Advanced technology from Asia

http://www.eguangzhou.gov.cn/2017-05/26/c_77903.htm

Cutting-edge products shine in Guangzhou
(eguangzhou.gov.cn) Updated : 2017-05-26


Guangzhou-based tech company Ehang displays its Ehang 184, the world's first safe, smart and eco-friendly autonomous aerial passenger vehicle. [Photo by Zhao Qingjian/tech.gmw.cn]


The 2017 China Innovation and Entrepreneurship Fair got underway on May 26, where more than 1,300 cutting-edge technologies and innovative projects were put on show.

Covering 20,000 square meters, the exhibition features more than 30 special activities, three innovation and entrepreneurship competitions, and two roadshows.

A particular highlight was Guangzhou-based tech company Ehang displayed its Ehang 184, the world's first drone taxi capable of transporting a single passenger for up to 23 minutes.

Other than drones and driverless cars, the fair also exhibited more than 300 robot projects from around the world, including Switzerland's ABB, a global technology leader in electrification products, robotics and motion, and Germany's Kuka Roboter Co.

The Intelligent Software and System of Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) brought their intelligent platform of dealing with water-related affairs, which has already favored by a Hunan-based company. According to Lei Zhibing, director of the division, operators are able to manipulate an intelligent valve even under rugged environments, automatically monitor, control and prevent water pipes from breaking down.

 

1,000 drones perform in the sky to celebrate Lantern Festival in Guangzhou:









"All the drones were made by Chinese producer EHang and controlled by only one computer."

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-38951391

 

http://chinaplus.cri.cn/news/china/9/20170408/2684.html

Robots help sort parcels for quicker delivery
Yang Guang China Plus Published: 2017-04-08 16:34:00


[Video source: miaopai]

Chinese delivery firm Shentong is moving to embrace automation.

Orange robots at the company's sorting stations are able to identify the destination of a package through a code-scan, virtually eliminating sorting mistakes.

Shentong's army of robots can sort up to 200,000 packages a day, and are self-charging, meaning they are operational 24/7.

The company estimates its robotic sorting system is saving around 70-percent of the costs a human-based sorting line would require.

 

Aizhai bridge, the most beautiful bridge in the world:





"Of the world's 400 or so highest bridges, none has a main span as long as Aizhai with a tower to tower distance of 3,858 feet (1,176 mtrs)."

http://www.highestbridges.com/wiki/index.php?title=Aizhai_Bridge

 

Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility (for Synchrotron Light Source [SLS]):

 

http://www.ecns.cn/business/2017/05-18/258020.shtml

China's first 6th -generation AMOLED display screen goes into production
2017-05-18 13:25 chinadaily.com.cn Editor: Feng Shuang












The 6th-generation flexible AMOLED display screen made by domestic leading screen maker BOE Technology. (Photo/www.cnr.cn).


China's first 6th-generation flexible AMOLED display screen production line, built by domestic leading screen maker BOE Technology, was put into operation in Chengdu, Sichuan province, in May, CNR reported.

AMOLED displays, physically flexible with a fast response, high contrast and wide visual angles, are increasingly gaining applications in consumer electronics such as OLED TVs, tablets, smart wearable devices and especially smartphones.

BOE's production line, with an investment of 46.5 billion yuan ($6.75 billion), applies the world's most advanced evaporation technique, the first of its kind in China.

This production line, having a designed capacity of 48,000 glass substrates (1850mm by 1500mm) per month, is expected to ship at least 90 million high-end AMOLED display screens per year and realize an annual output value exceeding 30 billion yuan.

Currently, the global AMOLED display market is nearly dominated by South Korean companies.

Samsung Electronics's share of the business has topped more than 90 percent, with a 5.5-generation AMOLED production line that can produce 8,000 substrates per month and a 6th-generation AMOLED production line having a capacity of 15,000 substrates per month.

In addition, LG Display has nearly 8 percent of the market. Most of its small to medium-sized AMOLED displays are made in its 4.5-generation production line, which has a capacity of 14,000 substrates per month.

According to consultancy company Sigmaintell, the flexible AMOLED is expected to witness exponential growth rate in 2017 and 2018 and its proportion in the AMOLED capacity will reach 65 percent by 2020, xkb.com.cn reported.

