Academic Staff

Brief Biosketch

Professor K. L. Yung is Director of the Research Centre for Deep Space Explorations, the Sir Sze-yuen Chung Professor in Precision Engineering, and an Associate Head and Chair Professor of the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. He received his BSc in Electronic Engineering at Brighton University in 1975, a MSc, DIC in Automatic Control Systems at Imperial College of Science, Technology & Medicine, University of London in 1976, and his PhD in Microprocessor Applications in Process Control at Plymouth University in 1985 in the United Kingdom and became a Chartered Engineer (C.Eng., MIEE) in 1982. After graduation, he worked in the United Kingdom for companies such as BOC Advanced Welding Co. Ltd., the British Ever Ready Group and the Cranfield Unit for Precision Engineering (CUPE). In 1986, he returned to Hong Kong to join the Hong Kong Productivity Council as a consultant and subsequently switched to academia to join the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University.

Professor Yung has a wealth of experience in developing sophisticated space instruments for different deep space exploration missions. His impressive portfolio includes the “Space Holinser Forceps” for the MIR Space Station (1994), the "Mars Rock Corer" for the European Space Agency's Mars Express Mission (2003), and the "Soil Preparation System" for the Sino-Russian Phobos-Grunt Mission (2011). He has also developed advanced precision robotic systems for China's Space Exploration Missions, such as the “Camera Pointing System (CPS)” for Chang'e-3 and -4 (2013 and 2019) on both the near and far sides of the Moon, the "Surface Sampling and Packing System" for Chang'e-5's Lunar Sample Return Mission (2020) and Chang’e-6’s first lunar far side sampling in human history (2024), and the "Mars Landing Surveillance Camera" for China's inaugural Mars Landing Mission, Tianwen 1 (2021).

Teaching and Research Specialties

Precision Engineering, Product Mechatronics, Automatic Control System, Computer Integrated Manufacturing and Management, Computer Vision, 3D Model Retrieval, Logistic Planning and Optimization, Deep Space Exploration

Professional Qualifications & Honorary Appointments

• Sir Sze-yuen Chung Professor in Precision Engineering
• BBS
• MIET
• FHKIE
• Senior Member CMES
• Concurrent Professor of the Northeastern University, Shenyang, China
• Adjunct Professor of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan
• Expert Member of "Lunar Surface Sampling", third phase of Lunar Exploration program, the Lunar Exploration Program Centre, China National Space Administration.
• Fellow of HKAES, Hong Kong Academy of Engineering Science
• Adjunct Professor and PhD supervisor of the Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen Campus, China
• Academic Committee Member, China’s Deep Space Exploration Laboratory

Awards

• Hong Kong Awards for Industry, Federation of Hong Kong Industries Certificate of Merit in Consumer Product Design, 1997
• The President’s Awards for Outstanding Performance / Achievement from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, 1999.
• Voted by the Engineering Profession and the General Public to be the “Most Innovative Item” in the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers' election of the “Ten Engineering Wonders in Hong Kong” for the Entry Titled “Hong Kong Space End-effectors for Mars”, 2000. 
• Leader of the Year Award 2000 in the category of 1010 Award for Innovation. (The previous recipients of this Award included the Chief Executive, Mr. C. H. Tung and the Chief Executive, Sir. Y. K. Tsang).
• Gold Medal in the prestigious European 50th BRUSSELS EUREKA competition of innovation, research and new technology, 2001.
• Faculty of Engineering Industrial Grant Achievement Award of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, 2005.
• Gold Medal in the 35th International Exhibition of Inventions, New Techniques and Products of Geneva, 2007.
• China International Industrial Fare, Technology Innovation Award, 2009.
• Hong Kong Awards for Industry, Machinery and Machine Tools Design Award, 2009.
• Gold Medal with the Congratulations of Jury, and Prize of the Legal Company “Gorodissky & Partners” Russia in the 42th International Exhibition of Inventions, New Techniques and Products of Geneva (2014).
• The President’s Awards for Outstanding Performance / Achievement in Research and Scholarly activities 2014, from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University.
• Awarded the Bronze Bauhinia Star (BBS) medal by the Hong Kong SAR Government for excellence in research (2015).
• The PolyU Distinguished Knowledge Transfer Excellence Award 2017 (Grand Award on Technological Excellence)
• Leader of the Year 2019 in Education / Professions / Technology & Innovation, Sing Tao News Corporation Limited, 2019
• The President’s Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Knowledge Transfer 2021 for Team Award in Knowledge Transfer, 2021.
• Faculty Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Teaching, Research and Scholarly Activities, and Services 2021 for Research and Scholarly Activities: Outstanding Researcher, 2021.
• National Award for Science and Technology Progress by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, 2021.
• Gold Medal with Congratulations of the Jury at the 47th Geneva Inventions Expo, 2022.
• Laurels for Team Achievement at the 74th International Astronautical Congress, 2023.
• Prize by the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca Romania and a Gold Medal with Congratulations of the Jury at the 48th Geneva Inventions Expo, 2023.
• Saudi Innovation Excellence Prize – Ministry of Education and a Gold Medal with Congratulations of the Jury at the 50th Geneva Inventions Expo, 2025.
  

