Remarkable Success at the 1st National "AI+Energy" Sci-Tech Innovation Contest

Students from Tianjin University (TJU) achieved outstanding results at the first National "AI+Energy" University Student Science and Technology Innovation Contest, held at Shanghai Jiao Tong University from December 6 to 7.

The contest, initiated by Academician Huang Zhen, founding dean of SJTU's College of Smart Energy, and co-organized by SJTU and the State Power Investment Corporation, brought together other five leading institutions including Tsinghua University, Zhejiang University, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Tianjin University, and Dalian University of Technology. As China's first major contest dedicated to the in-depth integration of AI and energy, it aimed to foster innovation aligned with the carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals and Digital China Initiative. It provided a crucial industry-university-research platform to to boost students' innovation and support national green energy transition and intelligent development.

257 teams from more than 50 universities were attracted to participate, with 61 advancing to the finals. Competing in two tracks, "AI+Energy Scientific Research" and "AI+Energy Engineering Application", teams were rigorously judged. TJU teams stood out, securing one Special Prize, one First Prize, and one Third Prize among the total 6 Special, 18 First, and 36 Second prizes awarded.

The special prize was claimed by Chen Junye's team for their project "Temperature Control and Intelligent Navigation"—a drone-based intelligent heating inspection and energy-saving system for urban buildings. Utilizing drones equipped with infrared cameras, deep learning algorithms and BIM technology, the system enables dynamic thermal monitoring and precise temperature control for large building complexes, achieving an 8-12% reduction in natural gas consumption.

Hu Baoting's team won the first prize with their project "Waste Collector"—an AI vision-based automatic obstacle-clearing device for heating pipelines. Designed to operate in harsh environments, the device enhances inspection safety and efficiency while offering potential applications in municipal maintenance and industrial cleaning.

This contest showcased students' strong engineering literacy, interdisciplinary skills and pioneering spirit, underscoring TJU's commitment to "emerging engineering education" and serving national needs. Looking ahead, Tianjin University will deepen industry-education integration to cultivate more patriotic and innovative talents, contributing more wisdom and energy to serving "dual carbon" goals and developing China's scientific and technological strength.

By: Li Hang

Editor: Xiao Chengyu