A Chinese research team has successfully developed an air-ground dual-purpose unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) weighing only 300 grams, equivalent to the weight of an apple, showing promising potential in future Mars exploration.
The UAV can take off at any time, traverse obstacles, and boasts superb endurance, according to the research team from the School of Astronautics of Harbin Institute of Technology. It is of vital significance for scientific exploration of Mars, the team added.
Targeting special mission scenarios such as Mars exploration, the dual-purpose UAV is designed to be lightweight, compact, capable of takeoff and landing in a flexible way, and with minimal power consumption. The team has solved a series of technical challenges.
"On the ground, it mainly rolls by shifting its center of gravity. In the air, it relies on a pair of contra-rotating coaxial rotors, controlled by a steering engine to adjust the forward direction, to control torque and force, ultimately achieving stable flight," said Zhu Yimin, Ph.D candidate of School of Astronautics, Harbin Institute of Technology.
The research team has developed multiple models of air-ground dual-mode robots with different configurations, moving by rolling close to the ground, saving power, reducing energy consumption, and achieving a flight endurance time of more than six times that of drones of the same size.
"In terms of its future prospects, we hope that China can achieve Mars exploration through the air-ground dual-purpose unmanned aerial vehicle so as to have longer endurance and more time for observation. Our second goal is for such machines to be suitable for construction in many underground spaces and for exploring unknown underground spaces. We also need robotic means for inspection and environmental detection. We have now materialized all these functions," said Zhang Lixian, professor of School of Astronautics, Harbin Institute of Technology.
China successfully develops air-ground dual-purpose drone for scientific exploration of Mars
An increasing number of Malaysian students are choosing to pursue their academic dreams in China - becoming not just scholars, but also cultural ambassadors who strengthen the bonds between the two nations.
Among them is Dai Zunyu, a Malaysian student currently pursuing her master's degree at the Northwestern Polytechnical University in Xi'an, the capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, which also served as the capital of 13 ancient dynasties.
Dai, who began learning Chinese in childhood, says her fascination with the language and culture brought her to China seven years ago, and the journey has been inspiring.
"Xi'an has a history of 3,000 years. So, as soon as I arrived, I went to see the Terracotta Warriors with my family. Over time, my interest expanded from history to geography. Besides Xi'an, I've also visited Shanghai, Nanjing, and Chengdu. For the upcoming Labor Day holiday, I plan to explore Chongqing," Dai said.
Over the years, Dai's Mandarin skills have improved significantly, and her travels across China have deepened her understanding and appreciation of the country's vast landscapes and rich cultural heritage.
As China becomes increasingly prominent on the world stage, it is also attracting more young Malaysians. Dai often finds herself approached by peers eager to learn what it's like to study and live in China.
"I like sharing stories about international student life with them. I believe there are great opportunities for personal development in China, especially in my field, brain-computer interface technology. China is a very excellent place to study this. More importantly, China's global influence and positive image inspire a sense of aspiration among Malaysians, which motivates many to come here," said Dai.
Today, more Malaysian students are choosing China as a destination not only to acquire cutting-edge knowledge but also to engage in meaningful cross-cultural exchange. As they chase their dreams, they are also helping build bridges between people in the two neighboring countries.
Malaysian students in China build bridges for cross-cultural exchange
