After 3 days of material supply and personnel rotation, on April 15th, 'Ocean 1' set sail again, from Xiamen to the South China Sea to perform the task of comprehensive sea trial B. In this section, another exploration weapon - China The self-developed 4,500-meter deep-sea resource self-inspection system 'Qianlong 3' will usher in the first sea trial.
Why does the 'Hidden Dragon' family add new members? What are the differences compared with other members of the family? What does the sea trial have for the future 'Three Dragons' ( 'Long Long' 'Hailong' 'Long Qian')? Significance? The reporter of Science and Technology Daily interviewed experts in this regard.
It is difficult to meet the needs of only Qianlong II
3.5 meters long, 1.5 meters high, 1.5 tons weight, standing flat body, and 4 'fins' - from the appearance, 'Hidden Dragon III' continues the 'potential dragon'''s fat fish' gene.
This is not surprising, because the chief designer of the 'Twin Brother' is the same person, Liu Jian, a researcher at the Shenyang Institute of Automation at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said that this non-revolving body-shaped flat fish design can help reduce the number of vertical surfaces. Resistance, which makes it easier for submersibles to climb vertically in complex submarine topography, can also enhance surface sailing capabilities.
The vast ocean is rich in resources, but it is difficult to reach the vast majority of the deep sea area only by human diving techniques. Underwater robots therefore have an advantage.
Underwater robots are usually divided into three categories: manned submersibles (HOV), remotely controlled underwater robots (ROV) and autonomous underwater robots (AUV). The 'Hidden Dragon' series is an autonomous underwater robot.
'China's polymetallic sulphide contract area in the Southwest Indian Ocean has about 10,000 square kilometers, and the exploration task is arduous. It depends on a 'Hyper Dragon II', which is difficult to meet the needs of ocean deep-sea resource exploration. ' Liu Jian said.
Optimized and upgraded based on Qianlong II
In order to deal with the complex topography of the underwater terrain, Qianlong III also uses front-facing sonar as a collision avoidance sensor. This imaging sonar is also considered to be the 'eyes' of submersibles. The computer controlling the Qianlong III is After the data is collected, the obstacles and the surrounding environment are identified by means of image processing. In conjunction with the collision avoidance strategy, emergency steering is commanded, emergency deepens or goes high, and tracking commands are issued.
The four rotatable rudder thrusters are equivalent to the 'fins' of the submersibles. With this, the submersibles can flexibly advance, retreat, rotate, and 'over the mountains' on the sea floor.
Although it was a 'brother to the twins', but Liu Jian said, 'Qianlong 3' was optimized and upgraded on the basis of the 'Qianlong 2' technology. The most important change was the increase in maximum endurance and noise.
"The technical indicators of 'Qianlong 3' is still 30 hours. We have significantly improved our maximum battery life by reducing the power consumption of electronic equipment and increasing the efficiency of our propulsion. ' Liu Jian said.
To lay the foundation for the 'Three Dragons' gathering
Before the sea trial, by the end of 2017, Qianlong III completed the trial on Lake Qiandao Lake which lasted 29 days.
'Usual sea tests can verify that lake tests cannot be verified, such as the maximum depth, emphasis on functional tests.' Liu Jian said, this time is the 'Qianlong 3' first sea trial, its technical status remains to be verified, in addition There are risks such as technical failures and encountering severe sea conditions. In addition to verification of the major technical indicators and functions of 'Qianlong-3', the sea trials will also be based on demand in the gas hydrate test and polymetallic nodule test areas. For experimental applications.
According to the plan, after the sea trial is passed, 'Qianlong-3' will be put into practical use in the investigation of China's polymetallic sulphide resources voyage, and will continue to improve its technical level and performance.
According to Chu Fengyou, chief scientist of the comprehensive sea trial A flight segment, in the A segment, the 'Hailong III' and 'Hailong 11000' submersibles were fledgling out and laid a solid foundation for the close cooperation of various submersibles and even the 'Three Dragons' gathering. basis.
At the same time, the reporter learned that the new parent ship for deep sea exploration is expected to be launched in 2019. By then, it will be able to carry the 'Three Dragons' at the same time to form a tool for exploration of deep oceans in China.
Source: Science and Technology Daily
