China boosts the development of unmanned craft

The Chinese military aims to develop unmanned technology for military vehicles under the sea.

The budget for research and development of drone ships has increased significantly, mainly for military purposes, "said the South China Morning Post on Dec. 5, citing information from Chinese scientists.

In the past two years, at least 15 research groups have been established at leading universities and research institutes to produce high speed drone ships.

For the past several decades, the Chinese government has invested heavily in developing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), said Ma Zhong Le, an auto-ship expert at Harbin Engineering University. Recently, the authorities have recognized the practical value and strategic importance of unmanned drivetrain.

A prototype of a unmanned Chinese ship - (Photo: JUST)

"The biggest concern of the government is military applications ... They can patrol 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They can see objects at a distance that the naked eye can not see, " she told the South China Morning Post.

In addition, they can be deployed in large numbers to overwhelm the enemy. Most importantly, they can help reduce casualties.

According to Ms. Ma, the biggest challenge is to develop a clear camera system that provides a stable image when the ship is hit by a wave.

'This technology is much more difficult and complex than the systems used in normal UAVs, which are more stable and predictable , ' she said.

Research teams at other centers, such as the Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Dalian Maritime University and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, are addressing other issues such as radio contact or the coordination of large unmanned fleet.

Ma states that other nations like the United States have carried out similar research projects before China and built impressive prototypes. Unmanned craft, however, will have greater efficiency in the waters claimed by China.

'In non-quiet waters, unmanned vessels can be more efficient, convenient and safe than manmade vessels. They are also cheaper, ' she said.