CKY NEWSLETTER
A Student-led Publication
3RD ISSUE
Hong Kong Student Science Project Competition
香港學生科學比賽
香港學生科學比賽是一項由香港青年協會舉辦的創新科技發明及研究比賽，深受學術界人士的歡迎。科學比賽的目的是為提升學生對科學和科技的興趣，透過對科學與科技的研究和創新應用，以啟發學生的創意、培養科學頭腦、提升科技才能、訓練表達自己創造的發明品和研究成果的策略和技能。
學生共有兩個參賽方式。第一種是“發明品”，學生利用科學知識及想像力創作發明品。第二種是研究項目：學生進行科學現象的調查，或研究科學理論的應用，利用報告形式展示相關的實驗數據及結果。在初賽中，學生需在自己的攤位裡向評判示範發明品的實際運作和應用，評判會向學生提出建議改善作品。在決賽裡，學生需要在台上介紹改善了的作品，並會有問答環節，評判將會提出問題以測試學生的能力。
The Hong Kong Student Science Project Competition
The Hong Kong Student Science Project Competition is a programme coordinated by the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups to encourage Hong Kong students’ involvement in innovation and technological/cultural events and competitions. The aim of the Competition is to foster students’ interest in science and technology so as to help them develop their creativity, scientific mindset, and ability through innovative application of science and technology, as well as to strengthen their skills of presenting an invention or investigation to judges.
Our team participated in the JAPE (Junior Physics and Engineering Inventions) division during which we engineered our product based on sensors technology. Other divisions are inventions relating to biology or chemistry, and investigations relating to biology, chemistry or physics.
We participated in the preliminary competition where we displayed our product to the general public. Later, after the elimination round, we entered the finals in the Hong Kong Science Park and answered more challenging questions.
What did our team invent? How does this invention operate? What were the purposes of our invention?
Our team invented the Bus Vacant Seat Detector, which detects the number of vacant seats on the upper deck of a bus. On the back of each seat is a set of ultrasonic sensors. It sends out ultrasonic waves with frequencies higher than 20 kHz (which is out of the human hearing range) and the wave will be reflected back to the sensor from the surface of the person. To elaborate more, when a person sits on a seat, the distance and time for the wave to travel to the person and bounce off will be shortened. Afterwards, the Arduino System carries out calculations according to the data transmitted from the ultrasonic sensors and determines whether the seat is occupied.
There is a digital number display next to the lower deck staircase, showing the number of seats available on the upper deck. To increase the accuracy of the operations of our invention, we also included a set of pressure devices on each upper deck seat. When a person sits on a seat, the person’s back will be detected by the device as a certain amount of pressure acts on it. On the other hand, when an object is placed on the pressure devices, it will not be detected. This is because the force that acts on the pressure device is not enough for it to be detected. Hence, this design can prevent false detection caused by an object such as a bag.
The purposes and objectives for our team to invent this invention are:
(1) To reduce the number of accidents of passengers using the bus staircase when the bus is moving.
(2) To enable passengers to find a seat conveniently without trouble.
(3) To increase the efficiency of the bus service.
Fig 1. Bus Vacant Seat Detector (Prototype)
What inspired us to invent this product? How were we inspired by the Competition?
In daily life, we have noticed that there have been many accidents with people going upstairs and downstairs on buses in Hong Kong. This occurs frequently when people go upstairs for seats but end up returning downstairs. When the bus starts to move or when it is too crowded, passengers are unable to return downstairs and are forced to stand on the staircase. This causes a lot of accidents, especially among the elderly. It is very dangerous for them to stand on stairs, which might cause severe injuries. We were inspired to invent this product because of our great interest in buses, and we would like to improve the facilities on them.
We saw a lot of other products from other teams participating in the competition. Those products inspired us too. We had a great opportunity to witness other contestants’ achievement, and were amazed by how creativity can spur people on to improve their lives with technology.
How did the competition go?
It was inevitably challenging when creating our product. Although many templates for the programs of the motherboard and peripherals were available, it took us quite a lot of time on trials and errors and make adjustments.
Connecting the wires was also a demanding task, as it required a high level of accuracy and attention to detail. Due to the fact that our project had to be taken apart to be transported to another location, we had frequent practices of connecting the wires to secure the functionality of the system.
During the preliminary competition on 19th March 2015, we presented our project to students, teachers and even engineering specialists. Things never went as smoothly as we planned, but we were able to demonstrate our knowledge of ultrasound sensors and other technological components. As a result, we attracted a lot of curious passers-by to try our product. Therefore, we were quite excited when we received the Most Popular Award.
Fig 2. Our group photo during the preliminary match
Fig 3. Excitement about our entry into the Finals
After receiving responses from the judges, we made a big change, which was to combine the pressure sensor system and the ultrasound sensor system. This meant alternating the program radically and changing the connection of wires. This took us another few weeks before the finals.
Fig 4. Presentation in the Finals
During the Finals, the judge really appreciated our comprehensive system. The judges asked us a wide range of questions about its reliability. As we were well-prepared and had done numerous rehearsals, we were able to justify ourselves and demonstrate the invention.
