China to build next-generation BeiDou system

China plans to develop a next-generation BeiDou satellite system that will be more powerful, technologically advanced, and capable of delivering higher-quality services.

The announcement was made by the China Satellite Navigation Office (CSNO) on Thursday at a symposium in Beijing to mark the 30th anniversary of the launch of the country's BeiDou Satellite Navigation System (BDS).

A development plan was released at the symposium outlining the roadmap towards the BeiDou system's next generation.

According to the timeline, key technology breakthroughs are expected by 2025, followed by the launch of three experimental satellites around 2027 to test new technologies. Network deployment is slated to begin around 2029, with the full system set to be completed by 2035.

The next-generation BeiDou system will deliver highly accurate, real-time navigation, positioning and timing with precision levels ranging from meters to decimeters, covering both Earth's surface and near-Earth spaces, according to the CSNO.

The system will optimize its constellation structure with satellites deployed in high, medium and low Earth orbits, to enhance the accuracy of time-space benchmarks and the system's autonomous operation capabilities.

It will also feature an integrated and efficient ground infrastructure, ensuring flexible resource allocation, data sharing and uninterrupted operations.

"The goal for 2035 is to build a more ubiquitous, integrated, and intelligent national space-time system. We not only need to improve precision but also ensure the system's reliability and trustworthiness. Moving forward, there will be many navigation methods, paving the way for a more intelligent, flexible, and networked navigation system," said Yang Changfeng, chief designer of the BDS.

China's BDS project was launched in 1994 with the construction of the BDS-1 and BDS-2 completed in 2000 and 2012, respectively. When BDS-3 was completed and put into service on July 31, 2020, China became the third country in the world to have an independent global navigation satellite system.

The BDS services and related products have been exported to more than 130 countries, providing users with diversified choices and better application experience, and promoting industrial development, according to a bluebook released in October.

China to build next-generation BeiDou system

An AI-powered robotic capsule is changing stomach examinations in China.

RC100, developed by Chongqing-based medical equipment supplier Jinshan Science and Technology, is the world's first fully automated magnetically controlled endoscopy capsule.

Unlike conventional products, the RC100 system offers patients a less invasive, more precise examination. By combining AI analysis with magnetically controlled imaging, it enables real-time visualization of the entire gastrointestinal system after the simple ingestion of a capsule.

"This permanent magnet can control our capsule and make it rotate 360 ​​degrees inside the stomach, enabling it to capture images of all areas of the gastric lumen. As you can see on this screen, it shows the general anatomy of the stomach," said Huang Lu, a technician at the Health Management Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University.

In addition to the doctor's screen, the patient can also follow the procedure on a monitor attached to their waist.

"We are the first health management center in southwest China to introduce this equipment. It has been over a year, and we have treated more than 200 patients, whose feedback has been quite positive," said Yang Yang, chief nursing officer of the health management center.

After the examination, physicians can use an AI software to efficiently and accurately interpret the images, accelerating the generation of examination reports.

The company has also launched an upgraded version of the product for small intestine endoscopy, which has two cameras to offer more comprehensive and accurate imaging.

"Because compared to other market players, including a large, well-known, and methodical one, coming with a capsule powered by artificial intelligence brings enormous added value in relation to the acceleration and popularization of this type of market, especially for patients' cancer prevention," said Christophe Lehain, CEO of Asept InMed, a French company specializing in innovative medical devices.

AI-powered capsule performs stomach exams in Chinese hospitals