POSTGRADUATE
PROGRAMS
PROGRAMS
Postgraduate Programs 2022/23
Master of Philosophy and Doctor of Philosophy Programs in Robotics and Autonomous Systems
Award Title
Master of Philosophy in Robotics and Autonomous Systems
Doctor of Philosophy in Robotics and Autonomous Systems
Program Short Name
MPhil(ROAS)
PhD(ROAS)
Mode of Study
Both full- and part-time
Normative Program Duration
MPhil
Full-time: 2 years
Part-time: 4 years
PhD
Full-time: 3 years (with a relevant research master’s degree), 4 years (without a relevant research master’s degree)
Part-time: 6 years
Offering Unit
Robotics and Autonomous Systems Thrust Area
Systems Hub
Program Advisor
Program Director:
Prof Michael WANG, Chair Professor of Electronic and Computer Engineering, and Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Enquiry
Robotics is a transdisciplinary branch of engineering and science that deals with the design, construction, operation, and use of robots, as well as computer systems for their control, sensory feedback, and information processing. An autonomous system is a system that performs tasks with a high degree of autonomy (without external influence). Designing and managing Robotics and Autonomous Systems requires diverse skills from various engineering disciplines such as electronics, mechatronics, control and signal processing together with state-of-the-art computer science such as software architecture, algorithms and data structures or artificial intelligence.
The Master of Philosophy (MPhil) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Programs in Robotics and Autonomous Systems aim to provide well-rounded education as well as rigorous research training to prepare students to become versatile and knowledgeable professionals, with the broad fields of robotics engineering as a major focus, together with connections to theoretical and applied mechanics, optimization, communication, information theory, machine learning, computing, mathematics and signal processing.
MPhil graduates should be able to demonstrate mastery of knowledge in design, construction, operation, and management of robots, and develop innovative solutions required by the emerging global industry in Robotics and Autonomous Systems (ROAS), and across many other sectors where ROAS skills are applicable.
PhD graduates should be capable of conducting high-quality original research, creating new knowledge, deriving valuable insights, and making tangible impacts on academia and the field.
On successful completion of the MPhil program, graduates will be able to:
- Acquire broad knowledge of programming and algorithms, systems development techniques, as well as digital technology that form the basis for designing computers and embedded systems;
- Analyze and model systems that contain both software, hardware and mechanics;
- Demonstrate a detailed knowledge of their areas of specialization and convey the results of their research in a clear and effective manner;
- Conduct original research in the field of robotics and provide scientific contribution to the discipline;
- Translate and transform fundamental research insights effectively into practical applications; and
- Equip themselves with interdisciplinary skill-sets that help them develop into capable independent researchers for academia and industry.
On successful completion of the PhD program, graduates will be able to:
- Gain an in-depth understanding of programming and algorithms, electronics and sensors, digital technology, control systems, and mechanisms used in robotics;
- Demonstrate a broad knowledge of computer architecture and digital systems, management and analysis of robotics systems, and how machines can interpret surroundings, act intelligently and adapt;
- Construct and control robotics systems that integrate different software, hardware and mechanics, and programing in different languages for different applications;
- Design and conduct high-quality independent research and make an original contribution to knowledge in the field of robotics;
- Communicate the results of their research to others in a clear and effective manner;
- Teach courses in the areas of specialization at the undergraduate level; and
- Equip themselves with interdisciplinary skill-sets that can evolve over time to suit the ever-evolving industry.
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Minimum Credit Requirement
MPhil: 15 credits
PhD: 21 credits -
Credit Transfer
Students who have taken equivalent courses at HKUST(GZ) or other recognized universities may be granted credit transfer on a case-by-case basis, up to a maximum of 3 credits for MPhil students, and 6 credits for PhD students.
