ME Scholars ranked among the World’s Top 2% Scientists by Citation

According to a recent index compiled by Stanford University, 20 academics of PolyU’s Department of Mechanical Engineering (ME) have been ranked among the world’s top 2% most-cited scientists in their main disciplines for career-long citation impact. 12 of them are current ME members. Among them, Prof. Chen Guohua has been ranked number 13 most-cited scientist in the world in his respective field. The scholars were named in the “Updated science-wide author databases of standardized citation indicators” compiled by Stanford University. A research team, led by Professor John Ioannidis, created the database of more than 100,000 top scientists across the world on the basis of standardized citation indicators. They were grouped into 22 subject fields and 176 sub-fields using the indicators. The indicators included information on citations, an individual’s scientific research output, co-authorship and a composite indicator for career-long citation impact up to the end of 2020. The latest dataset is based on the 1 August 2021 snapshot from Scopus. The recognition reflects the significant influence and research excellence of the Department’s scientists, who are committed to furthering their knowledge for the benefit of the world. Congratulations to the following ME scholars who have been ranked among the top 2% of scientists in the world in their respective fields: Dr An Liang Prof. Christopher Chao Yu Hang Prof. Chen Guohua Prof. Cheng Li Prof. Cheung Chun Shun Prof. Fu Mingwang Dr Jing Xingjian Prof. Wallace Leung Woon Fong Dr Liu Yang Prof. Su Zhongqing Dr Yao Haimin Dr Zheng Guangping Prof. Ronald So Ming Cho (Emeritus Professor) Prof. Woo Chung Ho (Emeritus Professor) Prof. Alan Lau Kin Tak (former staff) Prof. Leung Chun Wah (former staff) Prof. Shi Sanqiang (former staff) Prof. Wen Chih-Yung (former staff) Prof. Zhou Limin (former staff) Prof. Zhou Yu (former staff) Data available at Elsevier Published: 20 October 2021 | Version 3 | DOI:10.17632/btchxktzyw.3  

ME MPhil student received Young Researcher Award in CNERC Annual Technical Symposium 2021

Samantha LEE Hoi Yin, a MPhil student of PolyU Department of Mechanical Engineering, won the Young Researcher Award in the Chinese National Engineering Research Centre for Steel Construction (CNERC) Annual Technical Symposium 2021 held on 30 September 2021 at PolyU. Samantha presented the research on “Automatic vision-based seam detection and tracking system for robotic welding/sealing planning” at the symposium. The CNERC Annual Technical Symposium 2021 is a technical symposium organized by the CNERC aiming at promoting technological development, sharing and exhibiting the findings and accomplishments among researchers of CNERC projects. Through applied engineering research on steel construction, the CNERC aims to capitalize on huge potentials offered by construction professionals in Hong Kong to further enhance socio-economic development through technological advancement in sustainable infrastructure development. The CNERC receives strong support from the Development Bureau of the Government of Hong Kong SAR and the Construction Industry Council. Samantha is under the supervision of Dr David Navarro-Alarcon in the PolyU Department of Mechanical Engineering. She teamed up with Peng Zhou, Maggie Xu and Victor Wu conducting research in the Robotics and Machine Intelligence Laboratory. Her research interest focuses on computer vision and collaboration in multi-perceptual robots.

Warmest welcome to our Fresh Research Students!

In the new academic semester, we are delighted to welcome 28 newly admitted research students to the PolyU Department of Mechanical Engineering (ME). Led by the Department Head Prof. SU Zhongqing, fresh research students attended an online orientation in the morning on 27 Aug 2021. Training our students not just professionals of its field but leaders of the global mindset and forward vision has been the agenda of the department. Dr Tang Hui, Director of Research Committee (DRC) Chairman and Associate Head (Research), introduced the department’s 6 research areas – Advanced Materials and Processing, Aerospace Engineering, Clean Energy and Energy Storage, Robotics and Control, Sound and Vibration, Thermofluids and Combustion. They all focus on challenges faced by our society and globe in the decades to come. Dr David Navarro-Alarcon, Research Student Liaison Officer, is taking care of coordination among all research students in the department. Dr Ma Yuan and Dr Sun Yuxiang, Seminar Coordinators, are inviting guest speakers to broaden students’ exposure to the latest research and technologies. Students were thrilled to learn about the dynamic learning activities – ME Webinar Series, Research Sharing Talks, ME Research Presentation Competition. Finally, Ms Lily Tam, DRC Secretary and Administrative Support Group Leader, delivered a comprehensive introduction of the study programme and pattern, examination and grading, studentships and fellowships, funding and support, etc. The students’ responses were positive and enthusiastic. We can assure them they will have a supportive, knowledge-oriented, interactive approach experience in their studies. 

