PolyU Innovations Garner Four Awards at International Trade Fair for Ideas, Inventions & New Products (iENA) in Germany

The three outstanding innovations of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) showcased at the 71st International Trade Fair for Ideas, Inventions & New Products (iENA) held in Nuremberg, Germany have garnered three Gold Medals and one Special Merit Award.

iENA is one of the most important international trade fairs for the inventor community. The trade fair, held from 31 October to 3 November this year, attracted inventors from research institutions, academic bodies and business enterprises from more than 30 countries to showcase over 800 inventions and product innovations. With a history of over 70 years, iENA has become an annual platform for global inventors, entrepreneurs, investors and developers to seek collaboration and commercialisation of innovations.

Among the world-class innovations on display, PolyU’s innovations have all been granted awards by iENA’s specialist jury in recognition of their remarkable innovative ideas and cutting-edge technologies. The award-winning innovations of PolyU are:-

1. Atmospheric Acidic Ultrafine Particle Measuring Device

   Gold Medal and Special Merit Award
   Principal Investigator: Professor GUO Hai, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

   Atmospheric acidic ultrafine particles (AUFPs), with a diameter of less than 0.1 µm, may affect human health. Yet, there has been a lack of reliable instruments for measuring AUFP concentration to facilitate the assessment of its influences on health, air quality monitoring, as well as related pollution and epidemiological studies. PolyU’s novel device, comprises a diffusion sampler and a quartz crystal microbalance detector with specially treated crystal oscillators, can measure AUFPs concentration in a safe, accurate, reliable way .

2. Object Detection and Distance Measurement Sensor based on Light Field Imaging

   Gold Medal

   Principal Investigator: Dr LI Lihua, Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering

   3D information of micro objects can be critically useful for medical diagnosis related to live body tissues, or quality control in semi-conductor manufacturing. PolyU has developed a novel imaging system that includes a micro-lens array fabricated with our own ultra-precision machining techniques, as well as a module for converting light into electrons. By applying an algorithm created with deep learning, it can identify a micro object from its 2D digital photos and acquire its light field information in real time for distance measuring or 3D reconstruction. The sensor is compact, portable and attachable on different types of camera lens for precise distance measurement in various ranges, including micro and macro photography.

3. Dolphin - Effective Indoor Positioning Service

   Gold Medal

   Principal Investigator: Mr Gary CM LEUNG, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Blue Pin (a PolyU supported start-up), and PdD student of the Department of Electronic and Information Engineering

   “Dolphin” uses Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) beacons and mobile phones with a location algorithm and a co-operative positioning algorithm developed by PolyU to provide indoor positioning and navigation. In areas with insufficient beacon signals, it still functions as it can calculate users’ positions by collecting and processing BLE signals from their mobile phones, thus further enhancing the positioning accuracy. The system can also apply big data analytics to identify users’ behaviours. Such information enables venue or shop owners or exhibitors to attract new and return customers in the proximity of their venue by sending them relevant advertisements or offers before they reach the venue.

iENA was first launched in 1948 in Nuremberg of Germany. Over the past 70 years, about 30,000 inventions have been presented at the trade fair. iENA this year is organized by AFAG Messen und Ausstellungen GmbH, partnered with the Union of Croatian Innovators (UCI), in collaboration with International Federation of Inventors’ Association (IFIA), German Patent and Trade Mark Office (DPMA), German Inventor Association (DEV) and the Association of German Engineers (VDI). For details, please visit the organiser’s official website:- http://www.iena.de/en/home.html

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