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Two research projects led by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) have secured over HK$100 million in funding from the Research Grants Council’s Theme-based Research Scheme for 2024/25. This significant financial support underscores PolyU’s commitment to advancing interdisciplinary research with substantial societal impact, contributing to Hong Kong’s sustainable development.
Prof. Xiaoming Tao, the Vincent and Lily Woo Professor in Textile Technology, Chair Professor of Textile Technology at the School of Fashion and Textiles, and Director of the Research Institute for Intelligent Wearable Systems, leads the first project titled “Mechanisms and Key Technologies of Multi-Sensory Emulation Wearable Devices.” This project has been awarded HK$62.37 million.
The second project, led by Prof. Johan Hoorn, a Professor at the School of Design and the Department of Computing, is titled “Social Robots with Embedded Large Language Models Releasing Stress among the Hong Kong Population.” This project received funding of HK$40.89 million.
The Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU stated that the projects demonstrate the university’s interdisciplinary research capabilities. He noted that the projects have wide-ranging application potential and offer tangible benefits to society. PolyU’s consistent performance in the Theme-based Research Scheme highlights its dedication to making meaningful contributions to Hong Kong’s long-term development. He expressed confidence in the university’s continued pursuit of innovative and cutting-edge research that enhances well-being and fosters a brighter future.
Prof. Tao’s project aims to lead global research in the field of multi-sensory emulation wearable devices, leveraging PolyU’s expertise in flexible materials, sensors and actuators for the Internet of Things (IoT), wearable and biomedical applications, electronic fabrics, mathematics for artificial intelligence, acoustics, and signal processing. The research aims to develop novel fibre-based multi-sensory emulation wearable devices with applications extending to healthcare, IoT, smart cities, art technology, robotics, education, sports, fashion and textiles, and personal protection.
The project focuses on emulating tactile and olfactory sensations, which are less enhanced yet urgently needed. The study will explore the operational mechanisms of multi-sensory emulation wearable devices (MSEWDs) and develop key technologies and applications. It aims to create emulation mechanisms based on fibrous structures and bionic actuation devices to deliver mixed scents and tactile sensations. AI models will link signals from biosensors to control the bionic emulation devices, providing more immersive experiences.
The targeted outcomes of the MSEWDs include:
- A device that senses and simulates olfactory sensations through AI-controlled scent-making and dispersion of mixed scents.
- A fabric tactile emulator that senses and adjusts reactive forces and temperature by altering rigidity, dimension, surface morphology, and thermoelectric properties.
- A wearable fabric-based acoustic stethoscope that continuously detects the location and intensity of sounds from human internal organs.
This project has the potential to fundamentally alter metaverse technology and impact various industrial fields, including healthcare, IoT, art technology, robotics, sports, fashion, and textiles.
Prof. Hoorn’s project aims to provide psychological support to Hong Kong residents, 61% of whom experience stress, anxiety, depression, or negative moods. The project will develop human-like social robots embedded with large language models that use localised cultural and personal data to offer personaliaed mental health support. Complementary on-screen avatars for mobile applications will also be developed.
A new software architecture will be designed to enable distributed computing, scalability, and privacy protection. The project will create training protocols, logic-symbolic AI, and design guidelines for novel methods and functionalities. These will be evaluated in situ by local communities to inform a communication model capable of predicting and recognising signs of stress or low mood and intervening with empathetic dialogue, help-seeking information, or professional care referrals.
The long-term goal of this project is to reduce the burden on Hong Kong’s formal mental health system while empowering citizens to manage their well-being through accessible AI-driven social support. The working population, especially care professionals and social workers, will benefit from this innovation. Additionally, an online platform for AI and robotics developers in the care domain will be established, which will also cater to other fields such as education, hospitality, and entertainment.