BOE'S smartphone LCD, tablet LCD and laptop LCD shipments topped the global market in this year's first quarter. Besides the production line in Chengdu, it will start building another 6th-generation AMOLED production line in Mianyang, Sichuan province, and achieve mass production by 2020.

China's State Council announced further measures to support "Made in China 2025", a plan to transform China from a manufacturing giant into a world manufacturing power, on Wednesday, according to Xinhua.

Key technologies such as high-end and smart equipment will be further developed.

Domestic screen makers such as Tianma Micro-electronics and Shenzhen China Star Optoelectronics Technology are also enhancing their presence in the OLED industry.

 

https://www.nextbigfuture.com/2017/...t-electric-drive-on-a-military-submarine.html

China attempting to leap beyond current US technology with first electric drive on a military submarine

brian wang | June 4, 2017












[Image above: 096 SSBN CG comparing with 094 SSBN]


Chinese state media has reported that the Cihina is fitting its newest nuclear sub with an electromagnetic engine that sounds a lot like Tom Clancy’s fictional Red October engine.

Rear Admiral Ma Weiming, China’s top naval engineer, is notably responsible for the development of multiple Chinese naval electromagnetic programs, including the electromagnetic catapult and railguns. He said the Chinese navy is adding a “shaftless” rim-driven pumpjet, a revolutionary and silent propulsion system to their newest attack submarine, the Type 095 SSN.

This electric drive is an attempt to leap beyond current submarine technology to technology with a long history of attempted development. This is similar to China making a stronger commitment to develop a submersible arsenal ship. China is taking technology and designs with decades of history and actually implementing them.

Previous submarine pumpjets are “shrouded propellers,” which consist of a tubular nozzle covering the propeller. By removing the shaft of the propeller, the reduction in the number of moving parts decreases the noise made by the pumpjet, as well as saving hull space. Smaller civilian rim driven electric pumpjets are easier to maintain, and have less cavitation (bubbles that form during propeller movement), which make them even more quiet.

CCTV13 had a “Focus on the interview” segment on May 30,2017. They discussed the of electric propulsion technology power of Admiral Ma Weiming. There was some discussion of the technology and spin about how China was moving beyond copying to attempt to create breakthroughs.The first few minutes of the video discussed telecommunication switching work of Zhang Ping.

Integrated Electrical Propulsion System (IEPS) turns all the output of the ship’s engine into electricity, unlike traditional propulsion designs, which convert engine and reactor output into mechanical action to turn the propeller shaft. The high electrical output can also be used to power motors for the propellers or potentially high-energy weapons. Additionally, IEPS has far fewer moving parts, making them quieter, and thus ideal for use on submarines. When coupled with quieter reactors like the Type 095’s reported natural circulation reactor, the rim-driven pumpjet and IEPS can drastically reduce the acoustic signature of any SSN.

Westinghouse, the leading U.S. advocate, gave up in the late 1960s — because the weight required to create a sufficiently powerful magnetic field would sink most ships.

In the early 1990s, Japan succeeded in making a 100 foot long 8 mph prototype surface ship called the Yamato. A group of Japanese physicists and naval architects quickly realized that the powerful magnetic coil made possible by superconductors could transform the MHD ship from old dream to new reality. Aconsortium of universities and major high-tech firms here committed about six years ago to forge ahead with a $40 million-plus project to build the propellerless MHD ship.

US and UK have tried to get electric drive to work but have not committed to it for their next generation submarines

The US Columbia submarine and UK Dreadought will not start construction for a few years and the first unit will be ready around the 2031. They have not decided to use electric drive and may choose more conventional propulsion systems.

The US and UK military and researchers have been working on electric drive propulsion tests for at least two decades. The RED-I motor used a wet gap permanent magnet motor to turn a ring of propeller blades. Two RED-I motors are mounted in free flood areas in the submarine mud tank, forward of the stern planes. The permanent magnet motor employed is large enough to permit a four feet diameter UUV to internally pass through the RED-I propulsor system in order to deploy from the stern of the submarine.

There has been general acceptance that there is potential benefit for quieter submarines using this technology but the US has opted for more conventional approaches for quieter submarines.

