News

Creation of intelligent wearable systems leading the innovation of industries

Prof. TAO Xiaoming, Director of Research Institute of Intelligent Wearable Systems (RI-IWEAR), Chair Professor of Textile Technology and Vincent and Lily Woo Professor in Textile Technology, together with her team, has successfully developed a series of intelligent wearable systems, which are applied in fields such as sports, healthcare, entertainment, and industry.   The wearable system with adaptive cooling and heating for sport recovery “COOLWEAR”, utilises a unique fluidic textile structure and unidirectional heat-transfer composite fabrics, combined with ergonomic design. It also integrates multifunctional technologies for electrofluidic detection and control, enabling rapid temperature switching between 5°C and 40°C within 10 seconds, with a uniform temperature distribution and a maximum heat flux of up to 1.2 kW/m2.  The system consists of a main unit and a wearable component, is compact in size, and features a three-chamber intermittent compression device suitable for use on various parts of the body, for effectively enhancing post-exercise muscle oxygenation and elasticity, while alleviating delayed onset muscle soreness.  Users can customise treatment modes via a mobile application, which allows athletes to easily use it on the sidelines for rapid sports recovery.   In the field of multisensory simulation wearable technology, the team’s research is focused on mixed scent perception in human and multisensory tactile simulation.  They have pioneered a bionic mechanism based on fibre assemblies and designed corresponding actuators to simulate mixed odour and tactile sensations.  Using artificial intelligence and algorithms, the device integrates sensory signals to provide users with a highly immersive experience.  Their research and development goals include: AI-controlled wearable olfactory simulation devices, fabric-based haptic device for dynamic simulation of hardness and temperature, and wearable fibre-based acoustic hearing devices for continuous monitoring of human organ acoustic signals.   Furthermore, the electronic textile interactive system is also one of the team’s significant research achievements.  By employing heterogeneous integration technology of microelectronic chips and fibre materials, the team has developed a new generation of high-performance, programmable electronic textiles, and has made a breakthrough by developing the world’s thinnest electronic yarn, less than 1 millimetre in diameter and washable, which can be seamlessly applied to traditional knitting and embroidery techniques.  Based on these technologies, the team has achieved numerous innovations, including full-colour programmable electronic textile displays, intelligent interaction, composite electronic yarn manufacturing processes, novel fibre-based electronic materials, and dedicated spinning equipment, creating a multimodal intelligent textile system that simultaneously interacts with human vision, hearing, and touch.  These systems not only maintain the softness and comfort of fabrics, but also offer advantages such as stain resistance, water resistance and multimodal human-machine interaction.   The series of ground-breaking achievements by Prof Tao’s team fully demonstrates PolyU’s outstanding research capabilities and innovative spirit, bringing diverse applications to intelligent wearable technology and becoming a driving force in fields such as sports, healthcare, entertainment and industry.   Online coverage: Xinhua News - https://h.xinhuaxmt.com/vh512/share/12737062?docid=12737062&newstype=1001&d=1350125&channel=weixin&time=1758592082577

RI-IWEAR hosted the annual retreat

The Research Institute for Intelligent Wearable Systems (RI-IWEAR) successfully hosted the retreat event on 3rd March 2025, with active participation from 23 RI-IWEAR members across 9 various departments. The event featured seven presentations, two panel discussions, and a result sharing session. During the event, the members of RI-IWEAR showed great interest in the speech content and actively participated in the group discussion.   The retreat started with a welcome remark from Prof. Xiaoming TAO, Director of RI-IWEAR and Chair Professor in Textile Technology. Then Prof. Feng YAN, Associate Director of RI-IWEAR (Research) reported the progress of RI-IWEAR in the previous year. Next, Prof. Jing CAI, RI-IWEAR Management Committee Member, Dean of the Department of Health Technology and Informatics, gave an introduction to clinical development and application scheme. Ir Prof. Ming Zhang, Director of the Research Institute for Sports Science and Technology and Head of the Department of Biomedical Engineering, presented on the PolyU Research Institute for Sports Science and Technology. Prof. Feng Yan also reported on the PolyU-Hefei Innovation & Technology Research Institute, where he serves as Associate Director. Dr Wang Lin represented Prof. Dan Zhang, Director of the PolyU-Nanjing Technology and Innovation Research Institute, and shared insights on the PolyU-Nanjing Innovation & Technology Research Institute. Prof. John Xin, Director of the PolyU-Shaoxing Technology and Innovation Research Institute and Chair Professor in Fashion and Textiles, provided an introduction to the PolyU-Shaoxing Innovation & Technology Research Institute. Lastly, Prof. Changyuan Yu, Director of the PolyU-Jinjiang Technology and Innovation Research Institute, discussed the PolyU-Jinjiang Innovation & Technology Research Institute. The following featured two panel discussion centered around two topics: what are potential interdisciplinary collaboration opportunities for external grants and how to facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration opportunities for external grants and research. Group leaders reported the results of the panel discussions respectively.