Patents Owned

• "Combined Cordless Phone and Pager", Great Britain Patent No.: GB 2 282 934 B, 25 February, 1998.
• "Corer-Grinder”, US Patent No: 6837312, October, 2004.
• "Impact Mechanism for a Hammer Drill", US Patent No.: 7,137,458, 21 November, 2006.
• "A Vertical Micro-injection Machine", US Patent No.: 7,258,543, 21 August, 2007.
• 容启亮, "立式微型注塑机," China Patent CN100493879C, 2009.
• "VERTIKALE MIKROSPRITZGIESSMASCHINE", Austrian Patent No.: 503.31, 15 August, 2010.
• "Chipless Microwave Identification TAG", US Patent No.: 8,274,368 B2, 25 September, 2012.
• 徐雁 and 容启亮, "微型阵列、 制造该微针阵列的模铸方法及所使用的模具 " China Patent CN101856538B, 2012.
• 容启亮, 解雲川, 徐雁, and 李銘鴻, "塑料微流控芯片的鍵合方法及塑料微流控芯片," China Patent CN102452639A, 2012.
• Yeung, CK, and Yung, KL, “Magnetic-anchored robotic system”, U.S. Application No.: 13/835, 680/US20130289580 A1, 2015.
• Yeung, CK, and Yung, KL, “Magnetic-anchored robotic system”, U.S. Application No.: 13/871, 926/US20130289768 A1, 2015.
• 王友渔, 刘宾, 容启亮, and 柴洪友, "组合式压紧释放装置," China Patent CN104117943B, 2015.
• Yeung, CK, and Yung, KL, “Magnetic-anchored robotic system”, HK Patent No. HK1193966, 2016.
• 王康, 褚成成, 林云成, 容启亮, 孙鹏飞, 梁常春, 曾磊, 刘宾, and 许哲 "月壤採掘裝置," China Patent CN104062146B, 2016.
• C. K. Yeung and K. L. Yung, "Magnetic-Anchored Robotic System," US Patent US9789613B2, 2017.
• 杨重光, 容启亮, and J•T•P•托, "单进入通道外科机器人装置和系统以及配置单进入通道外科机器人装置和系统的方法," China Patent CN105358072B, 2018.
• 杨重光 and 容启亮, "手术系统与方法及用于手术系统的操作者界面," China Patent CN104983469B, 2018.
• 容启亮, 陈清远, 陈慧莹, and 林志和, "管道机器人和系统," China Patent CN111623192A, 2019.
• 唐心春, 容启亮, 李郑发, 韩飞, 王培明, and 李春, "一种立方星压紧释放装置," China Patent CN210912936U, 2019.
• 唐心春, 容启亮, 李郑发, 韩飞, 王培明, and 李春, "一种立方星压紧释放装置," China Patent CN109533400A, 2019.
• 林云成, 杨旭, 张沛, 姜水清, 容启亮, 陈志梁, 高瑞文, 王康, and 张运, "一种摩擦传动式地外天体壤采集机构," China Patent CN110455574A, 2019.
• 林云成, 杨旭, 危清清, 李德伦, 王康, 姜水清, 张运, 王瑞, 容启亮, and 陈志梁, "一种弹片式地外天体表层壤取样机构和取样方法," China Patent CN111006897A, 2020.
• Regolith Packaging System and Container with Lid, European Patent, World Intellectual Property Organization.
• 林云成, 杨旭, 危清清, 李德伦, 王康, 姜水清, 张运, 王瑞, 容启亮, and 陈志梁, "一种弹片式地外天体表层壤取样机构和取样方法," China Patent CN111006897B, 2022.
• 容启亮, 陈清远, 陈慧莹, and 林志和, "管道机器人和系统," China Patent CN111623192B, 2022.

Publications

He has over 200 high-impact journal publications and over 50 peer-reviewed conference presentations.