The School of Engineering (SENG) and the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) successfully co-organized the SENG/MAE 25th Anniversary Star Alumni Talk on September 29, featuring distinguished MAE alumnus Mr Yunfei Zhang, who is the Founder and President of Zhuhai Yunzhou Intelligence Technology Co. Ltd. Mr Zhang graduated with an MPhil in Mechanical Engineering in 2009 and is now pursuing PhD studies in the MAE Department. Titled “Unmanned Surface Vehicles Sailing Towards the Briny Deep”, the talk drew over 230 participants including secondary school teachers and students, HKUST faculty, students, staff and alumni. Mr Zhang shared his exciting entrepreneurship journey and his outlook on the future of the Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV) industry.

In the talk, Mr Zhang unveiled the transformation from a student project, an inflatable boat with a few sensors, to Zhuhai Yunzhou Intelligence Technology Co. Ltd., a RMB3.1 billion USV corporation which has contributed substantially to the development of USV industry since 2009. Empowered by their first award in 2009, the President’s Cup, Mr Zhang and two HKUST classmates kicked off their entrepreneurship journey in the same year to explore the mysterious ocean.

Mr Zhang shared with fellow students that developing ideas into action largely relies on having a strong belief of creating unprecedented value to the society with empathy and responsibility. He also revealed his future plan in the talk, including setting up laboratories with Xidian University in Xi’an and South China Sea Marine Engineering Surveying Center of State Oceanic Administration, People’s Republic of China after completion of his PhD studies in the MAE Department of HKUST.

Carrying his dream and mottos – seize the opportunities, stress on innovation, no-pain-no-gain, strive for excellence, Mr Zhang is now sailing Zhuhai Yunzhou Intelligence Technology Co. Ltd. towards the briny deep to discover the mysterious ocean of which we humans only understand less than 10%.

Souvenir presentation to Mr Zhang by the Dean of Engineering, Prof Tim K T Cheng, and the Department Head and Chair Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Prof Christopher Y H Chao, and group photo-taking with all the participating faculty brought the talk to a successful close.