The search team for astronauts returning to Earth has employed unmanned smart equipment to improve their work efficiency and protect astronauts' safety after they land in north China's Gobi Desert.
The Shenzhou-17 trio is scheduled to leave China's Tiangong space station in late April, and the Dongfeng landing site in Inner Mongolia is gearing up for the much-anticipated return following the completion of their six-month mission.
Since 2021, an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) task force relying on digital technology has been established to help rescuers quickly locate the return capsule carrying the astronauts.
In the peripheral area of the Dongfeng landing site, team members were conducting a search and rescue drill stimulating a situation where the return capsule deviates drastically from the preset landing spot and the backup drone forces need to be mobilized.
The UAE team, tasked with aerial patrol of the landing area and search for scattered objects, will work together with the air team and ground team to ensure a safe landing.
"Given the vast area and complex terrain of the Dongfeng landing site, it is impossible to grasp the dynamic situation of the entire landing site relying only on manpower. Drones can be a remedy to our blind spots and meet various search and rescue needs by carrying different loads such as high-definition cameras and thermal imaging equipment, greatly improving the flexibility and diversity of search and rescue operations," said Li Guofei, a team member.
The team must not only see clearly, but also be able to maneuver the drone under various conditions. The landing site tends to be windy and sandy in April, and drones can easily get lost during flight. Therefore, the team members' ability in flight control, navigation and data processing is quite important.
For a long time, the UAV team has been guarding the peripheral area of the return capsule as a backup. Now, with improved technology and capabilities, they can not only make rapid response and route navigation during search and rescue missions, but can also serve as an air communication relay station to ensure smooth communication between the search teams and the ground command center.
"Although the drone search and rescue force is still in its infancy, drone intelligence is the future trend of landing site missions. So far, we have completed terrain survey of the landing site and clearing of the core area. Now the entire landing site is safe and there are no abnormalities. We are ready to welcome the astronauts home," said Li.
Unmanned smart technology aids search for returning astronauts in desert
