World's first intelligent robotic whale shark developer explores modern marine sector

A Shenyang-based company which produced the world's first intelligent robotic whale shark has been dedicated to integrating space technology into the intelligent equipment industry and promoting the modern marine sector.

Developed by Shenyang Aerospace Xinguang Group under the Third Academy of China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation Limited, the bionic whale shark is nearly five meters long and weighs 350 kilograms. It can swim, turn, float, dive, and open and close mouth in the water like a real shark.

"This is the largest bionic fish we have studied so far. The whale shark has seven actuated joints, and each joint requires computing, communication, and sensing, which is also our key technology," said Gao Chao, designer of Shenyang Aerospace Xinguang Group's Underwater Propulsion Technology Research Office.

This bionic whale shark has technologies such as wireless remote control, program-controlled swimming, and multi-joint bionic propulsion. It can swim at a maximum speed of 0.7 meters per second, and dive 20 meters deep.

Equipped with optical cameras, different sensors, sonar and BeiDou positioning systems, it can be used to monitor water quality, survey underwater terrain, and serve other special purposes.

"For example, when this robot performs underwater, or carries out a task, it will inevitably encounter various obstacles on its route. How to fuse information obtained by multiple sensors is actually a technical difficulty. It can be understood that the brain of a whale shark is a computer. A mass of data must be screened and extracted synchronously, and then mutually corrected and verified before the truly effective data can be quickly extracted for our bionic whale shark to identify the surrounding environment," said Fang Xuelin, assistant director of the Underwater Propulsion Technology Research Office.

Compared to traditional propeller-propelled underwater robots, bionic whale sharks are superior in terms of environmental protection, efficiency, and mobility. With battery and driving gear installed in a closed body, it will not pollute the water and not be easily entangled by obstacles such as aquatic plants and will not cause harm to real fish.

Up to now, the company has developed various models of bionic products such as Yangtze finless porpoises, killer whales and dolphins and will continue to promote integration of marine bionic technology and intelligent systems.

Underwater robots are an important carrier for human beings to understand, explore, develop and utilize the ocean, and are also the core force to promote the rapid development of the modern marine industry. With the development of materials science, control science and artificial intelligence, underwater bionic robots will play a greater role as a new type of marine equipment.

World's first intelligent robotic whale shark developer explores modern marine sector

China has played a pivotal role in peaceful development around the globe by strengthening China-Africa cooperation and promoting peace and security among Global South partners, said Cameroon's Defense Minister Joseph Beti Assomo during the Beijing Xiangshan Forum.

The 11th Beijing Xiangshan Forum is being held in the Chinese capital from Thursday to Saturday.

With the theme of "Promoting Peace for a Shared Future," this year's forum involved more than 500 representatives from official delegations of more than 100 countries and international organizations, as well as more than 200 Chinese and foreign experts and scholars. Among them, the official delegation includes more than 30 defense ministers and military chiefs.

Prior to the Xiangshang Forum, Assomo had participated in the 2024 Summit of Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), which ran from Sept 4 to 6 in Beijing. Both forums, he said in an exclusive interview with China Central Television (CCTV), have demonstrated how China creates opportunities for peace across Africa, the most critical premise for the continent's development.

"You see the theme of this event, as on the wall, 'Promoting Peace for a Shared Future', promoting peace. When there is war somewhere, development is not possible. There are many wars in Africa, so we expect more and more close cooperation between China and Africa, so that we can give peace a chance everywhere in Africa. And I think you are working in that way and you are succeeding," he said.

The defense minister stressed that more developed countries have a responsibility to help underdeveloped countries achieve common prosperity instead of creating barriers and wars.

"You have a Global South, it means we also have a Global North. So, if we can work hand-in-hand for all humanity so that those who have power, economical, political, or diplomatic power, can work hand-in-hand with those who are not developed or who are poor, so that there could be human solidarity. We have that dream, and we are doing that with China," he said.

Initiated in 2006, the Beijing Xiangshan Forum is a high-level platform dedicated to promoting exchanges and cooperation among defense authorities, armed forces, international organizations and scholars.  

Dream of human solidarity forms basis for China-Global South cooperation: Cameroonian minister