Over the years, the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) has been committed to pragmatic innovation and collaborating closely with our clients to develop innovation and technology (I&T) solutions, with I&T projects receiving multiple awards. At the 49th International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva held in Switzerland from 17 to 21 April 2024, the EMSD bagged seven gold medals, ten silver medals and four bronze medals, winning international recognition for our I&T achievements.
The award-winning I&T projects cover a wide spectrum of areas, including public facility management, transport infrastructure systems, ecological environment protection, health sensing system, support for work at height and rescue operations, safety management systems, as well as a variety of smart analysis, inspection, protection and optimisation systems. Seven of our projects won gold medals, including Enabling System of Vehicle Positioning inside Tunnel under Traffic Roads, Acoustic Detector: Determine Hidden Machine Failures by Analysing Sound Signature using Artificial Intelligence (AI), AI-powered Aqua-bot for Early Detection and Rapid Response for Invasive Alien Species (IAS) in Wetland, Ball Type Rolling Robot for Inspection and Rescue, EnviroSense: Intelligent Environmental Monitoring and Safety Assessment System, AI-driven Railway Regulator Inspection Planning System, and Management of Fire-fighting Tools and Rescue Equipment on Fire Appliances.
Among the awarded projects, many are the results of our collaborative efforts with client departments, such as the gold medal-winning AI-powered aqua-bot jointly developed with the Countryside Conservation Office (CCO), the ball type rolling robot co-developed with the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF), and the Management of Fire-fighting Tools and Rescue Equipment on Fire Appliances developed in partnership with the Fire Services Department (FSD). Let’s have a look of these three projects.
AI-powered Aqua-bot for Early Detection and Rapid Response for IAS in Wetland
The AI-powered aqua-bot has been jointly developed by the EMSD and the CCO to deal with IAS, such as golden apple snails, that damage the wetland ecology. AI robotic vessels are used to identify golden apple snail eggs and minimise their distribution and spread by employing water jets and swinging sticks, in order to curb the growth of such snails. The newly developed AI robot can reduce the manual work involved in removing the snail eggs, significantly enhancing the efficiency of ecological management.
Ball Type Rolling Robot for Inspection and Rescue
We have developed the new generation ball type rolling robot for negotiation (Negotiation Ball) together with the HKPF and the University of Hong Kong (HKU). The compact robot can reach areas that are inaccessible to large robots and drones, such as constructions at risk of collapse, narrow tubes, and caves, to conduct inspection, rescue and negotiation operations. Compared with the initial design, the newly developed Negotiation Ball has much enhanced functions. It supports wireless two-way communication and video transmission. The wireless transmission covers an area of about 100 metres even in the absence of network signals. Tablets, mobile phones, or joysticks can be used to remotely control the Negotiation Ball and move it to specific locations. Equipped with climbing capability, it can also navigate different terrains. In addition, we are developing its heat tolerance feature, with the aim of utilising it to locate ignition sources at fire scenes.
Management of Fire-fighting Tools and Rescue Equipment on Fire Appliances
With the adoption of 5G and Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technologies, the Management of Fire-fighting Tools and Rescue Equipment on Fire Appliances, co-developed by the EMSD and the FSD, can identify all fire-fighting tools and rescue equipment on fire appliances and read the relevant data. Firefighters can monitor the availability, condition and usage rate of relevant tools and equipment through a tablet or a mobile device in real time, facilitating readiness of equipment for fire-fighting and rescue operations, as well as allowing for efficient and effective recording and management of tools and equipment after completion of operations. The system can also be equipped with Internet of Things, which can enable real-time management of multiple fire appliances and the tools and equipment on them, with real-time data sent to corresponding fire stations for close communication. This system has been put on trial at the FSD for seven months with proven effectiveness.
We will continue to provide client departments with diversified and innovative solutions, and assist them in enhancing work efficiency and enabling equipment upgrades, in order to realise the two key strategies of “Providing Customer-oriented Innovative Services” and “Strengthening Innovative Collaboration between Stakeholders” outlined in the third Five-year Strategic Plan of the Electrical and Mechanical Services Trading Fund (EMSTF), as well as jointly promoting smart city development.
