Five student teams from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) School of Engineering swept five out of seven top awards at the JEC Outstanding Engineering Project Awards (OEPA) 2014.

The JEC OEPA 2014 was open for full-time undergraduate and postgraduate students of local universities in any engineering disciplines. A total of 31 teams entered the competition and HKUST received 5 top awards in the final round.

The Gold Award team members are both PhD students from the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE). They are Kandy Kan Kan Yeung, supervised by Prof Matthew Yuen, and Belsy Wai Tung Yuen, supervised by Prof Christopher Chao.

The team was awarded for their project “Versatile Air Filtration System with the Use of Ultrasound”. This project proposes to use acoustic filtration, an innovative method, to reduce suspended particulate matter. The system focuses on encouraging deposition of aerosols at the main source of the pollution in Hong Kong, vehicle and marine navigation system exhausts. It can also be installed in buildings to create healthy indoor environments.

The Silver Award went to undergraduate Wing Hong Chan and MPhil student Yun Kei Wong, both from the Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering (ECE) and supervised by Prof Tim Woo.

Their winning project was “Gesture Input Device”. The device provides an entirely new interface for humans to command a machine. Unlike traditional input devices that require you to have physical contact with the machine, you give commands by moving your hand in a 3D space. The device could be used in many aspects. Sport players can wear it while practicing to analyze their hand motions and improve the efficiency of training. Designers can use it to draw 3D models in a more authentic way. Surgeons can use it to conduct remote surgeries by controlling robotic arms.

Other projects awarded Certificates of Excellence are:

Project: The Soft Robotic Rehabilitation Gloves
Team Members: Man Tai Wu, Kwun Pang Law, Hon Chung Wong and Kin Chan, all undergraduates from MAE
Supervisor: Prof Kai Tang

Project: Solid Oxide Fuel Cell with Double Perovslcities
Team Members: Sukitha Rajindh Fernando Weerehendige, Warren James Henricus, both undergraduates from MAE
Supervisor: Prof Francesco Ciucci

Project: Modern De-icing Technology for Aircraft
Team Members: Undergraduates Gursimran Singh Sethi (ECE) and Siddhant Tripathi (MAE)

Organized by the Jardine Engineering Corporation (JEC) since 2005, the OEPA was set up to encourage future engineers to embrace changes for improvement and to be innovative in the engineering industry. The project was selected based on vision and sustainability, conceptual design, commercial viability, and presentation skills.