Latest news with #CASIC
The Star
29-05-2025
- Science
- The Star
Elon Musk's Hyperloop has a key flaw. Chinese scientists may have found ‘cure'
Chinese scientists claimed to have solved a critical flaw in the futuristic vision of ultra-high speed ground travel, potentially salvaging vacuum-tube maglev technology and casting new light on the challenges faced by Elon Musk's Hyperloop concept. A study published by China's peer-reviewed Journal of Railway Science and Engineering on May 16 showed that even minor imperfections – such as uneven coils or bridge deformations – would turn a journey into an ordeal, even in near-airless tunnels. But the engineers – who are working at the world's first full-scale test line in central China – also said they found a way to slash turbulence intensity by nearly a half, reducing 'extremely severe bumps' to levels that were 'pronounced, but not unpleasant'. The researchers, led by Zhao Ming from the maglev and electromagnetic propulsion division of state-owned China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC), said they used supercomputer simulations and scaled-down prototype tests for the study. The team found that track irregularities and electromagnetic resonance were enough to trigger violent low-frequency vibrations in maglev cars travelling at the technology's cruising speed of 1,000km/h (612mph). Using the 1940s-era Sperling Index, an international metric for ride comfort, the study showed that oscillations amplified at specific speeds, with a peak at 400km/h (249mph) reaching a level of vibration deemed 'extremely unpleasant'. At the next peak, which occurred when the cars were travelling at 600km/h (373mph), the researchers recorded a Sperling Index of 4.2 – a level at which prolonged exposure to the vibrations would be harmful. According to the paper, once the test cars reached cruising speeds of 1,000km/h, the vibrations lessened to 3.1 on the Sperling Index – defined as 'barely tolerable'. A system that propels magnetically levitated pods through low-pressure tubes at near-supersonic speeds was first proposed by Musk in 2013, in a white paper that captivated engineers around the world. Attempts to develop the Hyperloop concept at a SpaceX test track ended in 2023, after a number of technical hurdles, including the challenge of maintaining vacuum integrity and stabilising pods at extreme velocities. In contrast, China is charging ahead, with the stakes transcending the engineering challenges. Beijing has made ultra-high-speed magnetic levitation tech a national research priority that could not only redefine global transit, but also transform other critical sectors, including the race to achieve low-cost space launches. The test facility in Datong, Shanxi province, represents Beijing's bet that China will dominate the next generation of public transport. To that end, its engineers have achieved airtight concrete, millimetre-precision joints and other hard-won feats. According to the research team, without physical contact between train and track, the system's electromagnetic forces interact with the cabin in unpredictable ways. The result is resonance that would rattle passengers 'with extreme levels of instability'. 'Our research accounted for track irregularities, vertical bending of bridges, and single-frequency excitations induced by lateral irregularities in ground coils,' wrote Zhao and his colleagues. 'Under track excitation at an equivalent speed of 1,000km/h, the car body exhibited peak vibration amplitudes at frequencies of 2.6 Hz, 5.2 Hz, 7.8 Hz, and 10.4 Hz,' they added. To overcome the problem, the Chinese team developed a hybrid suspension system combining passive air springs with electromagnetic actuators that are controlled by artificial intelligence. The electricity-powered actuators adopt two cutting-edge control strategies, the paper said. One is a so-called sky-hook that mimics an imaginary damper linking the cabin to a stationary 'sky', using real-time velocity feedback to neutralise low-frequency jolts. The other strategy, PID control, adjusts suspension forces via proportional, integral, and derivative algorithms, optimised by an NSGA-II genetic AI method to handle variable track conditions. When tested on a 1:10 scale model with six-axis motion simulators, the system reduced vertical vibration intensity, measured as a root mean square acceleration, by 45.6 per cent under realistic track profiles. Sperling Index scores stayed below 2.5 – 'more pronounced but not unpleasant' – across all speeds, according to the study. The researchers said there were still some challenges ahead, such as scaling up the suspension tech for full-sized trains and ensuring that they would work in emergency braking and other extreme conditions.
South China Morning Post
28-05-2025
- Science
- South China Morning Post
Elon Musk's Hyperloop can be ‘extremely unpleasant', China project scientists have ‘cure'
Chinese scientists claimed to have solved a critical flaw in the futuristic vision of ultra-high speed ground travel, potentially salvaging vacuum-tube maglev technology and casting new light on the challenges faced by Elon Musk's Hyperloop concept. A study published by China's peer-reviewed Journal of Railway Science and Engineering on May 16 showed that even minor imperfections – such as uneven coils or bridge deformations – would turn a journey into an ordeal, even in near-airless tunnels. But the engineers – who are working at the world's first full-scale test line in central China – also said they found a way to slash turbulence intensity by nearly a half, reducing 'extremely severe bumps' to levels that were 'pronounced, but not unpleasant'. The researchers, led by Zhao Ming from the maglev and electromagnetic propulsion division of state-owned China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC), said they used supercomputer simulations and scaled-down prototype tests for the study. The team found that track irregularities and electromagnetic resonance were enough to trigger violent low-frequency vibrations in maglev cars travelling at the technology's cruising speed of 1,000km/h (612mph). Using the 1940s-era Sperling Index, an international metric for ride comfort, the study showed that oscillations amplified at specific speeds, with a peak at 400km/h (249mph) reaching a level of vibration deemed 'extremely unpleasant'.
