As the University of Macau (UM) celebrated its 2025 graduation season, Master’s student Zhou Wenjie from the Department of Electromechanical Engineering at the Faculty of Science and Technology distinguished himself through outstanding research achievements and international competition performance. He was honored with a place on the Dean’s List for Outstanding Master’s Graduates. Zhou specializes in Robotics and Autonomous Systems, a field encompassing cutting-edge applications such as smart manufacturing, autonomous driving, medical assistance, space exploration, disaster rescue, and low-altitude economy. His success not only highlights his strong academic foundation but also reflects UM’s commitment to cultivating high-caliber talent in frontier technologies.

The Value and Social Impact of Multi-UAV Systems

Zhou’s project report focused on obstacle avoidance and control algorithm design for multi-UAV systems. With the rapid development of the low-altitude economy and decreasing drone costs, UAVs are now widely used in formation performances, disaster relief, environmental monitoring, and agricultural inspections. His research aims to enhance the collaborative capabilities of drone swarms by optimizing control and obstacle-avoidance algorithms, enabling UAVs to operate more safely and efficiently in complex and dynamic environments.

A fulfilling study experience at UM

Zhou attributed his inclusion on the Dean’s List to the depth of his research into multi-UAV systems, particularly his innovative solutions for dynamic environments. He emphasized UM’s international academic platform, excellent faculty, and supportive environment that encourages students to participate in competitions and practical projects. He once represented Macau in the 2023-2024 Huawei ICT Global Final Competition, competing against more than 160 teams and 470 players from 49 countries and regions made it to the global final competition. His team earned the Second Prize in the Cloud Track, an achievement that significantly enhanced his technical and comprehensive skills through exchanges held in cities like Shenzhen and Jakarta.

Reflecting on his two-year journey at UM, Zhou described it as both fulfilling and unforgettable. He praised the beautiful campus, rich academic resources, dedicated professors, and the positive learning atmosphere among peers. As a cross-disciplinary student without a prior background in robotics, he initially struggled with concepts like mathematical models in control theory. However, by actively seeking guidance from professors and studying recommended materials from foundational topics onward, he gradually built a solid theoretical understanding and successfully bridged the knowledge gap.

Continuing Studies and Pursuing a Research Career

Zhou has already received PhD offers from prestigious universities, including the University of Warwick (UK) and the University of Manitoba (Canada). He plans to continue his in-depth research in robotics, aiming to contribute to fields such as smart manufacturing and disaster response. He also shared advice for future students: “Take initiative in your studies, make full use of library resources, engage with professors, and participate in lab projects. Step out of your comfort zone by joining clubs, competitions, volunteer work, and exchange programs. Learn effective time management to balance academics, social life, and personal interests. Only then can you build a university experience that is both academically rigorous and personally meaningful.” Zhou Wenjie’s journey exemplifies how UM nurtures future leaders in science and technology. Through interdisciplinary education, hands-on research opportunities, and global engagement, the university continues to play a vital role in cultivating innovation-driven talents for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and beyond.

The University of Macau welcomes the 2025 graduation season. Among the hundreds of graduates from the Faculty of Science and Technology, Gong Ying from the Department of Electromechanical Engineering (EME) at the Faculty of Science and Technology stood out for his outstanding academic achievements, innovative research projects, and active campus involvement. He was honored with the “Best Master’s Student Award” by his department. Gong credited his success to both the innovation and practical value of his research, as well as UM’s strong research infrastructure and experimental support.

Advancing Intelligent Systems

His research focuses on robot learning, particularly a diffusion prior strategy guided by pre-trained models. By replacing Gaussian noise with prior information, he reduced model inference steps, significantly speeding up robotic policy learning. This approach also shows promise in autonomous driving and smart manufacturing—areas requiring fast, efficient decision-making. When asked why he chose UM, Gong emphasized the university’s strong faculty, international research perspective, and rapidly growing global reputation, which together provided him with an ideal academic platform.

Excellence in Research and Campus Contribution

During his studies at UM, Gong consistently embraced a spirit of diligence and innovation, actively participating in various academic competitions and practical activities. At the 18th “Challenge Cup” National College Students Extracurricular Academic Science and Technology Works Competition—often referred to as the “Olympics” of student scientific innovation—he and his team stood out among over 400,000 entries nationwide and won the Grand Prize Award, marking the best result for the Department in nearly 18 years.

In addition, he successfully published a journal paper, demonstrating his solid foundation in scientific research. Beyond academics, he remained committed to giving back to the campus community by assisting in the organization of the UM Open Day, showcasing the university’s research capabilities and educational achievements to the public and promoting technological innovation.

Learning and Personal Growth

Reflecting on his time at UM, Gong praised the high-quality facilities, diverse campus culture, and supportive professors. When facing language barriers, he overcame them through discussions and asking questions. The biggest challenge, he said, was proposing novel improvements and designing rigorous experiments—an experience that sharpened his critical thinking and appreciation for collaboration.

Future Goals and Advice

Looking ahead, Gong will continue his studies as a Ph.D. student at UM. and to explore new frontiers in science and technology. He also shared some advice for future students, “Complete your studies successfully, build a strong network, plan early, develop hobbies, and stay healthy. A balanced life helps you go further.” Gong Ying’s journey is a testament to perseverance and passion in science. His story inspires others to embrace challenges, grow through experience, and strive for excellence.