ME students Wins First Prize in The 11th Hong Kong University Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition

Congratulations to four ME Undergraduate at the technical core of the PolyU undergraduate team, composed of Guo Boyu, Xie Sihao, Wu Yuting and Liu Jingjing won the First Prize in the "Entrepreneurship Proposal" under the Entrepreneurship Category of the 11th Hong Kong University Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition 2025 for their project entitled “Type IV Hydrogen Storage Cylinder Based on Innovative Structure”. With their passion for building technical barriers through material modification, process innovation and testing and certification systems. Aiming to achieve commercial supply in 2026, their project responds to the global carbon neutrality policy. The Team explored and proposed the Type IV hydrogen storage bottles in their winning project.  Through three major technological innovations: innovation of lining materials, optimization of fiber winding process, and semi-dry molding process, the product has the advantages of lightweight, high hydrogen storage density and long life, solving the core pain points of "expensive" and "difficult" in the storage and transportation of hydrogen energy. The product is suitable for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, aviation hydrogen storage and other scenarios, and can effectively reduce the cost of hydrogen energy terminal applications by more than 30%. Organized by Hong Kong New Generation Cultural Association, the Hong Kong University Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition is a highlighted innovation and entrepreneurship event in Hong Kong for higher education institutions. The competition features "Innovation" and "Entrepreneurship" categories every year. This year’s competition attracted a record-high participation from 25 local higher education institutions, with 687 projects and 2,033 contestants.   The department is pleased to see ME students continue to achieve success in the Hong Kong University Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition: 2025  First Prize (Entrepreneurship - Entrepreneurship Proposal) Project: Based on an innovative structure of Type IV hydrogen storage bottles Team Members: Guo Boyu (ME), Xie Sihao (ME), Wu Yuting (ME), Liu Jingjing (ME), Sun Yitian, Ma Yumeng, Deng Kaiyuan, Xie Bing, Zhao Jiay, He Jiarui, Liu Yueyi, Zhang Yidan, Li Qiuyi  2024  Second Prize (Innovation - Information Technology) Project: Cloud Nursing Wise Home BioRadar-based Smart Elderly Eco Service Platform for the Elderly Team Members: Guo Boyu (ME), Wu Yutin (ME), Xiang Muze, He Boyan, Qian Junbo  2024  Second Prize (Entrepreneurship - Entrepreneurship Proposal) Project: Brain Guard for the Elderly Team Members: Guo Boyu (ME), Qian Junbo, Liu Peihan, Cao Yuching, Liu Muyang, Liu Shuda, Liu Yukun, Chang Liyao, Wang Ya, Liu Qi Long, He Boyan, Liu Yiting, Liu Siyuan, Lei Jiayi, Mei Zihan, Zhang Yi Mai  2023  First Prize (Entrepreneurship - Entrepreneurship Proposal) Project:  Development and practical application of rice husk-based functional materials Team Members: Guo Boyu (ME), Li Bowen (ME), Hu Jingxuan, Qian Junbo, Wang Dingyuan, Luo Mingyu, Ji Ying, Song Yuxuan  2023  Second Prize (Entrepreneurship - Entrepreneurship Proposal) Project: Cost-effective approach to glassy carbon precision molding and manufacturing Team Members: Yang Yi (ME)      

ME Postdoc Wins Best Innovation Merit at Multi-Scale Medical Robotics Center Symposium 2025

Congratulations to Dr Lee Hoi Yin, a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Mechanical Engineering (ME), supervised by Prof. David NAVARRO, won the Best Innovation Merit entitled “Iterative Shaping of Multi-Particle Aggregates Based on Action Trees and VLM” at the Multi-Scale Medical Robotics Center (MRC) Symposium 2025 held on 29 to 31 May 2025 in Hong Kong Science Park. The MRC Symposium aims to showcase the latest research and development progress and achievements in the field of medical research, with a specific focus on the technology advancements related to surgical robotics. Through InnoHK funding support of the HKSAR Government, the Multi-Scale Medical Robotics Center (MRC) was established in April 2020 by the Faculty of Medicine and the Faculty of Engineering of the Chinese University of Hong Kong in collaboration with ETH Zürich, Imperial College London, Johns Hopkins University and the University of Hong Kong.  