The Star
16-05-2025
- Science
- The Star
China's bullet-shape satellite test paves the way for very low orbit surveillance network
China has completed key technology checks for an experimental satellite in very low Earth orbit (VLEO), marking an initial step towards building a 300-satellite constellation for high-resolution remote sensing and communications, according to local media. Chutian-001, which was launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre a year ago, showed core capabilities – including satellite system performance, high-resolution smart imaging and space environment monitoring – Hubei Daily reported. The outlet said the tests showed major progress in key areas, such as precise satellite control in very low orbits, real-time target detection using domestically developed technologies and multi-sensor monitoring of the near-Earth environment. Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge, our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team. The report did not disclose the satellite's altitude or specifications such as mass or size. However, images from last year's Zhuhai air show revealed the satellite's streamlined, bullet-shaped body designed to reduce atmospheric drag, a key challenge for spacecraft operating below 300km (186 miles) where air resistance is much greater. VLEO satellites typically circle the Earth at altitudes between 150km and 300km, offering advantages such as lower signal latency, stronger transmission, reduced power needs and potentially lower launch costs. However, they must regularly fire on-board thrusters to counter atmospheric drag, which shortens their lifespan and demands more frequent replacement. As part of China's broader effort to grow its commercial space sector, the Chutian constellation project was launched in July 2023 by China Aerospace Science and Industry Corp (CASIC) in partnership with the Hubei provincial government. The constellation will be deployed in three phases. During the initial technology and service verification stage, one experimental satellite was scheduled for launch last year to test operations in very low orbit. Over 2024-25, a cluster of nine satellites will follow to show real-time Earth observation capabilities. The second phase from 2026 to 2030 will focus on large-scale deployment. It aims to establish a 300-satellite network offering continuous global coverage with a range of imaging types – visible light, synthetic aperture radar, hyperspectral, and infrared – and response times as short as 15 minutes. After 2030, the project will enter an integration and expansion phase, completing the full business system and pushing global response times to under 10 minutes. According to Zhang Chuan, project leader at CASIC, the Chutian constellation will support a wide range of applications, from disaster response and watershed management to agriculture, forestry and fisheries. The system is designed for high revisit rates, fast data processing, intelligent analysis and near-instant downlink capabilities. 'For disaster response and unexpected emergencies, the constellation will eventually support mission dispatch within minutes and transmit live updates from affected areas in real time,' he told China News Service in April 2024. Zhang said the constellation would also benefit the public who in future might use smart devices to access satellite-based services, such as navigation support for autonomous driving, alerts about hazardous road conditions and the real-time monitoring of crowd density, enabled by intelligent cloud detection and change analysis. More from South China Morning Post: For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2025.
India.com
14-05-2025
- Business
- India.com
This country is planning to send 300 bullet-shaped satellites in space, its part of a dangerous..., India must remain alert due to...
China is planning to launch a 300-satellite constellation of bullet-shaped satellites. Chutian project: In a worrying development amid India-Pakistan tensions, China– Pakistan's 'all-weather-ally'– is planning to launch a constellation of bullet-shaped satellites into Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO), aimed to build a surveillance network, which could potentially capture images of any location around the world. China to launch 300-satellite constellation According to a report by the South China Morning Post, China's Chutian project, which aims to build a 300-satellite constellation for high-resolution remote sensing and communication, as well as surveillance, has passed key technology checks. A year ago, China had launched the Chutian-001 from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre by the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corp (CASIC), displayed core capabilities, including satellite system performance, high-resolution smart imaging and space environment monitoring, the report said. Chutian project to be deployed in 3 phases Local local media sources, the report said the Chutian constellation will be deployed in three phases. In the first, initial technology and service verification stage, one experimental satellite was scheduled for launch last year to test operations in VLEO, after which a cluster of cluster of nine satellites will follow in 2025, to demonstrate real-time Earth observation capabilities, it said. The Chutian project will enter its second phase from 2026-2030, focusing on large-scale deployment, during which CASIC aims to complete a 300-satellite network offering continuous global coverage with a range of imaging types – visible light, synthetic aperture radar, hyperspectral, and infrared – and response times as short as 15 minutes, the report said. The third phase will be focused on integration and expansion, completing the full business system and pushing global response times to under 10 minutes, it added. Zhang Chuan, project leader at CASIC, said the Chutian constellation will support a wide range of applications, from disaster response and watershed management to agriculture, forestry and fisheries, adding the satellite system is designed for high revisit rates, fast data processing, intelligent analysis and near-instant downlink capabilities. What are the potential military uses and why India's must remain alert? According to experts, the Chutian constellation could be used as a global surveillance network, providing real-time target detection with precise satellite control and domestically developed technologies. This could pose a potential security threat to China's rivals, especially India after the recent developments where Beijing openly supported Pakistan in its conflict with India. Notably, the bullet-shaped body of the Chutian satellites is designed to reduce atmospheric drag, which is a major challenge for satellites operating below 300 km (186 miles), where air resistance is much higher. VLEO satellites typically orbit Earth at altitudes between 150 km and 300 km.