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Cross-disciplinary Core Courses
2 credits
UCMP 6010
Cross-disciplinary Research Methods I
2 Credit(s)
Description
This course focuses on using various approaches to perform quantitative analysis through real-world examples. Students will learn how to use different tools in an interdisciplinary project and how to acquire new skills on their own. The course offers different modules that are multidisciplinary/multifunctional and generally applicable to a wide class of problems.
UCMP 6020
Cross-disciplinary Research Methods II
2 Credit(s)
Description
This course focuses on using various approaches to perform quantitative analysis through real-world examples. Students will learn how to use different tools in an interdisciplinary project and how to acquire new skills on their own. The course offers different modules that are multidisciplinary/multifunctional and generally applicable to a wide class of problems.
UCMP 6030
Cross-disciplinary Design Thinking I
2 Credit(s)
Description
This course focuses on user-collaborative design methods for generating inclusive product solutions that integrate stakeholder and product functionality perspectives. Students will create specified product/process/policy/protocol/plan (5P) concept models through the use of recursive user feedback engagement methods, experimental prototyping, and divergent and convergent ideation strategies. Featured topics include design thinking; stakeholder research; concept development, screening, and selection; and interaction design.
UCMP 6040
Cross-disciplinary Design Thinking II
2 Credit(s)
Description
This course focuses on user-collaborative design methods for generating inclusive product solutions that integrate stakeholder and product functionality perspectives. Students will create specified product/process/policy/protocol/plan (5P) concept models through the use of recursive user feedback engagement methods, experimental prototyping, and divergent and convergent ideation strategies. Featured topics include design thinking; stakeholder research; concept development, screening, and selection; and interaction design.
All students are required to complete either UCMP 6010 or UCMP 6030. Students may complete the remaining courses as part of the credit requirements, as requested by the Program Planning cum Thesis Supervision Committee.
- Hub Core Courses
4 Credits
Students are required to complete at least one Hub core course (2 credits) from the Systems Hub and at least one Hub core course (2 credits) from other Hubs.
Systems Hub Core Course
SYSH 5000
Model-Based Systems Engineering
2 Credit(s)
Description
Model-based systems engineering (MBSE) is a contemporary systems engineering methodology that uses conceptual models for communication between system architects, designers, developers, and stakeholders. Object-Process Methodology (OPM) is an MBSE language and methodology for constructing domain-independent conceptual models of all kinds of systems. The course provides students with basic knowledge and tools for MBSE, focusing on conceptual modeling of systems, giving learners a competitive advantage over their peers.
Other Hub Core Courses
FUNH 5000
Introduction to Function Hub for Sustainable Future
2 Credit(s)
Description
This course covers background knowledge in the thrust areas of the Function Hub, including Advanced Materials, Sustainable Energy and Environment, Microelectronics, and Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences.
INFH 5000
Information Science and Technology: Essentials and Trends
2 Credit(s)
Description
This inquiry-based course aims to introduce students to the concepts and skills needed to drive digital transformation in the information age. Students will learn to conduct research, explore real-world applications, and discuss grand challenges in the four thrust areas of the Information hub, namely Artificial Intelligence, Data Science and Analytics, Internet of Things, and Computational Media and Arts. The course incorporates various teaching and learning formats including lectures, seminars, online courses, group discussions, and a term project.
SOCH 5000
Technological Innovation and Social Entrepreneurship
2 Credit(s)
Description
This course discusses both opportunities and risks that technological breakthrough has brought to the human society. What would be the policy responses required to maximize its positive benefit and minimize its social costs? In particular, how could we utilize the technological advancement, entrepreneurial thinking to address the challenges our societies are facing, such as job loss/unemployment, income inequality and societal polarization, environmental degradation, health disparity, population aging, and among others. The course uses either case studies or cross-country and time-series data analyses to facilitate the discussion of various social issues and look for innovative solutions of in the real world.