International Conference on Applied Nonlinear Dynamics, Vibration, & Control

The International Conference on Applied Nonlinear Dynamics, Vibration and Control (ICANDVC-2021) was initiated by the PolyU Department of Mechanical Engineering last year and successfully held in Zhuhai Charming Holiday Hotel during 23-25 Aug 2021.  The conference name abbreviation ICANDVC implies “I See AND We See” which is in line with its objective. Through exchange and collaboration, we advanced the interdisciplinary R&D in applied nonlinear dynamics, applied vibration analysis and design, and applied control theory and methods across the globe. This is also the very core R&D activity of the research group – Nonlinear Dynamics, Vibration and Control led by Dr Jing Xingjian. Amid the pandemic period, we however received some 200 paper submissions and over 150 registrations for the conference. Among the submissions, 88 papers were selected to publish in a Springer proceedings book “Advances in Applied Nonlinear Dynamics, Vibration and Control-2021” which was edited by Dr Jing and the other Co-chairs from Shanghai University and Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics. We had 10 invited sessions and 12 in-parallel sessions at the conference. There were 3 online and 3 onsite plenary speeches and 9 session keynotes covering all three main themes in nonlinear dynamics, vibration and control. Besides the on-site participants, we had more than 150 attendees from the Chinese mainland, Australia, the United Kingdom, Hongkong and other places via our synchronized online platform. As a conclusion of the conference, we had 12 best presentation paper awards based on onsite marking by Session Chairs from 12 parallel sessions, 7 best paper awards and several outstanding paper awards for recognizing the great efforts and engagements of the conference attendees.

ME MPhil students win 2nd Runner-up at IET Young Professionals Exhibition & Competition 2021

A team of 2 MPhil students from the Department of Mechanical Engineering (ME) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) won the 2nd Runner-up (Postgraduate Section) for their outstanding performance at the Young Professionals Exhibition and Competition held on 1 Aug 2021. The team members, Daniel Kwong Tak Chun and Tommy Tsoi Man Ho, supervised by Dr Tracy Choy Yat Sze, competed with other local universities by a project “A Method for Online Auditory Assessment and Therapy on Pattern Recognition under COVID-19 Pandemic”. The project was concerned with designing a remote acoustic control method for health services through online conferencing software. The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted our society in various ways. Healthcare services with a face-to-face setting are urged to search for a new delivery mode in order to ensure the safety of clients and providers. When using various video conferencing software, we often encounter different sound responses and limitations. Users' computers also have various sound performances. These restrictions greatly affect the accuracy and reliability of the health assessment or therapy. In this project, a low-cost processor was used to design the platform such that service providers could remotely play the desired audio files on the client's side without suffering from the loss of sound in terms of frequency range and loudness due to the video-conferencing software. Experimental results showed that this remote control of audio playback could be realized with a low-cost processor called microcontroller unit (MCU) based on pattern recognition on client incoming audio frequency and it was able to deliver the audio files accurately in terms of frequency and amplitude. The Young Professionals Exhibition & Competition (YPEC) is an annual event organized by the Younger Members Section of the Institution of Engineering and Technology Hong Kong (IET Hong Kong). The YPEC acts as a dynamic platform for prospective or young engineers to exhibit their engineering projects with presentations and exhibitions. The YPEC 2021 themed “Transformer” aimed for bringing in new ideas to foster the transformation into a brand-new era.

ME Staff Appointed New Associate Editor of Prestigious IEEE Journal

Dr Yuxiang Sun, Research Assistant Professor at the Department of Mechanical Engineering, has been appointed as a new Associate Editor by the Editor-in-Chief of IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters (RA-L). The first appointment term is three years and can be renewed on July 31, 2024. The editorial board of this journal is composed of world-renowned scholars in the robotics research community. Published by IEEE, RA-L is a leading international journal dedicated to reporting significant theoretical findings and application case studies in areas of robotics and automation. It provides a timely and concise account of innovative research ideas and application results. RA-L publishes papers on all aspects of robotics, featuring interdisciplinary research from electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, control systems, artificial intelligence, computer science, and other fields. Since the establishment of this illustrious journal in 2015, RA-L has quickly secured its prestige, recognition, and reputation in the robotics community, playing an indispensable and vital role in the development and dissemination of original research work in the allied fields of robotics and automation. RA-L is also the only internationally established letter type of journal which covers the entire research field of robotics. Dr Sun has been working in the area of robotics and artificial intelligence over the years. His research group in PolyU has been dedicated to autonomous driving, which is an emerging direction that has attracted increasing attention from both academia and industry.