Various electric motors are being or have been developed for both military and non-military vessels.Those being considered for application on future U.S. Navy submarines include: permanent magnet motors (being developed by General Dynamics and Newport News Shipbuilding) and a high-temperature superconducting (HTS) synchronous motors (being developed by American Superconductors as well as General Atomics).

More recent data shows that the US Navy appears to be focusing on permanent-magnet, radial-gap electric propulsion motors (e.g. Zumwalt-class destroyers use an advanced induction motor). Permanent magnet motors are being tested on the Large Scale Vehicle II for possible application on late production Virginia class SSNs as well as future submarines. Permanent magnet motors (developed by Siemens AG) are used on Type 212 class submarines.

Reports on the Royal UK Navy Dreadnought-class submarine (i.e., the class that will replace the Vanguard class SSBNs) state that the submarines may have submarine shaftless drive (SSD) with an electric motor mounted outside the pressure hull. SSD was evaluated by the U.S. Navy as well but it remains unknown whether the Ohio class replacement will feature it. On contemporary nuclear submarines steam turbines are linked to reduction gears and a shaft rotating the propeller/pump-jet propulsor. With SSD, steam would drive electric turbogenerators (i.e., generators powered by steam turbines) that would be connected to a non-penetrating electric junction at the aft end of the pressure hull, with a watertight electric motor mounted externally (perhaps in an Integrated Motor Propulsor arrangement) powering the pump-jet propulsor, although SSD concepts without pump-jet propulsors also exist. More recent data, including an Ohio Replacement scale model displayed at the Navy League’s 2015 Sea-Air-Space Exposition, indicates that the Ohio Replacement will feature a pump-jet propulsor visually similar to the one used on Virginia class SSNs. The class will share components from the Virginia class in order to reduce risk and cost of construction



超空泡 = Supercavitation

http://www.popsci.com/article/technology/chinas-future-submarine-could-go-speed-sound



Navy expert: China's electromagnetic launch technology no inferior to America

http://eng.mod.gov.cn/DefenseNews/2015-03/10/content_4574056.htm



Source: Recent interview with Prof. MA Weiming shown on CCTV's <Focus Report>.

http://tv.cctv.com/2017/05/30/VIDElSeSLderAFlcnlzhUzhn170530.shtml (starting at 8:00)

It was reported in the interview that (as claimed by Prof. MA and the narrator):

=> China was the first in the world to have successfully developed Medium Voltage DC Integrated Electric Systems.
=> Their progress in this field is 10+ years ahead of everyone else, including the US.
=> They already won multiple awards with key IEP technologies (did not specify), now they're applying for another national award with the IEP project. One of MA's students is the project lead.
=> The key purpose of their Naval Integrated Electric System is to allow the use of high energy weapons on ships, not just to improve noise, maneuverability, or efficiency. Those side benefits do exist, but the key purpose is to use high energy weapons on ships.
=> During the interview MA pointed to a device explaining that it was their first project that has been ahead of the world. He did not explain what the device is, but from the looks of it, it is fairly clear that the device is a shaftless electric pump propulsion system for submarines.
=> MA did not mention anything specific about the 095, he did not claim that whatever model will or will not be quieter than whatever else. What he did say was that they're ahead of the world in regards to this technology, and he did say it is something that will be used on their next generation nuclear submarine. He also said the tech is already being applied, implying that construction for said submarine has begun (if not completed).



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Btw, the TV program specifically said this was the first time media was allowed entry to the navy lab. Ma did not say the machine is going to be used on next generation submarine, he said it is already used in next gen submarine, this sentence alone is very dangerous, it means the submarine is near completion or already completed.

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Admiral /Professor Ma Wei Ming disclosed on a TV interview a new propulsion system (bearingless pump drive) for next generation submarine has been developed. He said this new techomology is now being applied (on certain ship), and China is leading US on this perspect.

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It's actually a program [video interview] telling the achievement of the various award winners for Chinese Key Innovators Award. It details military to civillian technology including Chinese research on 4G technology. That's the reason Huawei and ZTE sprinted ahead, we had 4G technology.

I think this propulsion is electric propulsion, they are leading the world by at least 10 years, as claimed by this award winner. I don't think he is bragging. It's saying its an integrated electric propulsion system which supplies power to high energy weapons, I guess it's lasers?