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Courses on Domain Knowledge
MPhil: minimum 9 credits of coursework
PhD: minimum 15 credits of coursework
Under this requirement, each student is required to take elective courses to form an individualized curriculum relevant to the cross-disciplinary thesis research. To ensure that students will take appropriate courses to equip them with needed domain knowledge, each student has a Program Planning cum Thesis Supervision Committee to approve the courses to be taken soonest after program commencement and no later than the end of the first year. Depending on the approved curriculum, individual students may be required to complete additional credits beyond the minimal credit requirements.
Sample Course List
To meet individual needs, students will be taking courses in different areas, which may include but not limited to courses and areas listed below.
ROAS 5500
Mechatronics Design
3 Credit(s)
Description
This course introduces the essential fundamentals, including modeling, sensing, signal transmission and conversion, actuation, control, simulation, and implementation technologies used within the mechatronics design for robots and autonomous systems. It will give a holistic view of advanced automation technologies in industrial applications and provide the essential skills to design intelligent mechatronics systems. Through this course, students can enhance their understanding of the cross-disciplinary integration and systematic optimization of mechatronics systems involving the knowledge of mechanics, electronics, control engineering, and computer science.
ROAS 5600
Introduction to Discrete Event Systems
3 Credit(s)
Description
This course aims to provide an introduction to the fundamental knowledge of physical systems modeled with discrete state space and event driven transitions. Discrete Event Systems (DES) arise in the modeling of many engineering domains, such as automated manufacturing systems, communication networks, software systems, process control systems, and transportation systems. This course will introduce a unified modeling framework and emphasize the analysis and control of DES. Basics of automata and language theory are presented first as mathematical preliminaries. Then comes a detailed treatment of state estimation, diagnosis, security and supervisory control theory of DES based on automata model. Topics of other DES models like Petri nets, timed and hybrid automata are also covered towards the end of the course.
ROAS 5700
Robot Motion Planning and Control
3 Credit(s)
Description
This course introduces the advanced methodologies in the context of motion planning and control for robotics and autonomous systems. Various methodologies are introduced, including search-based methods, grid-based methods, sampling-based methods, optimization-based methods, learning-based methods, etc. In general, this course covers modern approaches, deep theory, and good practice envisions. In addition to the fundamental knowledge in motion planning and control, the students will also have the opportunity to discover and learn cutting-edge methodologies in the related field, aligning with the substantial developments in robotics, autonomous driving, UAVs, etc.
ROAS 5800
Physical-based Vision for Robot and Autonomous Driving
3 Credit(s)
Description
Light traveling in the 3D world interacts with the scene through intricate processes before being captured by a camera. These processes result in the dazzling effects like color and shading, complex surface and material appearance, different weathering, just to name a few. Physics based vision aims to invert the processes to recover the scene properties, such as shape, reflectance, light distribution, medium properties, etc., from the images by modelling and analyzing the imaging process to extract desired features or information. This course introduces the advanced methodologies in the context of physical-based vision for robotics and autonomous systems. We will introduce diverse techniques, covering from traditional methods based on hand-crafted features to recent deep learning methods. Apart from the fundamental knowledge in physical-based vision, the students will also have opportunities to discover and learn cutting-edge methodologies in popular physical-based vision topics (i.e., bad-weather restoration, shadow detection and removal, specular highlight detection and removal, intrinsic image decomposition, reflection detection and removal, and so on) of the physical-based vision, aligning with the substantial developments in robotics, autonomous driving, UAVs, etc.
ROAS 5900
Analytical Methods in Human Factors Research
3 Credit(s)
Description
The course will cover a wide range of analytical methods used in human factors research domain. The students will gain an understanding of the procedures, objectives and limitations of different research methods. The course will also include four case studies so that students would gain first-hand experience in applying the methods in real projects. These contents are required for research investigating users’ behaviors.
ROAS 5910
Engineering Psychology and Transportation Applications
3 Credit(s)
Description
The course will cover a wide range of engineering psychology topics as well as how the research in these directions can affect policies and regulations in vehicle design and surface transportation. The students will gain an understanding of the characteristics and limitations of human beings from engineering psychology perspectives of view and how the design of traffic control devices, the roadway, the in-vehicle devices, regulations and traffic rules can be affected by the research in these directions.
