has engaged over 3,000 students from 120 mainland institutions annually since 2022. Held during 14–16 August 2025 at Deqing Moganshan General Airport in Zhejiang, the East and South Regional Selection Trials challenged teams to design unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for reconnaissance and rescue missions. Key focus areas included autonomous control systems, target identification, and precision supply delivery. This hands-on experience allowed AAE students to apply theoretical knowledge, explore their interests, and engage with peers from across the mainland, fostering cross-cultural exchange and collaboration.   The team’s participation was made possible through the generous sponsorship of Hong Kong Airlines, reflecting the airline’s commitment to supporting future talent in aviation and engineering.   We commend our students for their initiative and encourage others to take part in similar competitions, which offer invaluable opportunities for learning, innovation, and professional growth.