He also said the propulsion system already used for next generation nuclear submarine. Damn, this means the next gen submarine is already completed. This guy shouldn't reveal so much.

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Guys this Ma WeiMing is also responsible for EMALS. His expertise is integrated electric propulsion systems for navy. There is a picture of Navy Admiral holding an umbrella for him while he was testing something through the walkie talkie. This guy says he dare claim Chinese electric propulsion and EMALS is more advanced than US.

 

http://www.popsci.com/china-new-submarine-engine-revolutionize-underwater-warfare

China's new submarine engine is poised to revolutionize underwater warfare

It looks a lot like 'Red October' in real life.

By Jeffrey Lin and P.W. Singer June 2, 2017



Red October SSBN

The Red October, a fictionalized version of the Akula (NATO reporting name Typhoon) submarine, has two pumpjets built into its rear for silent propulsion (though implausibly stated to use a noisy magnetohydrodynamic drive in the movie). According to Chinese state media, the nation's new nuclear submarines will soon use a similarly silent, cutting-edge pumpjet. [Paramount Pictures]




Type 095 SSN

The Type 095 SSN, seen in this speculative fanmade CGI, will likely have VLS cells for launching a wide range of cruise missiles, pumpjet propulsion, and improved quieting technology. (This earlier CGI shows the Type 095 with a more conventional pumpjet, though.) [Medico-MAX]




094A SSBN performing a "S" turn






JL-2B submarine launch ICBM






Rim Driven Thruster

Shown here is a Schottel built rim-driven thruster, used to propel surface ships like yachts with minimal noise (the Chinese miltary rim-driven pumpjet would look similar but much larger). [Schottel]






The Admiral and the Pumpjet

During his interview on state television, Admiral Ma Weiming, developer of the rim-driven pumpjet, shows off a laboratory, with a schematic of the pumpjet visible in the background, at right. [CCTV 13]

IEPS

Rear Admiral Ma presents a component of the new Chinese IEPS for naval warships; the Chinese variant is the world's first IEPS to run on a medium-voltage, direct-current system. [CCTV 13]




In Tom Clancy's book (and, later, the 1990 film) The Hunt For Red October, a Soviet submarine debuts a revolutionary, ultra-quiet engine that uses pumpjets and electrical propulsion technology to elude its foes. Chinese state media has reported that the nation is fitting its newest nuclear sub with an engine that sounds a lot like Clancy's imaginings in the real world.

This month, Chinese state TV channel CCTV 13 broadcast an interview with a top Chinese naval engineer, Rear Admiral Ma Weiming. The admiral is notably responsible for the development of multiple Chinese naval electromagnetic programs, including the electromagnetic catapult and railguns. In the interview, he stated that the PLAN is fitting its newest nuclear attack submarines with a "shaftless" rim-driven pumpjet, a revolutionary and silent propulsion system.

If the system is being put on the latest vessels, it is likely to be used on the first Type 095 nuclear attack submarine (SSN), which is under construction.

A rim-driven pumpjet has a ring-shaped electrical motor inside the pumpjet shroud, which turns the vane rotor (a vane rotor has the fan blades attached to a rotating band built on a cylinder interior, as opposed to a propeller shaft) inside the pumpjet cavity to create thrust. Previous submarine pumpjets are "shrouded propellers," which consist of a tubular nozzle covering the propeller. By removing the shaft of the propeller, the reduction in the number of moving parts decreases the noise made by the pumpjet, as well as saving hull space. Civilian manufacturers also claim that rim driven pumpjets are easier to maintain, and have less cavitation (bubbles that form during propeller movement), making them even more quiet.

Also in the video background was a large piece of electrical machinery, which is part of the PLAN's Integrated Electrical Propulsion System (IEPS). IEPS turns all the output of the ship's engine into electricity, unlike traditional propulsion designs, which convert engine and reactor output into mechanical action to turn the propeller shaft.

The high electrical output can be used to power motors for the propellers or potentially high-energy weapons. Additionally, IEPS has far fewer moving parts, making them quieter, and thus ideal for use on submarines. When coupled with quieter reactors like the Type 095's reported natural circulation reactor, the rim-driven pumpjet and IEPS can drastically reduce the acoustic signature of any SSN.

