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Cutting-edge AI applications take center stage at Digital Trade Expo in Hangzhou

China

China

China

Cutting-edge AI applications take center stage at Digital Trade Expo in Hangzhou

2026-09-26 16:48 Last Updated At:17:07

A series of cutting-edge Chinese digital technology applications are stealing the spotlight at the ongoing fifth Global Digital Trade Expo, showcasing fresh possibilities for global cooperation in artificial intelligence (AI).

The fifth expo, an event dedicated to promoting digital trade and industrial cooperation, is being held from Sept. 23 to 27 in Hangzhou City of east China's Zhejiang Province.

China's intelligent meteorological early warning solution "Mazu" was on display in the themed exhibition area of this year's Expo. The Mazu Fengyun Satellite AI Toolbox is the core computing power product for localized deployment of the solution. A single set of equipment can complete the entire process from satellite data collection to disaster early-warning output, while adapting to diverse usage scenarios worldwide. As one of the core events of this year's Expo, the "African Digital Trade Day" hosted a special presentation on the Mazu solution, promoting its further implementation in Africa.

"[We have to] to start utilizing this technology moving forward with these early warning technologies, to warn our people and to prepare ourselves accordingly. We're talking about smart cities, we're talking about smart agriculture," said Emmanuel Mutisya, Chairperson of the University Council of the Kenya Advanced Institute of Science and Technology.

The "Three-Body Computing Constellation," once again appearing at the Expo, is a thousand-satellite-scale space computing infrastructure initiated by Zhejiang Lab and jointly built by global partners. To date, it has 16 satellites in orbit, with a total computing power of 5.8P and 25 in-orbit AI models, making it the largest known space computing constellation in terms of computing power globally.

"Relying on the Three-Body Computing Constellation, we integrate data, models, and space computing power into an international public science and technology product, lowering the threshold for space research in developing countries," said Li Chao, chief technology engineer of the Three-Body Computing Constellation.

In addition, the space AI infrastructure "Lingjing Constellation" made its global debut at this year's Expo. The project, jointly developed by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation and Zhejiang Province, plans to launch its first batch of nine satellites in the first half of 2027 and ultimately complete a thousand-satellite network. Once completed, the constellation will enable in-orbit perception, computing, and decision-making by satellites, breaking through the bottlenecks of traditional satellite-to-ground transmission, and will further expand the international sharing and services of space computing power in the future.

Cutting-edge AI applications take center stage at Digital Trade Expo in Hangzhou

Cutting-edge AI applications take center stage at Digital Trade Expo in Hangzhou

The ongoing 48th WorldSkills Competition in Shanghai has introduced a drone event combining engineering, programming and piloting, underscoring demand for multidisciplinary technicians as unmanned aircraft find wider commercial use.

The four-day Unmanned Aerial Systems contest began Wednesday at Shanghai's National Exhibition and Convention Center, with results due at the closing ceremony on Sunday.

All 11 competitors spent the opening day assembling and calibrating their drones. China's entrant Zeng Chen, an instructor at the Hangzhou Technician Institute in east China's Zhejiang Province, was the first to complete the assembly and begin a test flight, according to the event's competition manager.

Across six modules, competitors must shift among three roles: engineer, programmer and pilot. They assemble and repair drones, debug software and write flight plans, perform complex maneuvers and respond to emergencies.

That mix mirrors the real-world job of an unmanned aerial systems technician, a role that spans aerodynamics, flight-control systems, communications, robotics and software.

"The obstacle-avoidance module requires competitors to process point-cloud data, which is then used to generate a three-dimensional indoor map. The task is a bit like navigating a maze. The drones may also have to carry sandbags or other payloads for remote delivery, making that part extremely challenging," said Gu Junjie, a coach for the Unmanned Aerial Systems competition.

Judges assess competitors on their adherence to operating procedures, work quality, completion time and ability to diagnose and resolve faults.

Zeng's performance over the first three days drew praise from Alan Ball, unmanned aerial systems skill competition manager.

"Chinese competitor -- he has done very well in the competition so far. Yes, in the overseas market, the drones are used in multiple different industries, from security to agriculture to safety to surveys, mapping. As a career as a drone technician, I think, globally, the future of drones is very bright," Ball said.

Drone event at WorldSkills spotlights demand for multidisciplinary talent

Drone event at WorldSkills spotlights demand for multidisciplinary talent

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