ROAS 6000
Special Topics in Robotics
3 Credit(s)
Description
Selected topics in robotics of current interest in emerging areas and not covered by existing courses. May be repeated for credit if different topics are covered.
- Additional Foundation Courses
Individual students may be required to take foundation courses to strengthen their academic background and research capacity in related areas, which will be specified by the Program Planning cum Thesis Supervision Committee. The credits earned cannot be counted toward the credit requirements.
- Graduate Teaching Assistant Training
PDEV 6800
Introduction to Teaching and Learning in Higher Education
0 Credit(s)
Description
The course is designed to strengthen students’ competence in teaching. It comprises 2 parts: Part 1 aims to equip all full-time research postgraduate (RPg) students with basic teaching skills before assuming teaching assistant duties for the department. Good teaching skills can be acquired through learning and practice. This 10-hour mandatory training course provides all graduate teaching assistants (GTA) with the necessary theoretical knowledge with practical opportunities to apply and build up their knowledge, skills and confidence in taking up their teaching duties. At the end of the course, GTAs should be able to (1) facilitate teaching in tutorials and laboratory settings; (2) provide meaningful feedback to their students; and (3) design an active learning environment to engage their students. In Part 2, students are required to perform instructional delivery assigned by their respective departments to complete this course. MPhil students are required to give at least one 30-minute session of instructional delivery in front of a group of students for one term. PhD students are required to give at least one such session each in two different terms. Graded PP, P or F.
All full-time RPg students are required to complete PDEV 6800. The course is composed of a 10-hour training offered by the Institute of Educational Innovation and Practice (IEIP), and session(s) of instructional delivery to be assigned by the respective Thrusts/Base. Upon satisfactory completion of the training conducted by IEIP, MPhil students are required to give at least one 30-minute session of instructional delivery in front of a group of students for one term. PhD students are required to give at least one such session each in two different terms. The instructional delivery will be formally assessed.
- Professional Development Course Requirement
PDEV 6770
Professional Development for Research Postgraduate Students
1 Credit(s)
Description
This course aims at equipping research postgraduate students with transferrable skills conducive to their professional development. Students are required to attend 3 hours of mandatory training on Professional Conduct, and complete 12 hours of workshops, at their own choice, under the themes of Communication Skills, Research Competency, Entrepreneurship, Self‐Management, and Career Development. Graded PP, P or F.
Students are required to complete PDEV 6770. The 1 credit earned from PDEV 6770 cannot be counted toward the credit requirements.
PhD students who are HKUST MPhil graduates and have completed PDEV 6770 or other professional development courses offered by the University before may be exempted from taking PDEV 6770, subject to prior approval of the Program Planning cum Thesis Supervision Committee.
SYSH 6780
Career Development for Systems Hub Research Students
1 Credit(s)
Description
This course aims at equipping research students with the skills conducive to their professional career development. Students will attend the training focusing on personality self-exploration and program-specific training at the Thrust level, and another training at the Hub level. Graded PP, P or F.
Students are required to complete SYSH 6780. The 1 credit earned from SYSH 6780 cannot be counted toward the credit requirements.
PhD students who are HKUST MPhil graduates and have completed SYSH 6780 or other equivalent professional development courses offered by the University before may be exempted from taking SYSH 6780, subject to prior approval of the Program Planning cum Thesis Supervision Committee.
- English Language Requirement
LANG 5000
Foundation in Listening & Speaking for Postgraduate Students
1 Credit(s)
Description
For students whose level of spoken English is lower than ELPA Level 4 (Speaking) when they enter the University. The course addresses the immediate linguistic needs of research postgraduate students for oral communication on campus using English. To complete the course, students are required to attain at least ELPA Level 4 (Speaking). Graded P or F.
