Students take part in a regional qualifier for the finals of the International Youngster Unmanned Systems Competition (IYUSC) Smart Ocean challenge at Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, July 2, 2024. [Photo courtesy of HKSPSFA]

More than 700 students and teachers from primary and secondary schools in Hong Kong and Macao competed in a regional qualifier in Hong Kong on July 2 for a place in the finals of a national youngster underwater unmanned systems competition to be held in August.

"This tournament aims to enhance friendships among youths in Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao," said Chen Liuqi, chairperson of the event's organizing committee and founder of the Hong Kong Science Popularization and Science Fiction Academy (HKSPSFA). "And I hope the event will encourage more young people to contribute to technological innovation in the Greater Bay Area."

Nearly 100 teams, consisting of 309 students from Hong Kong and 151 from Macao, gathered at Hong Kong Polytechnic University on Tuesday for the qualifier. The competitors designed and built remotely operated vehicles for underwater exploration to recover and transport objects, showcasing their imagination and innovative capabilities. Specifically, the primary school teams focused on simulating the recovery of an underwater seismometer, while the middle school teams worked on simulating the sampling of underwater sediment. 

During the subsequent Q&A session, the teams delivered presentations, explained their design concepts and implementation methods, and shared their experiences and insights.

The qualifier concluded on Tuesday, although the results are still pending. The top-scoring teams will represent the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions at the national finals of the International Youngster Unmanned Systems Competition (IYUSC) Smart Ocean challenge, scheduled to take place in Beijing next month. 

Tuesday's event also included an awards presentation, with prizes being handed out in categories such as outstanding pioneers, stylish craftsmanship innovation, and cutting-edge innovation. However, these standalone awards do not necessarily guarantee entry into the national finals.

Team representatives receive the outstanding pioneer team award after participating in a regional underwater unmanned systems tournament at Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, July 2, 2024. [Photo courtesy of HKSPSFA]

Speaking at the event, Lin Mingsen, vice-chairman and general secretary of the Chinese Society for Oceanography, stated that the competition not only comprehensively tested the technological level of the youngsters, but was also a significant exercise in their innovation capabilities, teamwork and practical problem-solving abilities. 

Qiu Chengli, previously a second-class inspector in the Department of Science and Technology Talent and Popularization under the Ministry of Science and Technology, noted that the competition provides young people with opportunities to engage with cutting-edge technologies and understand scientific research, while also serving as an important catalyst for promoting exchanges and cooperation in the field of sci-tech between Hong Kong, Macao and the mainland.

In addition, the event included a segment marking the 27th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland, featuring performances by children, and a friendly competition between top teams from Hong Kong, Macao and Guangdong, who shared their insights into developing and operating underwater unmanned systems.

Participants in the regional underwater unmanned systems competition attend a ceremony at Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, July 2, 2024. [Photo courtesy of HKSPSFA]

In line with the central government's strategy to advance China as a maritime, technology and talent powerhouse, the IYUSC Smart Ocean challenge is organized by the China Institute of Electronics and the Chinese Society for Oceanography. The Hong Kong and Macao regional contest is entrusted by the national organizing committee to the HKSPSFA, and jointly hosted by the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and the Yau Tsim Mong Youths Society.

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