HKCRC Products Shine at the CIC Global AI and Smart Construction Conference and Exhibition: Blueprinting a New Vision for Smart Construction

Co-organized by the DEVB and the CIC, the "CIC Global AI and Smart Construction Conference and Exhibition" (GASCCE 2026) was held at the Hong Kong Science Park from June 24 to 25. HKCRC proudly presented its core products—the Smart Tower Crane System and the Water Tank Cleaning Robot—at the event. As a flagship event of the 2026 "Year of AI," the forum brought together global leaders, tech pioneers, scholars, and government representatives. Amidst this gathering, HKCRC's two innovative breakthroughs emerged as major highlights, capturing widespread attention.

The Smart Tower Crane System: Redefining Construction Safety and Efficiency from the Sky to the Ground

Developed by HKCRC, the Smart Tower Crane System marks the pioneering application of intelligent tower crane control in Hong Kong's public housing projects. Forming a crucial part of the strategic partnership between HKCRC and the Hong Kong Housing Bureau, this system is engineered to address the construction industry's labor shortages, elevate site safety, and meet the massive future demand for housing development.

On the safety front, the Smart Tower Crane System achieves a revolutionary breakthrough. Traditional crane operations require workers to spend long hours in high-altitude cabins, exposing them to the dual threats of aerial risks and extreme weather. By introducing a remote intelligent cockpit, HKCRC’s system allows operators to conduct lifting tasks safely from the ground, entirely eliminating the hazards of working at height. Additionally, the system is equipped with an AI safety monitoring function that automatically detects personnel within a 3-meter radius of the hook, issuing real-time warnings with an impressive 98% accuracy rate.

In terms of efficiency, the system integrates LiDAR and satellite positioning technologies to support "point-to-point" automated path planning. It can stabilize the sway of the hook within 10 seconds, achieving a level of precision comparable to an operator with 30 years of experience. Field data reveals that the smart tower crane can execute 130 lifts per day, boosting efficiency by approximately 30% compared to traditional cranes. The system was first successfully deployed at the Housing Department’s Pak Tin Estate Phase 13 public housing redevelopment project, with plans for broader implementation across more construction sites in the future.

"Keeping the long-term development of the Smart Tower Crane System in mind, we designed it to be highly versatile," the R&D team stated. "Not only does the system enhance construction safety, but its highly efficient lifting capabilities also provide vital technical support to accelerate the supply of public housing. We hope this will serve as a catalyst to propel Hong Kong's R&D achievements from local implementation to the global stage, further elevating Hong Kong's international standing in the realm of smart construction."

The Water Tank Cleaning Robot: Safeguarding Occupational Safety and Public Health Through Smart Operations in Confined Spaces

The Water Tank Cleaning Robot, developed by HKCRC, stands as a triumph of cross-departmental collaboration in Hong Kong for the application of cleaning robotics, and it proudly took home a Gold Medal at the 51st International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva. This project was brought to fruition through the joint efforts of the Architectural Services Department, the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department, the Housing Department, the Housing Authority, HKCRC, and the Hong Kong Science Park—powerfully demonstrating the synergistic strength of "Government, Industry, Academia, and Research."

Specifically designed for confined environments within buildings (such as water tanks and pipelines), this robot boasts amphibious capabilities, allowing it to operate seamlessly whether the tank is full or drained. Empowered by features like roller-brush scrubbing, high-pressure water jets, and AI-driven dirt recognition, the robot executes water tank cleaning tasks with exceptional quality and efficiency. Its core features encompass amphibious operation, underwater wireless communication, autonomous navigation and path planning, as well as AI-based contamination analysis. Upon completing its task, the system automatically generates a comprehensive cleaning report and video log, drastically improving management transparency and traceability.

Currently, the Water Tank Cleaning Robot has been piloted for field testing in water tanks across properties managed by the Architectural Services Department and the Housing Department. Its most profound significance lies in eliminating the need for human operators to enter confined spaces characterized by high temperatures, poor ventilation, low oxygen levels, or the presence of harsh chemicals. This effectively mitigates occupational safety risks such as suffocation, heatstroke, and poisoning. Looking ahead, the HKCRC R&D team will progressively upgrade the technology and expand its application to reservoirs, chemical storage tanks, and various high-risk environments, fulfilling their mission to safeguard frontline workers with technology and drive the industry toward innovative intelligence.

Rooted in Hong Kong: Embracing the Global Wave of Smart Construction

At the GASCCE 2026 forum, HKCRC's two products not only showcased Hong Kong's innovative prowess in the fields of AI and robotics but also highlighted the immense potential of smart construction technologies transitioning from the laboratory into practical engineering applications. With the gradual rollout of the Smart Tower Crane System in government projects like those under the Housing Department, alongside the deepening application of the Water Tank Cleaning Robot in property management, HKCRC is leveraging solid technological innovation to propel and support Hong Kong's smart construction industry as it strides steadily toward a safer, more efficient, and more sustainable future.

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