Epoch Times
14-05-2025
- Business
- Epoch Times
Shake-Ups in China's Military Indicate Xi's Power Weakening, Analysts Say
News Analysis The recent changing of senior executives in China's military-industrial complex has fueled speculation that factions within the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) are vying for influence ahead of the upcoming fourth plenary session and 21st Congress, when party leader Xi could be In April, three of China's 10 state-owned military enterprises had their CEO or chairman replaced. According to the tally of Chinese financial publication Before their replacements, three of the executives had been stripped of their statuses as regime political consultants, including Wu Yansheng, chairman and party secretary of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC); Liu Shiquan, chairman and party secretary of Norinco; and Wang Changqing, vice president of the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation Limited (CASIC). They were all Some had not been seen in public for an extended period of time, including Chen Guoying, former CEO of China South Industries Group Corporation (CSGC); and Yuan Jie, former chairman and party secretary of China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation Limited (CASIC). Both were officially replaced in April 2024, but had disappeared for months ahead of the announcement. Gong Bo, former CEO of CASIC, who was replaced in April, was last seen in public in January. Zeng Yi, former chairman and party secretary of the China Electronics Corporation (CEC), had not attended public events for more than seven months before he was replaced in April, according to Related Stories 5/13/2025 5/13/2025 Shen Ming-Shih, research fellow at Taiwan's Institute for National Defense and Security Research and director of the institute's division of national security research, noted that some of the CCP's top officials, such as former Foreign Minister The CCP used to 'Shuanggui' a party official after collecting incriminating evidence, he told The Epoch Times, referring to an internal CCP process where suspects are required to comply with the party's internal investigations before being turned over to the judicial system: 'Only when there was concrete evidence would the individuals be dismissed from the party and their official positions. 'However, we now see more and more individuals dealt with internally. When Qin Gang was arrested and disappeared, the public didn't know what he allegedly did. We had to wait for a long time for the announcement of his crimes.' Meanwhile, 'were the individuals arrested, poisoned, or have they committed suicide? No one knows,' he added. Qin, who had previously been China's ambassador in Washington, vanished from public view for weeks before the official announcement in July 2023 that he was dismissed. His disappearance sparked speculation that he had aroused the ire of CCP authorities for fathering an illegitimate son with a Hong Kong journalist in the United States, but the CCP never announced the reason for his abrupt dismissal. Former Defense Minister Li Shangfu, was dismissed in October 2023, two months after he disappeared from the public eye. He was expelled from the party in June 2024 and was accused of accepting massive bribes and 'severely polluting' the military equipment sector and companies. Gen. He Weidong, the third-in-command of communist China's People's Liberation Army (PLA), has also vanished from public view for two months—the regime never commented on rumors of He's Some of the replaced military executives could be involved in corruption cases, China affairs commentator Wang He, a contributor of the The Epoch Times, said. Since Xi rose to power, engineers and scientists from China's military-industrial sector were increasingly promoted. The new military-industrial technocrats 'are not clean,' Wang told The Epoch Times. 'The system … is seriously corrupt, and these people were also politically arrogant,' painting a target on their own back, he said. 'It's a sign of the CCP's intensified infighting.' Shen said some of the replacement of military-industrial technocrats could be an extension of corruption investigations in recent years but it's also an indication of Xi's weaning power. 'Because Xi has been losing power, those whom he promoted can be replaced when there's any evidence of corruption or other offences,' and they were likely targeted so they can be removed ahead of the fourth plenary session and the 21st Congress, he said. One of the former military executives, former chairman and party secretary of the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), Tan Ruisong, was arrested in February on corruption charges. Cao Jianguo, who has been quietly removed as chairman and party secretary of the Aero Engine Corporation of China (AECC), was last seen in public in September 2024. It remains unclear why he was replaced. Neither did the regime offer explanations for the replacement of Zhang Zhongyang, former CEO of CASC; or Wen Gang, former chairman and party secretary of the China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC). Shen said the opaque approach of the CCP's investigations mean there are likely people who are wrongfully accused. If that's the case, 'there will likely be increased resistance, creating pressure on Xi. And other factions could unite to force Xi to resign,' he said. Wang said the pervasive corruption in the military-industrial complex could also be used by Xi's detractors as evidence of the CCP leader's failure. He also said that the regime may be covering up the investigations because of the extent of the corruption. 'If the real extent of the corruption was revealed, it would be too shocking, and seriously undermine the morale of the Chinese military,' he said. Yi Ru contributed to this report. Views expressed in this article are opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
