NTU Department of Biomechatronics Engineering

  This seminar talk was delivered by Associate Professor Cho-Yu Lee from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at National Cheng Kung University, focusing on the theme of Thermal-Fluid Sciences and Powertrain Systems. Prof. Lee began by outlining his research directions—spanning fuel economy improvements, thermal management, intake port preheating, dual-spark ignition, hydrogen-fueled internal combustion engines, and thermal runaway of lithium-ion batteries under anoxic conditions—many of which have been driven directly by regulatory requirements. Taiwan implemented Phase 6 motorcycle fuel efficiency standards in 2022 and aligned with Euro 5 emission standards in 2021, where the Total Hydrocarbon (THC) emission limit was tightened from 380 mg/km down to 100 mg/km—a significant reduction of 73.7%. To improve fuel economy, the research team adopted technologies including high-tumble intake ports, high compression ratios, lightweight pistons, and low-tension piston rings. Among these, the high-tumble intake port enhances air-fuel mixing and combustion efficiency. The team first performed CFD simulations to compare tumble ratios and turbulent kinetic energy between two port designs, subsequently validating them through flow bench experiments to measure flow coefficients and tumble ratios. This ultimately boosted the average fuel economy of a 125 cc scooter to 52.2 km/L, representing a 26.4% improvement. Regarding emission reduction, Prof. Lee noted that THC primarily originates from unburned fuel, a problem especially acute during cold-start phases. While water-cooled engines can warm up rapidly via thermostats, conventional air-cooled engines feature a cooling fan rotating coaxially with the crankshaft, which dissipates heat continuously even during cold starts and impedes engine warm-up. Addressing this through thermal management, the team conducted tests under the World Motorcycle Test Cycle (WMTC). The results showed that the time required for the cylinder head temperature to reach 50°C was reduced from 154 seconds to 134 seconds, enabling the oxygen sensor to engage closed-loop control earlier. Finally, Prof. Lee introduced research on hydrogen-fueled motorcycles. Transportation accounts for approximately 15.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions. While electric vehicles produce zero tailpipe emissions, carbon emissions still occur upstream during electricity generation; by contrast, hydrogen offers both zero-carbon combustion and the practical advantage of leveraging existing internal combustion engine architectures. Using constant-volume combustion chamber experiments to capture mass fraction burned data, the team fitted a fourth-order polynomial with an R² of 0.9928 and integrated it into the Wiebe function. Coupled with 34,072 engine cycle data points recorded from a 125 cc scooter on a chassis dynamometer, they established a predictive model for hydrogen consumption. Attending this seminar gave me a profound appreciation that engineering research is not conducted in isolation, but is intimately linked to regulatory mandates and industrial demands. Prof. Lee approaches each research topic from a clearly defined problem, evaluates design directions rapidly through simulations, and validates them with rigorous experiments—a methodology that left a deep impression on me. Extending from internal combustion engine optimization to hydrogen energy and battery safety also highlighted the pivotal role thermal-fluid sciences play in the ongoing energy transition. Moving forward, I hope to build a solid foundation in thermal-fluid sciences and combustion, master the integration of simulation and experimental methods, and cultivate strong problem-solving capabilities for real-world engineering challenges. Written by student Po-Chih Chang    

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  Prof. Yen-Wen Lu from the Department of Bio-industrial Mechatronics Engineering and Prof. Yu-Chieh Hsiao from the Department of Bioenvironmental Systems Engineering at National Taiwan University (NTU) were recently invited to attend the UC Faculty Forum held from July 27 to 28, organized by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA). SEARCA is a prominent international organization dedicated to advancing agricultural research, graduate education, and regional cooperation across Southeast Asia, actively connecting universities and research institutions throughout the region to promote sustainable agriculture, technological innovation, and talent development. The forum brought together scholars from universities across Taiwan, Thailand, and Southeast Asia to explore critical topics including smart agriculture, sustainable development, net-zero emissions, and interdisciplinary research. During the forum, Prof. Yen-Wen Lu represented the NTU College of Bioresources and Agriculture to present recent research achievements in biosensing, smart livestock farming, and lab-on-a-chip technologies for animal breeding. He introduced how the integration of microfluidics, biosensors, and artificial intelligence can foster next-generation smart agriculture and precision livestock platforms, engaging in in-depth exchanges with international scholars on interdisciplinary research and prospective collaborations. Prof. Yu-Chieh Hsiao presented on the topic “A Multi-Scale Approach Integrating Carbon–Nitrogen Cycling and Microbial Processes for Low-Carbon Agriculture,” sharing research outcomes on low-carbon agriculture and sustainable soil management, which demonstrated Taiwan’s robust research capabilities in net-zero emissions and sustainable agriculture. Following the forum, Prof. Prakash Bhuyar from the host institution, Maejo University, visited Taiwan and made a special visit to the NTU Department of Bio-industrial Mechatronics Engineering to tour Prof. Yen-Wen Lu’s laboratory. During the visit, lab students introduced the biosensing platforms and related research outcomes, and both parties engaged in thorough discussions on biosensing, microfluidic chips, and smart livestock farming. Extending from the international forum to the laboratory visit, this interaction not only provided participating scholars with a deeper understanding of the NTU research team’s technological developments, but also opened new opportunities for collaborative research, student exchanges, and academic partnerships. This exchange fully demonstrated the research capabilities of the NTU Department of Bio-industrial Mechatronics Engineering in smart agriculture, biosensing, microfluidic chips, and sustainable agriculture, while further strengthening partnerships between Taiwan and academic collaborators in Thailand and Southeast Asia. Moving forward, the team will continue to advance innovations in smart agriculture, biosensing, and sustainable technologies through international cooperation, student exchanges, and interdisciplinary research, elevating Taiwan’s visibility and global impact in agricultural science and technology.  

  Our department, together with the Smart Agriculture Teaching and Research Development Center, co-organized a workshop titled "Physical AI, UAV Systems, and Smart Agriculture" from April 27-30 with Dr. Woo Soo Kim from Simon Fraser University (SFU), Canada, along with his PhD students and Capstone project team. The program was comprehensive, featuring multiple research sharing sessions, lab tours, and an in-depth visit to NTU's Ankeng Branch Farm and smart greenhouse for field testing of UAV sensing. Through hands-on technical sharing and data analysis, this exchange expanded collaborative potential in the fields of smart sensing and digital agriculture, while also providing valuable international practical exchange experience for students from both institutions.