Full-time RPg students are required to take an English Language Proficiency Assessment (ELPA) Speaking Test administered by the Division of Language Education before the start of their first term of study. Students whose ELPA Speaking Test score is below Level 4, or who failed to take the test in their first term of study, are required to take LANG 5000 until they pass the course by attaining at least Level 4 in the ELPA Speaking Test before graduation. The 1 credit earned from LANG 5000 cannot be counted toward the credit requirements.
LANG 5001
Postgraduate English for Engineering Research Studies
1 Credit(s)
Description
This course aims to help research students in engineering communicate their research effectively. It highlights the characteristics of academic discourse, and provides training in the production of research-type documents, including abstracts, journal papers and theses. The course also gives extensive practice in the presentation and seminar skills necessary for academic study. Students who fail to fulfill the spoken English language requirement of the University are advised to take LANG 5000 before enrolling for this course (for students admitted in 2009/10 and onwards). Graded P or F.
LANG 5002
Postgraduate English for Business and Social Science Studies
1 Credit(s)
Description
This course is intended to provide RPG students of SBM and SOSC with essential training in academic writing, speaking and critical reading relevant to the study of a research postgraduate degree. Students who fail to fulfill the Spoken English language requirement of the University are advised to take LANG 5000 before enrolling for this course (for students admitted in 2009/10 and onwards). Graded P or F.
LANG 5010
Postgraduate English for Science Studies
1 Credit(s)
Description
This course teaches common skills postgraduate science students need to write and speak about their research. The course is compulsory for all RPG students of SSCI (for students admitted in 2012/13 and onwards). Students who fail to fulfill the English language requirement of the University are advised to take LANG 5000 before enrolling for this course (for students admitted in 2009/10 and onwards). Graded P or F.
Students are required to take one of the above three courses. The credit earned cannot be counted toward the credit requirements. Students can be exempted from taking this course with the approval of the Program Planning cum Thesis Supervision Committee.
- Postgraduate Seminar
ROAS 6800
Seminar in Robotics and Autonomous Systems
0 Credit(s)
Description
Seminar topics presented by students, faculty and guest speakers. Students are expected to attend regularly and demonstrate proficiency in presentation in accordance with the program requirements. Graded P or F.
MPhil:
Full-time students must take and pass ROAS 6800 at least twice, and present at least one seminar during their study, in addition to the oral defense of their MPhil thesis. Part-time students must take and pass ROAS 6800 at least once, and present at least one seminar during their study, counting the oral defense of their MPhil thesis.
PhD:
Full-time students must take and pass ROAS 6800 at least four times, and present at least two seminars during their study, in addition to the oral defense of their PhD thesis. Part-time students and students entering with an HKUST MPhil degree must take and pass ROAS 6800 at least twice, and present at least one seminar during their study, counting the oral defense of their PhD thesis.
- PhD Qualifying Examination
PhD students are required to pass a qualifying examination to obtain PhD candidacy following established policy.
- Thesis Research
ROAS 6990
MPhil Thesis Research
0 Credit(s)
Description
Master's thesis research supervised by co-advisors from different disciplines. A successful defense of the thesis leads to the grade Pass. No course credit is assigned.
ROAS 7990
Doctoral Thesis Research
0 Credit(s)
Description
Original and independent doctoral thesis research supervised by co-advisors from different disciplines. A successful defense of the thesis leads to the grade Pass. No course credit is assigned.
MPhil:
- Registration in ROAS 6990; and
- Presentation and oral defense of the MPhil thesis.
PhD:
- Registration in ROAS 7990; and
- Presentation and oral defense of the PhD thesis.
Last Update: 1 March 2023
To qualify for admission, applicants must meet all of the following requirements. Admission is selective and meeting these minimum requirements does not guarantee admission.
1. General Admission Requirements of the University
Please refer to Admission Requirements.
2. English Language Admission Requirements
Please refer to Admission Requirements.
