16 April 2025 

The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong (HSUHK) has once again distinguished itself internationally by receiving the Silver Award at the 50th Geneva International Exhibition of Inventions. The award-winning project, “ExpoDrone”, streamlines event booth inspections and compliance verification using AI and drone technology, and enhances the efficiency and quality of event setups.

Led by Dr George Ho, Associate Professor at the Department of Supply Chain and Information Management, the project categorises exhibition booth inspection into three stages: the first phase entails defining the key scope of inspection (such as structural integrity, electrical safety, fire code compliance, branding guidelines, etc.) alongside relevant safety regulations, and uploads the architectural plans, 3D models, or detailed design drawings for each booth. The second phase focuses on automated on-site data capture and 3D modeling. Autonomous drones fly along pre-set paths and cover each booth, capturing high-resolution 2D images and videos from multiple angles. In the final phase, AI compares the newly generated 3D models with the original design specifications to identify discrepancies or structural weaknesses. Large Language Models (LLMs) perform automated checks against safety and regulatory standards to ensure compliance, generating detailed reports with any issues found and suggested corrective actions.

The 50th Geneva International Exhibition of Invention showcased over 1,050 groundbreaking and innovative inventions from inventors, universities, research institutes, and companies from approximately 35 countries and regions. The award highlights HSUHK’s dedication to knowledge exchange by effectively transforming research and innovation into meaningful societal solutions.