This combination, if it works, would be a significant gain for China's naval power. As China has gained in surface fleet numbers, stealthy planes, and longer-ranged missiles able to target U.S. carriers and air bases, America's submarine force has become viewed as its key advantage in any comparison. In turn, Chinese nuclear submarines have lagged behind competitors in their noisiness. Said another way, these innovations have the potential to strengthen a historic weakness.

The reporting is significant for two more reasons. First, it illustrates the new openness in Chinese state media to discuss the technology behind previously secretive nuclear submarines, suggesting a greater confidence in showing off new military technology in order to impress domestic and foreign audiences.

Secondly, if the system works, the Chinese may have stolen a march on the Americans and British, whose Columbia and Dreadnought nuclear ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) have the option for rim-drive pumpjets, but will not enter service until 2030. While the system would be on China's attack submarine, Chinese SSBNs could also use the rim-drive pumpjet to enhance their stealth and survivability—and, by extension, the credibility of China's second strike nuclear capability. These new submarine propulsion systems may not just power China's submarines of the future, but give Beijing a true superpower's underwater armada.

 

Here's a good one. USN still uses a rotary radar system like this one. It means a blind spot behind the radar dish at any given time:




This is the best (and most expensive) destroyer that China is currently mass producing, the Type 055 DDG. Its radar tower has no moving parts. This means 360 degrees radar coverage at any given time without needing to mechanically scan the surroundings:






I don't know about you, but when a (hypersonic) missile is coming at you, and you only have 12 seconds to react, can't afford to wait 2-3 seconds for the radar to complete one turn to update the location of the missile.

Chinese radar on par or better than the USN? They also didn't believe alot of things about China, stealth, aircraft carrier, quantum supercomputers, all of them were cynical.

 

Launching of the #1 most powerful destroyer in the world (not in size, but number of vertical launch cells and max missile payload / cell) equipped with 360 degrees non-moving radar on June 28, 2017. There is currently no USN warship made or planned that matches the firepower of the Chinese Type 055 DDG:










P.S: Four of them were built in parallel and have reached similar stage of completion. They each will be launched in the coming days...

 

The Type 055 DDG can output more Watts than any USN warship to supply power to high energy weapons like railguns and lasers (it was designed to accommodate these weapons in mind in addition to regular cold-launched missiles).

This is the ship that truly terrifies the navies of the West officially launched on June 28, 2017. What makes the Type 055 DDG particularly dangerous is China just doesn't want a few of these ships but dozens of them.

World's best, the most sxxy, powerful and elegant so far...

 

A few factual data (why the Type 055 DDG is the most powerful destroyer in the world):


Size:

PLAN Type 055 DDG: 12000t
USN Zumwalt: 15000t


Energy output (for railguns, lasers, etc.):

PLAN Type 055 DDG: 113MW
USN Zumwalt: 78MW


Vertical missile launch cells:

PLAN Type 055 DDG: 112-128 (each cell's xsection significantly larger than rest of world navies = more hitting power / missile)
USN Zumwalt: 80

 

http://en.people.cn/n3/2017/0623/c90000-9232603.html

China unveils new laser system for shooting down drones
By Li Yan (People's Daily Online) 17:08, June 23, 2017



Scientists at the China Academy of Engineering Physics (CAEP) announced recently that they have perfected a laser gun capable of shooting down drones flying at low altitudes. The laser system performed well during experiments and tests, shooting down over 30 small aircraft, said a CAEP employee.

The laser gun disables drones after shooting lasers that burn and erode the target’s surface and functional parts. In this way, it interferes with the drone's remote control and navigation system. The system can destroy targets within five seconds, causing no collateral damage. A single system defense set can cover an area of 12 square kilometers.

In April, 19 drones flying illegally over various Chinese airports forced many flights to be canceled. Though China has required civilian drones weighing more than 250 grams to be registered under real names since June 1, experts nevertheless warn that occasional hostile flights cannot be prevented.

The laser system has become a popular way to counter these drone issues. It can be dismantled for easier transportation. In addition, in order to effectively detect and guide the laser system, a complementary radar system is designed to work with the laser. The laser system is the first of its kind in the world.