The 5-day PolyU Summer Institute was successfully held from 3 to 7 August 2026. The Department of Mechanical Engineering (ME) welcomed 34 local and overseas high school students for an immersive university learning experience through an interactive mechatronics workshop.
Led by Dr Nathan XU and Dr Chee TONG, with support from seven undergraduate Teaching Assistants, the workshop introduced students to the fundamentals of mechatronics—teaching them how to turn creative ideas into tangible prototypes and solve real-world engineering problems. The sessions covered key technical concepts, including electronics and power supplies, hands-on mechanical assembly, hardware construction, microcontroller unit (MCU) programming, and AI-assisted debugging.
The major highlight of the event was the “Smart Robo-Car: Line-Following, Obstacle Removal & Mechanical Arm Solving Self-Defined Challenge.” Working in teams, participants designed and programmed robotic cars capable of following logical paths across dynamically generated tile layouts. Beyond basic line-tracking, the cars executed precise manipulation tasks: stopping autonomously to retrieve an obstacle along the track, navigating safely to the finish line, and carefully depositing the object at the final destination.
Executing these autonomous navigation and robotic arm manipulation tasks demanded exceptional creativity and technical proficiency. Demonstrating remarkable speed and precision, the winning team completed the entire course (around 300 cm) in a record of 16 seconds.
Participants thoroughly enjoyed the experience, gaining valuable practical skills and a deeper passion for Mechanical Engineering. We extend our sincere appreciation to all participants for their enthusiastic involvement and look forward to welcoming them back to PolyU in the future.