Prof. Tao featured in Advanced Science News for COOL-WEAR project

In a recent interview with Advanced Science News, Prof. Xiaoming TAO, Director of Research Institute for Intelligent Wearable Systems (RI-IWEAR) and Vincent and Lily Woo Professor in Textile Technology, shared insights into the innovative COOL-WEAR project.   Published on January 30, 2025, the article, titled COOLWEAR: Water Immersion Therapy Without Waste, highlights how this innovative technology offers the benefits of traditional water immersion therapy.   For more details, read the full interview (https://www.advancedsciencenews.com/coolwear-water-immersion-therapy-without-waste/) on Advanced Science News and explore the research paper: Jing Yang, et al. Wearable Fluidic Fabric with Excellent Heat Transfer Performance for Sports Recovery, Advanced Science (2024). DOI: 10.1002/advs.202411691

Prof. Xiaoming TAO elected as 2025 HKAE Fellows

On January 21, 2025, the Hong Kong Academy of Engineering (HKAE) announced the list of 2025 HKAE Fellows, with 11 outstanding professionals selected. Prof. Xiaoming TAO, Director of Research Institute for Intelligent Wearable Systems (RI-IWEAR) and Vincent and Lily Woo Professor in Textile Technology, was selected for her outstanding contributions and professional knowledge in the field of engineering. These fellows were elected at its 31st annual general meeting on 9 December 2024 and were formally inducted at a ceremony held on 20 January 2025 at Hotel ICON. Ir Dr Alex Siu-kun Chan, President of the HKAE, expressed hopes that the new fellows will combine knowledge and experience to strengthen HKAE’s mission to promote excellence and innovation in engineering. Established in 1994, HKAE is a prestigious organization dedicated to the promotion and advancement of the field of engineering in Hong Kong. It aims to foster collaboration, innovation, and excellence in engineering, contributing to the advancement of society and the development of Hong Kong and our Nation. It comprises a distinguished group of Fellows from various disciplines, recognized as leaders in their profession, with remarkable achievements in engineering sciences and applications. 2025 HKAE Fellows List: https://hkae.hk/en/fellows  

Prof. Yang CHAI was elected as 2025 IEEE Fellows

On December 7, 2024, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) announced the list of 2025 IEEE Fellows, with over 120 renowned Chinese scholars selected. Prof. Yang CHAI, the Management Committee member of RI-IWEAR, Associate Dean of Faculty of Science, was selected for his contributions to bioinspired in-sensor computing. IEEE is an international society of electronic technology and information science engineers, founded in 1963. Currently, it has over 460,000 members in more than 190 countries worldwide, with the number of overseas members surpassing that of the United States. IEEE Fellow is a distinction reserved for select IEEE members whose extraordinary accomplishments in any of the IEEE fields of interest are deemed fitting of this prestigious grade elevation. It is recognized as an authoritative honor and important professional achievement in the academic and technological community. Elected members must make significant contributions to the advancement or application of engineering science and technology and bring significant value to society. According to the regulations of society, the number of elected members shall not exceed 0.1% of the total number of IEEE members in that year, and approximately 300 people have been elected each year in the past decade. 2025 IEEE Fellows List: https://www.ieee.org/content/dam/ieee-org/ieee/web/org/about/fellows/fellow-committee/2025-fellows-class-announcement.pdf

