Lai Hok Sum Sam

黎學深

Principal Engineer & Innovation Catalyst

Product Development | Technology Ventures | AI & Robotics

Results-driven developer with experience translating market insights into product innovation, effectively bridging the gap between R&D and market-ready solutions. Passionate about leveraging emerging technologies to drive business growth.

Email hs.samlai@gmail.com
Phone +852 5588 2717
Location Hong Kong
View Profile
Lai Hok Sum Sam

Professional Summary

Experienced robotics and R&D leader with a decade of cross-functional experience guiding product development from R&D to production. Expertise includes patent development and translating advanced research into successful product innovation. Leads high-performing, cross-functional teams and excels at exploring the potential of new technologies to deliver successful, market-ready solutions.

Professional Experience

Nov 2021 - Present

Principal Engineer - Next Generation Robotic Mower Development

Techtronic Industries
  • Successfully drove the company's first robotic mower from concept to Quality Build (QB) pre-production in Vietnam with comprehensive testing across 100+ units
  • Established Asia development team and coordinated global cross-functional teams through all product development stages
  • Served dual role as technical lead and NPI project manager, liaising with Vietnam production and Europe/US teams
  • Generated multiple patents and pioneered modular robotic designs with Linux edge boards, ROS systems, and precision navigation
  • Led advanced R&D initiatives: established partnerships for state-of-the-art technologies (hub motors, RTK modules, vision systems)
  • Developed next-generation wire-free prototypes with AR/AI vision capabilities and implemented AI systems for workflow optimization
Jun 2021 - Nov 2021

Associate Consultant – Innovative Solution Development

Hong Kong Productivity Council – Robotics & AI Division
  • Proposed 'Intelligent Foam Removal Robot' with DSD; received Silver Award at Geneva 2022 Invention Expo
  • Advised SMEs on government funding proposals and executed AI/robotics R&D projects
  • Consulted on edge computing, 5G, service robots, and sensor fusion technologies
Nov 2017 - May 2021

Regional Product Manager – Asia Pacific

Suzohapp Hong Kong Limited
  • Built APAC market presence for cash handling solutions (cloud analytics, payment systems)
  • Led international teams and drove lean product strategy development
  • Awards: Outstanding Contribution (2018), Outstanding Performance (2019, 2020)

Startup Experience

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Chief Technology Officer

Medexo Robotics (Hong Kong) Ltd.
Mar 2017 -- Nov 2017
Healthcare Technology Startup
  • Led development of biomedical IoT wearables for Parkinson's and post-stroke patients
  • Developed proprietary joint control technology for assisted movement devices
  • Built partnerships with patient associations (HK Parkinson's Disease Association, Association of Retired Elderly)
  • Won competitions: DBS Social Innovator 2016, GoodSeed 2016, HKU Dreamcatcher 100K
  • Selected for HK Science Park Incu-Tech Program and So In So Good Incubation Program
  • Collaborated with CUHK MBA as social venture partner
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Co-founder

VR Squad Hong Kong Company Ltd.
Jul 2017 -- Nov 2017
VR Entertainment Startup
  • Launched Hong Kong's first VR escape room experience with 100% positive customer feedback
  • Explored B2B opportunities and established brand pop-up events
  • Pioneered immersive entertainment technologies in local market

Patents & Intellectual Property

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Mapping objects encountered by a robotic garden tool

US20240069561A1 Pending
Filed: Aug 2023 Techtronic Cordless GP
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Blade height adjustment mechanism for a lawn mower

EP4282244A1 Published
Filed: May 2023 Techtronic Industries
View All Patents on Google Patents

