The Smart Car Team (a sub-team of the HKUST Robotics Team at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology) attained two Third Class Awards and a Certificate of Merit in the 8th Freescale Smart Car Competition (South China Region), which was held in Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wu Han, China, in July. This is the largest number of awards ever achieved by the team in this competition.

One of the hottest events on the mainland robotics scene, the contest attracted 374 teams in its South China regional competition. This year, the HKUST team is made of 10 undergraduate students from the School of Engineering (SENG), in which 4 are from the SENG 4-Y program, 4 from Computer Engineering Program, 1 from Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering, and 1 from Department of Mechanical Engineering. The students are supervised by Prof Tim Woo, Director of the Center for Global & Community Engagement (GCE) and Associate Professor of Engineering Education.

The Smart Car Team attempted in all three categories of the competition. The categories are:

• The Camera group’s car relies on image processing to maneuver a vehicle through a complex racing circuit with intersections and ramps in a race against time;
• The Electro-Magnetic group uses wireless sensors to detect the location of a signal wire located underneath the racetrack;
• The Balance group sets the unique challenge of building a car that stands up and balances with only two wheels.

These challenges are posed to university students to foster innovation in building smarter, more maneuverable, and safer cars for the highways of the future.

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