News & Stories

When I tell prospective students about our Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) programs at HKUST, their eyes light up at a surprising feature – not just our wind tunnels or robotics labs, but how they can first experience these facilities through their smartphones or tablets. Welcome to engineering education reimagined, where augmented reality (AR) and artificial intelligence (AI) transform how our students learn and prepare for their engineering careers.

A delegation from the Technology and Engineering Center for Space Utilization of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CSU.CAS), responsible for China's manned space research and application projects, visited the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) today. During the visit, they met with the university's senior management and faculty, culminating in the signing of a framework agreement designed to enhance collaboration in five critical areas: establishing a joint laboratory, promoting research partnerships, co-sharing research facilities and systems, facilitating talent development, and fostering international cooperation. By combining their respective strengths and resources, the agreement seeks to jointly advance research and technology in aerospace engineering, contributing to the nation's space endeavors.

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) announced today its appointment by the China National Space Administration (CNSA) to spearhead an international collaboration project for the Chang'E 8 mission. By uniting global aerospace experts, the HKUST-led team is set to produce a multi-functional lunar surface operation robot capable of dexterous operations with a mobile charging station that promises to make significant contributions to the nation’s lunar exploration initiatives.  

The launch marked the start of a joint venture between HKUST and Chang Guang Satellite Technology for scientific research.

The satellite "HKUST-FYBB#1" will be used for tracking remote sensing data related to global environment, disaster and sustainable development.

Unmanned aircraft systems started to gain attention in US military operations more than a decade ago, but nowadays, people enjoy flying drones for photography and videography purposes. Drones are also gaining widespread acceptance for goods delivery, surveying and scientific research. I have two recreational drones, so I was eager to examine the three-month drone regulation proposals put out by the Civil Aviation Department in late 2017. There are six recommendations for the UAS regulatory regime: a registration system; risk-based classification of operations; training and assessment requirements; drone maps; insurance requirements; and indoor operations. The recommendations are sound, but a number of salient issues were omitted. The first is the absence of regulations governing drone manufacturers.

Prof. Rhea Liem, Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering The "Made in China 2025" initiative - first announced in 2015 to close the gap between the Chinese and Western technological prowess - was not mentioned at the opening session of the National People's Congress this month. Critics say the omission was to appease Washington amid turbulent Sino-US trade negotiations. Politics aside, as the 2025 timeframe is about halfway through, are the goals - with one key focus being making its jetliners to take up to 20 percent of the global market - still achievable? A few months back, the C919 of Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, or Comac, landed safely in Shanghai, showcasing China's upgraded aircraft-manufacturing capabilities. Expected to commercially operate in 2021, C919 is a narrow-body twinjet airliner that is the equivalent of the Airbus 320 and the Boeing 737.