World's first UAV gravity measurement system debuts at Airshow China

The world's first low-altitude gravity measurement system based on Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) made its public debut at the ongoing 15th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition, or Airshow China 2024.

The system, developed by China State Shipbuilding Corporation's (CSSC) 707th Research Institute, was showcased at the event in Zhuhai, south China's Guangdong Province, where 1,022 companies from 47 countries and regions have gathered for the six-day event.

At the CSIC booths, the eight-rotor drone appears to be conventional, but it carries specialized equipment that sets it apart from other commercial UAVs.

"It is integrated with a high-precision gravity sensor. When the gravity changes, the gravity sensor can reflect the change of the Earth's gravitational field through high-precision current detection," said Chu Ning, head of gravity survey technology at 707th Research Institute CSSC, developer of the system.

Gravimetry is the measurement of the strength of a gravitational field, according to different purposes or requirements. Gravimeters may be used when either the magnitude of a gravitational field or the properties of matter responsible for its creation are of interest.

Measuring accurate gravity data can not only help aircraft and rockets and other aerospace spacecraft to calculate the trajectory and speed, but also help scientists carrying out scientific research in physics, geology and other fields.

"The UAV-based gravity measurement system features high precision, high measuring efficiency, wide coverage area, and it can make up the inaccessibility of manpower. It can be widely used in earth science research, including resource exploration and other fields. It fills a gap in the field of low altitude gravity measurement technology," said Song Chao, head of marketing department at 707th Research Institute.

World's first UAV gravity measurement system debuts at Airshow China

Hungarians voted in parliamentary elections on Sunday, with about 8.1 million people eligible to cast ballots, according to the National Election Office.

Polls opened at 06:00 local time and closed at 19:00, with initial results expected late on Sunday evening.

Of the total, about 7.6 million voters were eligible to cast ballots in person at more than 10,000 polling stations nationwide, while some 500,000 were eligible to vote by mail.

Five parties or alliances are competing in the election. The latest opinion polls showed strong support for both Prime Minister Viktor Orban's ruling Fidesz-Christian Democratic People's Party alliance and the opposition Tisza party led by Peter Magyar.

Among smaller parties, the far-right Our Homeland Movement is seen as having a chance to enter parliament, while others, including the Democratic Coalition and the Hungarian Two-Tailed Dog Party, are widely viewed as unlikely to cross the threshold.

This election marks Orban's fourth parliamentary race since returning to power in 2010, with the outcome set to determine whether he can secure a fifth consecutive term.

Under Hungary's electoral law, parliamentary elections are held every four years. The Hungarian parliament has 199 seats, including 106 filled through direct elections in single-member constituencies and 93 allocated to parties that enter parliament. The party or alliance that secures a majority of seats has the right to form a government.

Hungarians vote in parliamentary elections