AI and medicine-engineering integration | Embodied intelligent ankle rehabilitation robot

Strokes pose a significant health challenge in an aging society, particularly for patients with mobility difficulties and those bedridden for extended periods. These patients require ongoing and repetitive rehabilitation training to prevent joint contractures and excessive muscle atrophy. A team led by Prof. ZHANG Dan, Chair Professor of Intelligent Robotics and Automation of the PolyU Department of Mechanical Engineering, has developed a first-of-its-kind robot product with three degrees of freedom (3-DoF) to provide comprehensive ankle rehabilitation. By integrating embodied intelligence technology and 3-DoF design, the robot can meet the rehabilitation exercise needs of different patients at different stages of rehabilitation. It uses sensors to track and adjust the ankle position for rehabilitation training and simulates natural movements such as dorsiflexion/plantarflexion, inversion/eversion, and internal/external rotation according to different scenarios. In addition, the robot can collect muscle activity data through electromyography signals, enabling real-time monitoring and adjustment of speed and force to customise training intensity. It also offers both patient-driven active training and robot-driven passive training modes, accommodating the needs of different rehabilitation stages. The team is currently conducting clinical trials in collaboration with Huashan Hospital in Shanghai and plans to apply AI to offer personalised training for patients. This innovation holds significant potential for rehabilitation of the shoulder joint or hand. Learn More: Ankle Joint Rehabilitation Robot    

ME Academic Advising Meetup Tea Reception 2025

The PolyU ME Academic Advising Meetup Tea Reception was successfully held on April 3, 2025. The event had an impressive turnout, with nearly 120 participants, including around 30 ME academic, teaching, and supporting staff, as well as about 90 undergraduates. It was truly a joyful and meaningful occasion. The purpose of the Academic Advising Meetup Tea Reception was to foster strong connections between students and their academic advisors. More importantly, it provided a valuable platform for students to receive guidance on various academic matters. In his welcoming remarks, Prof. SU Zhongqing, Head of the Department, expressed enthusiasm for the gathering and highlighted the importance of academic advising in students' educational journeys. He emphasized that this event was a great opportunity for students to connect with their advisors in a relaxed atmosphere, promoting open communication and collaboration. During the tea reception, students participated in a fun game called "Find Your AA," where they searched for cartoonish flashcards of their academic advisors. This interactive activity encouraged engagement and allowed students to break the ice and initiate conversations in a lighthearted setting. The event concluded with a lucky draw, where many lucky students won exciting prizes. This added an element of thrill and anticipation, enhancing the festive atmosphere. The lucky draw not only provided a fun ending but also encouraged further interactions among students and advisors as they celebrated together. We eagerly look forward to more meetup events in the future! For more photos of the event, please click HERE.

Beihang University Delegation Visits PolyU AAE and ME

A delegation led by Prof. PAN Chong, Dean of the School of Aeronautic Science and Engineering (ASE), Beihang University (BUAA) visited PolyU AAE and ME on 31 March 2025. Both parties engaged in in-depth discussions on research collaboration and talent cultivation. During the meeting, Prof. SU Zhongqing (Head of PolyU ME) and Prof. LIU Wei (Associate Head of PolyU AAE), provided an overview of the Departments’ latest developments and research advancements, while Prof. Pan presented a comprehensive history of BUAA ASE, highlighting its outstanding achievements and research outcomes. This sharing fostered a deeper understanding among PolyU AAE, PolyU ME and BUAA ASE. During the meeting, both parties expressed a strong commitment to strengthening their partnership through enhanced collaboration in talent exchange and joint research to mutually benefit and achieve a win-win outcome. Following a networking lunch, the delegation toured PolyU ME's state-of-the-art research facilities, including Aeronautical Laboratory, Laser-Diagnosing Advanced Propulsion Research Laboratory, Acoustics Laboratory, Water Tunnel Laboratory and Nature-Inspired Engineering Laboratory, where the innovative research activities and sophisticated facilities were showcased. PolyU ME is committed to fostering international collaboration and sharing knowledge with esteemed institutions. We believe this fruitful trip has laid a solid foundation for future research partnerships between PolyU AAE, ME and BUAA ASE.

Unveiling Ceremony of the PolyU-SCUT Joint Research Centre for Advanced and Green Composite Materials