RI-IWEAR showcased the innovative achievements at the PolyU Gala Dinner 2024

On December 2, 2024, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) held the PolyU Gala Dinner 2024 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. RI-IWEAR participated in the Interactive Research Showcase and exhibited three important research achievements: Cost-Effective Organic Electrochemical Transistor Biosensor for Non-Invasive Salivary Health Monitoring, an intelligent companion robot (Emo Friend), and a patented knee brace that combines replaceable disposable patches and durable electronic unit (Transparent Knee). The dinner was themed “Unite for Strength, Innovate for Impact”. More than 800 prominent guests attended the PolyU Gala Dinner, including business and community leaders, renowned performers, Council and Court members, alumni, staff, students, and supporters of PolyU. RI-IWEAR team combines various forms such as physical display, guided explanations, and animation demonstration, providing valuable opportunities for visitors to explore cooperation opportunities.  

RI-IWEAR “2024 MRS Fall Conference & Exhibit” video shooting day

On November 13, 2024, the RI-IWEAR team collaborated with the WebsEdge filming team to complete a video shoot at PolyU, which will premiere at the 2024 MRS Fall Meeting & Exhibit. The RI-IWEAR team exhibited six projects, covering research achievements in three fields. They are “IWEAR System Applications”, “System Integration and Evaluation”, and “Fiber-based and Flexible Devices”.   Prof. Feng YAN, RI-IWEAR Associate Director, Chair Professor of Organic Electronics, introduced “The Biosensors for Health Monitoring”. These biosensors come in various types, such as glucose sensors, uric acid sensors, dopamine sensors, and strain sensors. They can also be used to monitor electrical signals such as ECG, EMG, and EEG on the human body. Prof. YAN proposed that these devices are flexible, lightweight, highly sensitive, and cost-effective, making them suitable for mass production and commercialization.   Subsequently, RI-IWEAR postdoctoral fellow Dr Ying XIONG introduced the “Wearable System with Alternating Cooling and Heating for Sport Recovery”. The system can switch within a temperature range of 5 ℃ -40 ℃ within 10 seconds, with uniform temperature distribution in a large area, and intermittent compression. It is smart, portable and personalized system for fast recovery from exercise, pain relief and increased muscle flexibility.   Dr Su LIU, RI-IWEAR postdoctoral fellow, introduced and demonstrated the “Textile Electronic Interactive System”. This system achieves seamless integration of visual, auditory, tactile perception into fabric structures. It can be used in interactive entertainment, smart homes, healthcare, and other applications.   RI-IWEAR research fellow Dr Ziheng ZHANG introduced “Safe and Eco-friendly Antimicrobial Materials with High Efficiency”. This material is based on polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), which are completely biodegradable, non-toxic, and can kill over 99.99% of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Candida albicans, drug-resistant bacteria, novel coronavirus, as well as H1N1 and H3N2 viruses. It can be used as a finishing agent for medical and health products, clothing, and home textiles. Compared with currently commercialized antibacterial agents, this new material has significant advantages in terms of biosafety, biodegradability, stability, low carbon emissions, and cost-effectiveness, which can bring people a greener, healthier, and safer life.   In the afternoon, Prof. Jing CAI, RI-IWEAR Management Committee Member, Associate Dean of the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences and Professor in the Department of Health Technology and Informatics, shared his “AI-empowered Cancer Radiotherapy” project and conducted a live programming demonstration. Prof. CAI said that his team plans to develop a RadiationDematitis (RD) severity automatic grading system for Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma (NPC) patients after radiotherapy. The system can score images captured by mobile phones in real-time under the drive of artificial intelligence, aiming to apply its unique technology to assist doctors and patients.   Finally, Dr Qiyao HUANG, RI-IWEAR Associate Director Prof. Zijian ZHENG’s research team member, Assistant Professor of School of Fashion and Textiles, introduced the “Wireless ECG Patch” device, which was also demonstrated by the team’s members. This electronic skin is built on a liquid metal fiber mat, which is highly soft, breathable, elastic, conductive, and most importantly, safe and harmless to human skin. By providing continuous monitoring and real-time data, this device enables individuals to actively manage their cardiovascular health more effectively. It can also seamlessly connect with the hospital’s remote monitoring system, allowing healthcare professionals to remotely diagnose and monitor patients' heart health in real-time, and provide timely medical consultation.