Even though we experienced innumerable challenges during the design and manufacturing process, we successfully overcame them. Finally, we won the 1st runner-up for the division. Indeed, it was a delightful moment as we had put a lot of hard work into the invention.
Fig 5. Final competition
Experience of the ATV Interview
After winning the competition for a few months, we received an invitation from ATV for an interview on our invention. We were excited when we found out about this as we did not expect that a teen competition will catch the attention of large corporations. We also felt really happy as we were able to show our product to more people.
It was the first time for us to participate in a television interview. We were able to see what the television studio looks like, with huge cameras and professional microphones. The recording room is very bright and beautifully decorated, with lots of colourful cardboards in the background.
Our invention is composed of 2 chairs, 2 sensor stands and a box containing the microcomputer and the wires. It was not a simple task for transferring the whole system from school to the TV station, which required teamwork. Although we had taken a lot of time showing our invention in plazas and shopping malls, many people in the studio complemented us on the invention, as they often face the problem of finding no seats when they approach the upper deck of the bus.
Fig. ATV interview
The recording went well and the show was shot without incidents. The programme was broadcast on 30th Oct, 2015. If you are interested to watch our interview, please go to the following link or refer to the QR code.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFTzu5SkGTU
(Time: 0:28 - 5:36)
Reflections From Teammates
It has been a great opportunity designing and manufacturing our project. I have developed problem-solving skills and programming knowledge, which will certainly be useful for future studies in this digitalized world. Moreover, it was an awesome chance to study the other projects of the SSPC, allowing us to observe other innovative products.
The SSPC certainly gave me the opportunity to convert theories we have learnt in class into reality. Thinking out of the box and innovating nowadays is becoming even harder than ever before because of the advanced technology we already have. Nevertheless, throughout the project, I have learnt to think with a whole new perspective and realized some of my science potentials.
I enjoy the whole process of innovating as a team, and look forward to doing so again.
--- Yanni Chau 8D (2014-2015)
I have gained a lot of scientific knowledge and skills in this science competition, especially about computers and programming. I have learned how to adjust the program in order to make the invention work better and improve on its stability. I have also learnt to be more organized, as I need to give up a lot of my free time to work on this invention. I realize that making a timetable is really important in order to organize our time between this science competition and school work sensibly. For example, my groupmates and I had a lot of tests between January and February. However, we knew we needed to complete the invention before the deadline, and we had to compete not just with students from other schools but also time as well. We needed to finish homework earlier at home in order to free up the time to work on the project.
Finally, I also learnt to work as a team. I needed to communicate with my team members really well in order to complete this invention, as all of us were participating in different roles such as programming, writing, manufacturing etc. We needed to collaborate with each other to make it happen.
---Lincoln Cheung 8C (2014-2015)
Throughout the two entire years of joining the competitions, I have developed different perspectives and learned how to present my team’s inventions. It is a great opportunity for me to experience the process of inventing, from designing, manufacturing, improving, to presenting the product to the judges and public. In the first year of the competition, my team’s performance was not really satisfactory because the idea, quality of invention, as well as the level of application in daily life was not good enough. Starting from that year, we tried even harder to come up with more innovative ideas and to improve the quality of our presentation.
We learnt from our mistakes and weaknesses, which we improved in the second year. I sacrificed a lot of my time to work as a team to work on our product, and went through more than 100 trials on the invention. I needed to organize my time regarding every aspect of my school life. For example, I had to give up the time on practicing violin in order to work on the competition.
I enjoy participating in the competition, as I can apply not only the scientific knowledge learned in school, but also my creativity and imagination to produce a helpful invention to serve the world and to make the world a better place to live in.
---David Yip 8C (2014-2015)
After joining the HKSSPC competition, I have broadened my horizons. I found that there were many excellent inventions from other schools and the ideas were all amazing and impressive. Moreover, I have gained scientific knowledge that could not be learned in textbooks. In this competition, we were not only experimenting, but also inventing a product that could benefit the society. We were involved in decision making throughout the whole process, which included costing, manufacturing, and application, etc.
I am very glad to have the support and care from my group mates and our supervising teacher, Mr. Wong. This has motivated me to persist with many challenges.
---Clement Li 8A (2014-2015)
I have experienced a lot throughout the competition. Throughout the different stages of our competition, our team spirit was truly at its height. Each member truly participated, and everyone of us was part of a team built upon friendship and perseverance, as well as the hope to win which we all longed for. As a team, we learnt together not only about technology but also perseverance. In the past, we only learned about facts and theories. In this science competition, we were able to realistically apply our knowledge to inventing something which hopefully could benefit people in their daily lives.
---Jonathan Maw 8A (2014-2015)
Credit
Last but not least, our team would like to take this opportunity to thank Mr. Louis Wong and Mr. Hernan for the great guidance and support given to us throughout the two separate years of The Hong Kong Student Science Project Competition (Year 2013 - 2014 and Year 2014 - 2015). We are very grateful for and touched by their kind help!