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and the South China University of Technology (SCUT) held an unveiling ceremony on 15 March in the Council Chamber of the Li Ka Shing Tower on the PolyU campus to officially establish the PolyU-SCUT Joint Research Centre for Advanced and Green Composite Materials. This centre aims to leverage the research capabilities of both institutions to drive innovations in composite materials and promote sustainable practices. The ceremony marked the official launch of the PolyU-SCUT Joint Research Centre, officiated by distinguished leaders, including: Prof. TENG Jin-Guang – President of PolyU Prof. MAI Yiu Wing – Distinguished Chair Professor of Composites Science and Engineering, PolyU Department of Mechanical Engineering Prof. SU Zhongqing – Head and Chair Professor of Intelligent Structures and Systems, PolyU Department of Mechanical Engineering Prof. ZHAO Xiao Lin – Chair Professor of Civil Infrastructure, PolyU Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Prof. HUANG Haitao – Professor, PolyU Department of Applied Physics Prof. SHEN Xi – Assistant Professor, PolyU Department of Aeronautical and Aviation Engineering Prof. CHEN Zi-Bin – Assistant Professor, PolyU Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering Prof. TANG Hongwu – President of SCUT Prof. YAO Xiaohu – Dean of the SCUT School of Civil Engineering and Transportation Prof. GUO Baochun – Dean of the SCUT School of Materials Science and Engineering Prof. ZHU Nengwu – Executive Vice Dean of the SCUT School of Environment and Energy Prof. CHU Yanhui – Professor, SCUT School of Materials Science and Engineering Prof. CHEN Guangming – Professor, SCUT School of Civil Engineering and Transportation Looking ahead, the Joint Research Centre aims to establish a new model of cooperation between PolyU and SCUT. By leveraging their combined expertise in advanced materials science and engineering, the centre will foster innovation in sustainable composite materials, enhancing both institutions' capabilities to tackle global challenges in manufacturing and environmental sustainability.

ME Staff Honoured for 2024 Long Service Award

Colleagues of the PolyU Department of Mechanical Engineering (ME) have always been devoting themselves to the development of ME. The Department Head Prof. Su Zhongqing, on behalf of the University, paid tribute to long-serving staff members for their loyal and committed service over the years. Congratulations to the awardees and heartfelt thanks for their years of dedication and devotion which have marked the achievements of the Department.   Long Service Award 2024 Award Recipients Length of Service Name  Post Title  30 years Ms Lily Tam 譚敏儀 Senior Executive Officer 15 years Dr Stephen Ng  伍俊雄 Technical Officer 10 years  Prof. Tang Hui 唐輝 Associate Head (Research) and Associate Professor 10 years  Prof. Ruan Haihui 阮海輝 Associate Professor  

110th Departmental Advisory Committee Meeting

The 110th Departmental Advisory Committee (DAC) meeting was successfully held face-to-face on 14 February 2025, chaired by Ir Dr Angus Cheung, Chief Executive Officer of Aerovision Technology Limited. We were delighted to welcome new committee members joining the DAC this year, each bringing valuable expertise and fresh perspectives. They were: Ir Dr Lee Chi-Hong, Barry, Chief Executive Officer, Associated Engineers Limited Ir Prof. Lawrence Chi-kin Poon, Head of Emerging Technology – Global Innovation, MTR Corporation Limited Ir Tam Chun-Kit, Senior Director, The Jardine Engineering Corp., Ltd. and Director, Krueger Engineering Ltd. Prof. Wei Hong, Professor, Associate Department Chair, Southern University of Science and Technology Mr Li Junqi, Executive Director, Foxconn Industrial Internet Co. Ltd. Prof. Tribikram Kundu, Professor, Civil and Architectural Engineering and Mechanics Department, University of Arizona Prof. Dan Zhang, Chair Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, PolyU Prof. X Yu, Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, PolyU Prof. HM Yao, Associate Head & Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, PolyU Mr Kirill Bredikhin, Full-time BEng Student, Department of Mechanical Engineering, PolyU Mr Liuming Qiu, Full-time MPhil Student, Department of Mechanical Engineering, PolyU The DAC is comprised of 2 ex-officio members (i.e., the Faculty Dean and Department Head), 15 local and overseas members from the academia, industry and professionals as well as 3 internal members and 2 student representatives from the Department. The meeting kicked off with the Head Prof. Zhongqing Su’s report, highlighting the Department’s key developments, achievements, and future plans. A summary of responses to the last DAC recommendations was also presented. Since the last meeting, the Department has organized several key events, achieved remarkable research milestones, and risen in global rankings in the Mechanical Engineering discipline. The growth and development in various aspects were shared in the meeting. On the other hand, we reviewed the programmes, student intake, graduate employment, budget and staffing. The meeting was productive and insightful, with committee members providing valuable advice and constructive suggestions for the Department’s continuous growth in teaching, research, industry collaboration and strategic plans. We sincerely appreciate their contributions and look forward to their ongoing engagement.