Publications

Journal Publications

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  • Hok Sum Sam Lai, Fei Fei Wang, Yi Li, Boliang Jia, Liangqing Liu, Wen Jung Li. "Super-resolution Real Imaging in Microsphere-assisted Microscopy." PLoS One, 11(10), 2016.
  • Yang Liu, Cong Wu, Hok Sum Sam Lai, Yan Ting Liu, Wen Jung Li, Ya Jing Shen. "Three-Dimensional Calcium Alginate Hydrogel Assembly via TiOPc-Based Light-Induced Controllable Electrodeposition." Micromachines, 8(192), 2017.
  • Yi Li, Hok Sum Sam Lai, Guanglie Zhang, Lianqing Liu, Gwo-Bin Lee, Wen Jung Li. "Fabrication of High-Aspect-Ratio 3D Hydrogel Microstructures Using Optically-induced Electrokinetics." Micromachines, 7(4), 2016.
  • Feifei Wang, Hok Sum Sam Lai, Lianqing Liu, Pan Li, Haibo Yu, Zhu Liu, Yuechao Wang, Wen Jung Li. "Super-resolution endoscopy for real-time wide-field imaging." Optics Express, 23(110), 2015.
  • Yuliang Zhao, Hok Sum Sam Lai, Guanglie Zhang, Gwo-bin Lee, Wen Jung Li. "Measurement of single leukemia cells density and mass using optically induced electric field in a microfluidics chip." Biomicrofluidics, 9(2), 2015.
  • Yuliang Zhao, Hok Sum Sam Lai, Guanglie Zhang, Gwo-Bin Lee, Wen Jung Li. "Rapid Determination of a Cell Mass and Density using Digitally-Controlled Electric Field in a Microfluidic Chip." Lab on a Chip, 14(22), 2014.
  • Na Liu, Fanan Wei, Lianqing Liu, Hok Sum Sam Lai, Haibo Yu, Yuechao Wang, Gwo-Bin Lee, Wen Jung Li. "Optically-controlled digital electrodeposition of thin-film metals for fabrication of nano-devices." Optical Materials Express, 5(4), 2015.
  • Wenfeng Liang, Lianqing Liu, Hok Sum Sam Lai, Yuechao Wang, Gwo-Bin Lee, Wen Jung Li. "Rapid assembly of gold nanoparticle-based microstructures using optically-induced electrokinetics." Optical Materials Express, 4(11), 2014.

Book Chapters

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  • Fei Fei Wang, Hok Sum Sam Lai, Lianqing Liu, Gwo-Bin Lee, Wen Jung Li. "Micro and Nano Manipulation and Assembly by Optically Induced Electrokinetics." In book: Micro- and Nanomanipulation Tools, pp. 41-74, Wiley, 2015.

Conference Publications

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  • Hok Sum Sam Lai, Guanglie Zhang, Wen Jung Li. "Imaging of Nanoscale Particles in Microfluidic Devices using Super-Lens Manipulated by Optically-induced Dielectrophoresis." IEEE 16th International Conference on Nanotechnology (IEEE-NANO), 2016.
  • Hok Sum Sam Lai, Wenfeng Liang, Lianqing Liu, Yuechao Wang, Ning Xi, Wen Jung Li. "Development of a joystick-controlled optically-induced dielectrophoresis platform for real-time micromanipulation." Proceedings of 2013 IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Biomimetics (ROBIO), pp. 2749-2754, 2013.
  • Yi Li, Hok Sum Sam Lai, Shuhuan Hu, Raymond H. W. Lam, Wen Jung Li. "Large field-of-view super-resolution imaging of endo-cellular structures through micro-beads array." Proceedings of 2015 9th IEEE International Conference on Nano/Molecular Medicine & Engineering (IEEE-NANOMED), pp. 12-16, 2015.
  • Yang Liu, Wenfeng Wan, Hok Sum Sam Lai, Yanting Liu, Wenjung Li, Yajing Shen. "Extracellular-controlled Separation and 3D Cell Culture by Using Opto-electrokinetic." 10th IEEE International Conference on Nano/Molecular Medicine & Engineering (IEEE-NANOMED), 2016.
  • Cong Wu, Yi Li, Hok Sum Sam Lai, Wen Jung Li, Zhikun Zhan. "Fabrication of nanofluidic channels in polymer substrates using nanomechanical probes." Proceedings of 2015 IEEE 15th International Conference on Nanotechnology (IEEE-NANO), pp. 1402-1405, 2015.

Technical Expertise

Technical Leadership

Cross-functional Team Management Technical Due Diligence Product Development Lifecycle Patent Development

Robotics & AI

ROS Systems Computer Vision Machine Learning Edge Computing RTK Navigation

Programming

Python C++ JavaScript Linux Node.js

Design & CAD

Solidworks Fusion 360 AutoCAD Matlab COMSOL

Project Management

NPI Management Global Coordination Resource Optimization Risk Assessment

Education & Achievements

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PhD, Mechanical & Biomedical Engineering

City University of Hong Kong
2012 - 2016
GPA: 4.2/4.3
Thesis: "Scanning Super-resolution Imaging in Microfluidic Environment"
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BEng, Mechanical & Automation Engineering

The Chinese University of Hong Kong
2007 - 2011
Dean's List (2011), Champion Energy Institute Competition

Awards & Recognition

Best Student Award IEEE 16th Int. Conf. on Nanotechnology (2016)
Outstanding Performance Awards Suzohapp (2019, 2020)
Champion Energy Institute HK Branch Competition (2011)
Click to view full awards & honors

Get In Touch

Passion to discuss technical innovations and growth opportunities

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Email

hs.samlai@gmail.com
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Phone

+852 5588 2717

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Location

Hong Kong