90 metre ship Zhu Hai Yun: Launch of an autonomous robot carrier in China

The ship actually looks more like an oligarch yacht with a somewhat unconventional East Asian design: in mid-May, the South China Morning Post reported eloquently on the launch of an almost 90 metre long ship named "Zhu Hai Yun" at the CSSC Huangpu Wenchong shipyard in Guangzhou in the hinterland of Hong Kong. However, it is not the spectacular design - it is the technical equipment and the equipment payload that make people sit up and take notice. As an autonomous platform with a large number of unmanned sensor carriers, the ship will be able to produce a 3D image of a 100 kilometre disc of the sea surface, reaching 4 kilometres up and down.

Technology demonstrator

Zhu Hai Yun, equipment of the Chinese technology demonstrator. Graphic: Southern Ocean Laboratory

This technology carrier was developed by the Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhu Hai), also known as the "Southern Ocean Laboratory" of Sun Yat-sen University (Guangzhou). It will be able to guide dozens of flying drones, deploy autonomous surface vehicles and objects (diesel, solar and wave-powered) and deploy and coordinate underwater robots. All in all, a technology demonstrator of networked sensors that you could only wish for!

Dual-use

Zhu Hai Yun, launching at the Huangpu Wenchong shipyard. Photo: Southern Ocean Laboratory

What was initially designed for oceanographic purposes can of course also be used directly in the military sector. The yacht-like and civilian-looking outer skin of the ship should not disguise this! Because all the systems on board and in the robots are "made in China". This category also includes the "Sea Wing" underwater glider developed by the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the "drone swarms" networked by Yunzhou Tech.

Dates

Construction of the "Zhu Hai Yun" began a year ago, and the ship is now being equipped and is due to start trials and research operations at the end of the year. It should not be lost sight of - which should not be difficult given its futuristic design.