"Which is more important, talent or diligence?"

"Opportunity." LI Chao, Deputy Director of the Research Center for Space Computing System of Zhejiang Lab (ZJ Lab), answered the reporter's question without hesitation.

Many of the researchers are talented and diligent. However, this "east wind" (opportunity) is not often encountered.

Spring is a good season as "the east wind sways the willows and days grow long". Looking out the window at a blue sky, LI Chao smiled that at present, he and his team are currently presented with a key opportunity.

On February 3, 2024, ZJ Lab's onboard intelligent computer was launched into space by the Oriental Smart Eye (OSE) satellite. For the rest of 2024, the payloads developed by the Research Center for Space Computing System will also be launched alongside other satellites.

The Research Center for Space Computing System is digging deeper into the space computing network, making the dream even more specific.

On February 3, 2024 at 11:00, the Smart Dragon 3 carrier rocket successfully launched nine satellites into space, including OSE Gaofen-1. Photo by Xinhua News Agency

AI-brained Satellite

When the reporter arrived at the Research Center at 9 a.m., LI Chao had already concluded his first discussion of the day with two technical members in his office today. The room is unadorned and comprises one desk, one chair and one computer, and he looks just like an ordinary office worker. But lines of code on his laptop are linked to "eyes" that observe the Earth from distant space.

LI Chao and his team member are having a meeting. Photo by Reporter LIN Chenchen

Thousands of kilometers away, you can see high-definition photos of a volcano erupting and spewing lava on the opposite side of the Earth.

LI Chao said that in the future, it's a big goal for intelligent satellites - namely to obtain key information in seconds from any surface of the Earth, and monitor and alert disasters in real time to benefit mankind more efficiently.

As you look up at the sky, it also gazes back at you. Beyond the atmosphere above us, there are thousands of satellites in orbit, which are spinning and observing the Earth below. They collect data, take pictures, and send a large amount of information back to the ground for processing to serve people's production and life.

However, it's too slow. "In general, it takes several hours for traditional remote sensing satellites to transmit data to the ground, and it may take months to process the data," said LI Chao, speaking quickly. Pointing to clouds in the sky, he said that clouds, fog, rain and snow may "block" the satellite's view of the surface, and traditional satellites cannot judge or recognize images and may eventually return cloud-masked invalid images.

LI Chao's office was wide open and frequented by the staff of each section in the morning. "I've reached out to experts in Beijing." "What are the terms of the contract signed with this satellite company?" Following the brief discussion, he quickly departed with his computer.

He needs to stay calm and focused, and at the same time, launch satellites in partnership with major companies across the country. A key priority for the Research Center is equipping all kinds of satellites with smart "brains", which can help satellites execute and respond to telemetry commands, and can process, compress, judge and identify massive images.

Onboard Intelligent Computer. Photo by ZJ Lab

The newly launched onboard intelligent computer, weighing 1.4 kilograms and like a book in size, can perform 32 trillion operations per second. "It can greatly improve the computational efficiency of China's satellites," said LI Chao.

So far, the computer has been in orbit for one month. According to monitoring data, it has been functioning stably and has completed over 30 tests, and all of its functions are operating properly.

"Unromantic" Aerospace Engineering

LI Chao is not in the habit of taking lunch breaks. At noon, the office became quiet and he made another pot of black tea to refresh himself. At this time, he entered text on his laptop quietly. Occasionally, he took off his glasses, stared out the window for a few seconds, and then put them on again. He laughed, "I have thick hair now, but maybe I will become bald years later."

Before the establishment of the Research Center, LI Chao was a real "programmer", who majored in computer science. He worked in a research institute in Beijing earlier. After joining ZJ Lab, he undertakes the R&D, implementation and application of intelligent computing technology, involving multiple fields such as intelligent sensing and intelligent manufacturing. "I dealt with some aerospace projects before, and now I am more professional and experienced in this regard."

It is often said that working in aerospace engineering is a romantic endeavor, accompanied by stars. However, LI Chao shook his head resolutely, "It is not romantic at all."

In his opinion, aerospace engineering is a rigorous pursuit of perfection. "Technical problems come up every day." We only have one chance to successfully launch a satellite into space, because it requires high costs and efforts of thousands of people, meaning that we cannot go wrong at any point but have to be rigorous and meticulous towards everything. "So the work cannot be described as being romantic."

The team of the Research Center for Space Computing System is testing payloads. Photo by ZJ Lab

Throughout 365 days out of each year - I'm riding, spear in hand, my trusted war horse dear. Since last year, the team has seldom left work on time. To the east of the office building is LI Chao's apartment provided by ZJ Lab. "To handle a heavy workload, I occasionally work overtime until midnight, but my home is very close to the office. Last week, a new trail opened, and thus I commute to work in just ten minutes."

ZJ Lab's Senior Engineering Specialist ZHANG Hui said, "This is a particularly interesting and challenging project." In the team, he is mainly engaged in the research and development of software operating system that supports an onboard intelligent computer. From the beginning of the project, he made up his mind to dive into it with the Research Center.

Since satellites are "traveling", the ground system must react appropriately to different situations to ensure stability in cloud computing. All of these preparations will not be deemed successful until the system is launched and data is transmitted to the ground. ZHANG Hui said, "Researchers must promote the 'Screw Nail' (perseverance) Spirit. Collaboration and breakthroughs are required across many aerospace engineering disciplines, which is also the ultimate source of accomplishment."

"Secondary Startup" in Full Swing

Two meetings were held in the afternoon, one for tackling technical challenges and keeping track of the technical progress of ongoing projects, while the other for team building to improve and clarify member assessment criteria. LI Chao has been flooded with calls and meetings throughout the day, and strolling around the Lab after dinner is one of his rare moments of leisure.

ZJ Lab Image. Photo by ZJ Lab

In early spring, bright pink crabapple flowers are in bud. The scenery along the way is simply breathtaking, with lush green hills and rivers. When passing by the football field, LI Chao said that it had been a while since he had played a game after work.

As the ZJ Lab reform was initiated on a broad scale last year, "secondary startup" lies before LI Chao and other researchers.

Having grown out of nothing, the Research Center brings together over 200 people, including post-80s and post-90s, accounting for over 90%.

In the future, ZJ Lab will make further breakthroughs in space computing technology to provide computational power for on-orbit spacecraft and serve multiple scenarios such as natural disaster monitoring, environmental and ecological monitoring, urbanization, intelligent transportation, and intelligent agriculture.

"Driven by better communication and team leadership, members can set their own small goals, get together and work hard towards the big goal of the Research Center." In the past few months, LI Chao has learned more about young people and management difficulties through his interactions with the team.

"But innovation is always difficult. Both aerospace research and AI are inevitable to develop new high-quality productive forces, and they are of strategic importance to compete among countries today." LI Chao is very proud of the cause for which he has been fighting. The onboard intelligent computer developed by the Research Center is less expensive, and holds a leading position in China in terms of key technical indicators such as computational power and performance per watt. "Our laser communication team has also made important technological breakthroughs in inter-satellite laser communication and moon-earth laser communication, which will provide key payloads for our 'space computing network'."

LI Chao thinks that direct involvement is a rare opportunity, and it also constitutes a challenge that must be overcome. He is determined to lead team members to paddle together with one heart and one mind and produce results that make them proud for a lifetime. "While realizing personal value, I will contribute ZJ Lab's strength to China's aerospace industry," LI Chao added.

A Report from Tide News on March 14, 2024