ME Alumni Mentorship Dinner 2025

The PolyU Department of Mechanical Engineering Alumni Mentorship Dinner for the 2024/25 academic year was successfully held on January 23, 2025. The event saw an impressive turnout, with over 180 participants including approximately 80 alumni, distinguished guests, ME academic and teaching staff, and around 100 students from the graduating classes of BEng (Hons) in Mechanical Engineering and BEng (Hons) in Product Analysis and Engineering Design. The evening was truly memorable and meaningful. The Alumni Mentorship Dinner is a cherished tradition within the ME community, aimed at fostering strong connections between alumni and the Department. More importantly, it provides a valuable platform for our final-year students to gain practical experience and receive professional advice from alumni mentors. During the welcoming remarks, Prof. Su Zhongqing, the Head of the Department, provided an overview of recent developments in PolyU ME and expressed deep gratitude to all the alumni and industrial friends for their unwavering support throughout the years. Following the opening remarks, we had the outstanding ME alumni awards ceremony. The Department of Mechanical Engineering is pleased to honor the Outstanding Alumni Award in Professional Achievement to Ir Dr LEE Chi Hong, Barry, presented by Prof. YAO Haimin, Associate Head (Teaching & Learning) of the Department, and the Outstanding Young Alumni Award in Professional Achievement to Mr KWOK Siu Lun, Alan, presented by Prof. TANG Hui, Associate Head (Research) of the Department. Two recipients shared their inspiring story about the road to success, offering students invaluable insights into overcoming obstacles, seizing opportunities, and applying practical strategies to achieve their own dreams. Their experiences served as a source of inspiration and guidance, motivating students to pursue their goals with confidence and determination. This year's dinner was particularly special, as seven students were recognized with appreciation awards for their achievements. We celebrated their hard work, dedication, and outstanding contributions to both academics and extracurricular activities. Their success stories served as an inspiration to their peers, showcasing the rewards of perseverance and excellence. Additionally, our talented alumni, Leslie Lee and Eric Ng, performed a saxophone and guitar duet, filling the evening with beautiful harmony. Lastly, Dr Yau Wing Kwong, JP, the President of the Mechanical and Marine Engineering Alumni Association, delivered words of wisdom and encouragement to all the final-year students, imparting valuable insights and guidance to prospective graduates on planning for their future. Throughout the dinner, alumni from various industries generously shared their valuable experiences and provided guidance to our final-year students, helping them prepare for their future careers upon graduation. The evening concluded with a toast and a lucky draw, led by the Head, Associate Heads, Scheme and Programme Leaders, to express our gratitude to the guests. The dinner ended on a joyful note, and we eagerly look forward to the next year's event. For more photos of the event, please click HERE.  

Prof. Su Zhongqing Secures Highly Competitive Innovation and Technology Fund for Aerospace Technology

Prof. SU Zhongqing, Head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Chair Professor of Intelligent Structures and Systems, has been awarded the Innovation and Technology Fund - Innovation and Technology Support Programme (ITF-ITSP) Special Call (Aerospace Technology) research grant of 4.5 million Hong Kong dollars for a large applied research and development (R&D) project. The project is titled "A “Totally-Additive-Manufacturing”-driven New Sensing Technique for Rapid Health Evaluation of Space Systems Under Hypervelocity Impact of Orbital Junks". As the project investigator, Prof. SU will lead a 3-year project, in partnership with co-investigators from Beijing Institute of Spacecraft Environment Engineering (BISEE) 北京衛星環境工程研究所 of China Academy of Space Technology (CAST) and Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen). The past decade has witnessed unprecedented prosperity in human’s exploration to outer space. As a result, the near-Earth space, where numerous satellites and space stations orbit, is now cluttered with man-made orbital debris and micrometeoroids (i.e., space junk). Though small, they travel at such high speeds and potentially cause “hypervelocity impact” (HVI) (4 km/s). It is highly imperative to develop effective sensing approaches to perceive HVI and evaluate system degradation after HVI attacks, whereby to enhance the survivability of damaged spacecraft. This ITSP project will be an innovative structural health monitoring (SHM) framework, a compact, all-in-one system and a new sensing network coating that all are readily available for immediate applications to orbital spacecraft (e.g., satellites and space stations). Successful installation of the system and implementation of the technique on spacecraft will remarkably minimize the risk of “hypervelocity impact” (HVI) from space junks to the communication satellites and space stations, retrofit existing safety design philosophy, enhance serviceability and extend lifespan of long-service space systems. ITSP aims to encourage universities funded by the University Grants Committee (UGC) to collaborate with leading research institutes worldwide to conduct more theme-based inter-disciplinary and translational research and development (R&D) work in focused technology areas.