PolyU FENG AI & Robotics Club
Join Us
How to apply and how members progress
Recruitment is once a year, in September
The club opens applications at the start of each academic year in September. If you miss this round, the next chance to join is the following September.
A demanding, high-intensity club
We hold members to the standard of the world's leading university robotics teams, such as those at MIT and Stanford: regular weekly hours, firm deadlines, design reviews, and robots that must work on real hardware, not only on slides. Expect to be stretched. Come prepared to commit real time and effort; members who do will see real results.
See what you gain by joining, from world-leading technology and mentorship to industry connections and a route to PhD study.
How to join
- ApplyOnline application via the QR code on the September recruitment poster.
- Written testA short baseline test of engineering and programming fundamentals.
- InterviewA structured interview about your interests, experience and the time you can commit.
- PlacementA member tier and one of the four technical groups.
- InductionAn introduction to the club, its projects, mentors and the Industrial Centre workspace.
- Safety sign-offComplete safety training and sign the club's safety, equipment and membership rules.
Commitment and club rules
- Keep your commitment. At the interview you agree how much time you will give to the club. We expect you to keep it. Members who repeatedly fall short will be advised to leave the club.
- Follow the club rules, always. Every member completes safety training and signs the club's safety, equipment and membership rules before working in the Industrial Centre. A first violation brings a written warning and retraining; a second violation means removal from the club. A single serious breach can lead to immediate removal.
- Book all space and keep to your booking. Workbenches, the practice field and machines are shared and must be booked in advance. Follow the booking rules strictly: repeated booking violations lead to removal from the club.
Member tiers
- Tier 3 · General Memberabout 80 places
- Interested students, including beginners. Seminars, salons, company visits, introductory workshops and open club activities. No external competition representation.
- Tier 2 · Training Memberabout 30 places
- Members with foundational knowledge and reliable participation. Structured bi-weekly training and supervised hands-on work. Can form or join project and competition teams.
- Tier 1 · Advanced Memberabout 15 places
- Technically strong and highly committed members. Lead project and competition teams, write proposals, mentor junior members and represent PolyU when selected.
- Seminars and company visits
- Introductory workshops
- Open club activities
- Bi-weekly structured training
- Supervised hands-on work
- Join project and competition teams
- Lead teams and write proposals
- Mentor junior members
- Represent PolyU in competitions
Promotion rules
Every promotion requires a fresh assessment and interview and must be approved by the supervisors and the mentor team. Past membership does not give automatic promotion.
- Tier 3 to Tier 2
- Normally at least 70% attendance at relevant activities, a passed foundation assessment in one technical area, real participation in a project, a recommendation, and a new structured interview.
- Tier 2 to Tier 1
- Outstanding results, either at project level, such as a working demonstration that meets the project's targets, or in competition, such as a strong ranking or award. Candidates must also show advanced technical skill, readiness to mentor others and a clean safety and conduct record.
- Staying in Tier 1
- Tier 1 is deliberately small and is reviewed regularly. A Tier 1 member who falls below the standard can be removed from a project or competition team and moved to Tier 2 or Tier 3 after a documented review.
Reviews and demotion
- Tier decisions are made at scheduled checkpoints using recorded evidence such as attendance, assessments, design and code reviews, and test reports.
- Low attendance, insufficient contribution, repeatedly missed commitments, abandoning a project, unsafe conduct or misuse of facilities can lead to demotion or removal.
- You are told about any concern and can respond before a decision is made.
- Members are students first: academic difficulties can lead to a reduced workload or a pause rather than a penalty.
Questions?
Read the Q&A, or email airoboticsclubpolyu@gmail.com and copy Prof. Weisong Wen at welson.wen@polyu.edu.hk.