Xtra Sensing, a start-up supported by the Hong Kong Science and Technology Park Incubation Programme, has developed a predictive Artificial Intelligence of Things (AIoT) monitoring and analysis system that acts as a one-stop solution to detect potential failures and security risks in critical facilities and infrastructure.
The system can be used by organisations, such as government departments, financial institutions, power plants, hospitals, utilities, data centres, cold supply chain and property management companies.
The company is one of the 10 winning start-ups in HKTDC's Start-up Express, an entrepreneurship development program that supports SMEs to grow their brand awareness, find new partners and investors and expand internationally.
Founded in 2019, Xtra Sensing’s business philosophy is based on the Chinese medicine concept of predictive treatment. The core technology used in its monitoring and analysis system involves collecting and analysing data through sensors to detect anomalies and undertake maintenance at an early stage, so as to save significant maintenance costs, avoid operational disruption and prevent serious injuries and deaths. In addition, early intervention can bring sustainability benefits, such as reducing energy loss caused by malfunction, extending the life of assets and avoiding unnecessary waste from replacing equipment.
Predictive testing and analysis is an emerging industry with similar companies springing up in Europe, the United States and Southeast Asia. However, most focus on industrial applications or only collect low-dimensional data. In contrast, Xtra Sensing emphasises collecting raw and multi-dimensional data and has more than ten million hours of data.
Xtra Sensing’s Co-Founder Nigel Ko, a veteran surveyor and non-destructive testing engineer, and Hong Kong's first Level 3 certified thermal imaging engineer, began researching non-destructive testing techniques 20 years ago, and the company's technical team is one of the few in Hong Kong to have internationally recognised professional qualifications in infrared thermography, ultrasonic guided wave testing and vibration analysis.
He said: "Smart city development is a major trend, and there is a huge demand in Hong Kong, as there is a shortage of relevant expertise. We are arguably the leader in the field of predictive analytics of critical facilities and infrastructure in Hong Kong and with more than a decade of data and experience in multi-sensing and multi-modals AI, we are able to make effective recommendations, develop operational insights and maintain a proprietary knowledge library for our clients.”
The company is collaborating with cybersecurity experts to implement network security in accordance with the Centre for International Security benchmarks to ensure that customers' sensitive information is kept confidential.
Xtra Sensing is in the process of patenting its Multi-Sensor Multi-Modal Artificial Intelligence Machine Learning Model and exploring how to extend its solution to mobile technology, like electric vehicles, and other public safety and critical infrastructure.
With offices in Taiwan and Singapore and 50 systems installed in Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Taiwan and Porto, Mr Ko confides that after investing heavily in research and development, the company is now in expansion phase with revenue doubling year-on-year. The company aims to expand to 10 sites in Japan, Southeast Asia, Australia and Canada within three years.
The company has received several international awards, including winning the Gold Award at the Geneva International Exhibition of Inventions 2024 and the 2023 RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) Best Facilities Management Team Award, and has been a finalist in the 2023 PropXTech award and part of the NVIDIA New Venture Programme.
According to Mr Ko, participating in Start-up Express has been effective in raising the company's profile and reputation, and has led to more potential investors approaching the company.
Looking towards the horizon, the company hopes to raise capital to fund overseas expansion and to upgrade its technology.
