UAV team received the Innovation and Technology Fund (ITF) 2015

UAV team has received the Innovation and Technology Fund of HK$ 5,918,635.07 for developing a platform project titled “The design, manufacture, analysis and control of vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)”.

This ITF project aims to build a VTOL UAV, which has the capability to make emergency deliveries of blood samples, first-aid medicine etc. Intensive computer simulations such as Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFDs) and wind-tunnel tests will be performed, in order to optimize the vehicle design, study its behavior and establish a knowledge base for future research. An autopilot system will be developed to stabilize the vehicle in windy conditions, enhance flight safety, and most important of all, ease user operation.

The project starts from June 2016 and lasts for two years. Prof Shen is the principle investigator (PI) of the project. The HKUST UAV team will work with research teams from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU).

What is ITF?

The Innovation and Technology Fund (ITF), administered by the Innovation and Technology Commission, aims to increase the added value, productivity and competitiveness of our economic activities. The government hopes that, through the ITF, Hong Kong companies could be encouraged and assisted to upgrade their technological level and introduce innovative ideas to their businesses.