Appointment of Head and Associate Heads of Department of Mechanical Engineering

Prof. SU Zhongqing assumes the position of Head of Department of Mechanical Engineering with effect from 1 July 2021. At the same time, Dr ZHANG Peng is appointed as the Associate Head overseeing teaching and learning development of the Department. Dr TANG Hui is the Associate Head in charge of all research matters and serves as Chairman of the Departmental Research Committee (DRC). Message from Head Welcome to the Department of Mechanical Engineering (ME), at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU)! As one of the founding departments of PolyU since her establishment in the inception of 1937, ME has been substantially shaped into today’s all-round excellence in teaching, research and community service, thanks to the selfless devotion from generations of students, academics, technical and administrative staff, alumni, friends and partners. Driven by our steadfast mission to train future leaders with creativity, broad vision, global outlook, and professional ethics for industry, academia, government and communities, ME has built a solid foundation for nurturing young engineers and scholars to better the community with their knowledge, dedication and passion. In retrospect … Learn more

ME Student Team won Outstanding Award in ASM Technology Award 2021

The PolyU ME student team won the Outstanding Award in the ASM Technology Award 2021. The team members, KHALID Farhan, SAFIULLAH Saad Bin and TAHIR Abdullah, supervised by Dr An Liang, competed with other local universities by a project “Design and Development of an Electrochemical Flow Cell for Green Ammonia Production from Renewable Energy”. Throughout the implementation of this project, our postdoc fellow Dr Pan Zhefei gave inspiring guidance and zealous support. The project is concerned with the development of an emerging ammonia production technology – electrochemical cells, which can utilize renewable power (from solar or wind energy) to drive the conversion from nitrogen to ammonia under ambient condition, achieving energy, environmental and economic sustainability. By utilizing the flow cell design concept, the results have shown that the flow cell structure dramatically upgraded the ammonia production rate. Hence, this significant advance opens a window of opportunity for breakthroughs in the development of ammonia production technology, making the technology to be closer to reality. The ASM Technology Award is launched by ASM Pacific Technology Limited (ASMPT) in 2015 for final year students in Hong Kong. It promotes technological innovation, and honours the best and brightest students with their outstanding final year projects on technology and innovation.

Success in securing GRF 2021 2022

In the 2021/22 results of grants from the Research Grants Council’s General Research Fund (GRF) announced in June 2021, ME’s success rate for the GRF was 36% in 2021/22 exercise.  Eight of our GRF proposals were funded. Congratulations to the following colleagues who were successful in securing a GRF grant in this round. Principal Investigator Co-Investigator Project Title Prof. Cheng Li Prof. Dong Hao Wen (Tianjin University)Prof Wang Yue Sheng (Tianjin University) Nonlinear Guided Wave Manipulation through Topologically Customized Meta-devices for Structural Health Monitoring Applications Dr Chu Henry Kar-hang Prof. Mills James K. (University of Toronto) Design of a parallel continuum robot with vision sensors for force-related task execution Prof. Fu Mingwang Nil Size effect based deformation and fatigue behaviors and performance enhancement of the lattice structures developed by SLM Dr Jiao Zengbao Dr Zheng Guangping Atomic-scale interface structure and plastic deformation mechanisms of ultrastrong and ductile high-entropy alloys with coherent nano-lamellar structures Dr Liu Tuo Dr Zhu Jie Study on waterborne spoof surface acoustic waves Dr Navarro Alarcon David Nil Robot Thermal Servoing: Fundamental Models and Applications Dr Tang Hui Dr Ren Feng (Northwestern Polytechnical University) Active flow control through deep reinforcement learning Dr Zhang Peng Nil A Theoretical, Experimental, and Computational Framework for Droplet Collision Modeling in Lagrangian-Eulerian Simulation of Sprays

ME PhD student wins first runner-up in Three Minute Thesis 3MT Competition

PolyU Faculty of Engineering organized the first Three Minute Thesis Competition (3MT®) on 18 June 2021.  Seven affiliated departments nominated seventeen research students participating in it. 3MT® celebrates the exciting research conducted by research postgraduate students.  Developed by the University of Queensland, Australia, the competition cultivates students’ academic presentation and research communication skills, and supports their capacity to effectively explain their research and its significance in three minutes, in a language appropriate to non-specialist audiences.  3MT® is now a globally recognized competition that has been held in over 900 universities across more than 80 countries worldwide.  PolyU is one of the participating universities this year. The Faculty formed a panel of judges by representatives from the seven affiliated departments. The participants each delivered a high-impact brief presentation within 3-minute.  Most of them demonstrated good academic pitching skills. Congratulations to our ME student, ARIF Muhammad Irsalan, for his fabulous presentation winning the 1st runner-up in the competition. ARIF Muhammad Irsalan is currently a PhD student in ME under the supervision of Dr Randolph LEUNG.  “Study of Passive Methods for Airfoil Tonal Noise Reduction using Fluid-Structure Interactions” is his research project.