China Institute of Sport Science delegation visited Research Institute for Intelligent Wearable Systems

On November 27, 2024, Mr Xiangchen LI, Director of Smart Sports Innovation Research Center of China Institute of Sport Science (CISS), Ms Yuqin HU from the Graduate Department of CISS, along with Prof. Lei SHI and Prof. Yannis PITSILADIS from Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU), led a delegation to visit Research Institute for Intelligent Wearable Systems (RI-IWEAR) and were warmly welcomed by RI-IWEAR members.   During the visit, the delegation learned about the latest developments in intelligent wearable systems. They also listened to the introduction of RI-IWEAR’s intelligent textile technologies and innovative products, such as Textile Electronic Interactive System, Wearable System with Alternating Cooling and Heating for Sport Recovery, Customized Compression Stockings and Smart Bionic Morphing Leg Mannequin for Pressure Assessment, Intelligent Gait Detection System, Intelligent Wearable System for Enhancing mobility of people with Parkinson’s Disease (Easypacer), and Safe and Eco-friendly Antimicrobial Materials with High Efficiency.   Both sides had constructive exchanges, and the delegation expressed great interest in the RI-IWEAR’s research projects and saw the potential for cooperation with them. Overall, it successfully facilitated communication between RI-IWAER and CISS, deepened understanding of various achievements, and explored the feasibility of establishing more cooperation between the two sides.

Prof. Yang CHAI awarded the BOCHK Science and Technology Innovation Prize 2024 in the field of Artificial Intelligence and Robotics

Prof. Yang CHAI, the Management Committee member of RI-IWEAR, Associate Dean of Faculty of Science, has been awarded the BOCHK Science and Technology Innovation Prize (STIP) 2024 in the field of Artificial Intelligence and Robotics. The award aims to recognize Prof. CHAI’s outstanding contributions to AI sensor technology, particularly in the development of disruptive in-sensor computing paradigms for artificial vision sensors, which enable information processing directly within the sensors. Today’s AI heavily relies on digital hardware, which has inherent inefficiency in executing iterative AI algorithms, particularly when processing massive, unstructured sensory data. With the rapid growth of the number of sensor nodes in the Internet of Things, the amount of data generated by sensor terminals has surged, resulting in frequent data transmission between sensors and computing units, which severely limits system performance in terms of energy efficiency, speed, and security. To address the grand challenge of the computational inefficiency at sensory terminals, Prof. CHAI proposed a bioinspired in-sensor computing paradigm that revolutionizes AI computation at the sensor level. This innovation minimizes the need for frequent data transfers to external computing units, enhances computational efficiency, enriches sensor functionalities for Internet of Things applications, and changes the AI computing approach at the sensor level. At the same time, he concretized this in-sensor computing paradigm through hardware implementation for vision sensors, enabling increased efficiency and enhanced functionalities, including improved image recognition, visual adaptation in extremely dim/bright lighting, and agile perception of dynamic motion, etc. This bioinspired in-sensor computing paradigm is highlighted in the US Semiconductor Research Corporation’s Decadal Plan.    

RI-IWEAR showcased the innovative achievements at the PolyU Inno Tech Open Day × Alumni Homecoming 2024

On October 19, 2024, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) held the InnoTech Open Day × Alumni Homecoming 2024. Research Institute for Intelligent Wearable Systems was invited to attend the Power of Innovation: PAIR Research Impact Exhibition at the Jockey Club Auditorium, showcasing two important research achievements: Wearable System with Alternating Cooling and Heating for Sport Recovery and Safe and Eco-friendly Antimicrobial Materials with High Efficiency. The exhibition amalgamates diverse formats including physical displays, guided explanations, and hands-on experiences, offering invaluable opportunities for staff, students, alumni, innovative entrepreneurs, industry partners, and researchers to explore collaborative prospects. Later that same day, Prof. TAO, the Director of RI-IWEAR, delivered a keynote address at the PolyU PAIR InnoTech Forum. She presented the latest advancements in research and the transformative applications in smart wearables and advanced textile technology, clinical applications in sports medicine and textile engineering, smart wearable robotics, biomimetic elastic fiber devices, and high-performance fiber sportswear, highlighting the innovations and technologies in medical-social collaboration, health and well-being, and artificial intelligence.