March 2025

TechTalk – Multiscale Robotics and Automation for Advanced Healthcare Applications

Innovation Wing Two, TechTalk / By

April 10, 2025 (Thursday) 4:30-5:30pm
Advancements in biology and medicine necessitate enabling technologies for the manipulation and characterization of tissues, single cells, and even sub-cellular structures. Over the past decades, we have witnessed significant progress in the area of micro and medical robotics for biomedical applications such as single-cell manipulation and minimally invasive surgery. This talk will introduce a new search and detection method for automatically locating end-effector tips; vision-based contact detection algorithms, and microrobotic manipulation techniques. Furthermore, this talk will present microrobotic systems integrating these techniques for microinjection, along with the introduction of an inner actuated microrobot specially designed for minimally invasive medical procedures. The new technology has the potential to reshape cardiovascular drug testing and revolutionize the automated cryopreservation of reproductive cells in IVF clinics. Future research directions including augmented reality-assisted surgery and personalized healthcare will also be discussed.

TechTalk – Speeding Up Fairness: The Science of Fast Convergence in Markets and Graphs

Innovation Wing Two, TechTalk / By

April 3, 2025 (Thursday) 4:30-5:30pm
Achieving fairness in resource allocation can be modeled as a graph-based optimization problem, with many efficient algorithms available. This talk explores the connection between market equilibrium and graph density decomposition, showing how fast convergence can be achieved in large-scale systems. We present a unified framework linking hypergraph density decomposition and Fisher market equilibrium through locally verifiable optimality conditions. This symmetry allows repurposing algorithms between domains, significantly accelerating convergence.
We focus on iterative gradient-based methods, including the iterative proportional response process and its momentum-enhanced extensions. Our novel exponential momentum approach refines traditional techniques, delivering near-optimal solutions in distributed settings. Empirical results show these methods outperform existing algorithms, achieving speedups by several orders of magnitude in large-scale graphs.
By integrating graph theory, market dynamics, and optimization, this talk offers new insights into efficient computation to achieve fairness in networked systems. These methods deepen our understanding of algorithmic principles and open new applications in algorithm design, social networks, and economic modeling.

HKAE TechTalk – Nanotechnology for Three-Dimensional Biosensors, Terahertz Devices, and Meta-Devices

Innovation Wing Two, TechTalk / By

March 18, 2024 (Tuesday) 4:00-5:00pm
Recent advancements in nanotechnology have enabled the creation of diverse nanostructures, which are integral to high-performance biosensors, terahertz (THz) devices, and meta-devices. Nanoimprint technology, when combined with precise dry etching techniques, facilitates the rapid production of three-dimensional (3D) nanodevices with high uniformity and precisely controlled dimensions across large areas.
In this presentation, we will showcase several applications of these technologies:
1. 3D Biomimetic Platforms and Plasmonic Biosensors to control and monitor cells and biomolecules with exceptional sensitivity.
2. High-Frequency Terahertz (THz) Lenses and Antennas utilizing curved or meta surfaces to enhance functionality and performance.
3. Multi-Layered Meta Surfaces with Twist Angles to achieve chiral magic angles for advanced light manipulation.