"The ocean is rich in oil, minerals and fishery resources," said Chen Jian, who is in charge of the project. Earlier, due to the immature mining equipment, the mining cost was relatively high. With the increasing demand of human resources, the ocean has become the main area of our exploitation of resources.

 

        Chen Jian introduced that in the future, "deep-sea robot" will be used in the construction of offshore oil and gas fields, submarine cables and optical cable laying. In the future, deep-sea robotic equipment will be gradually extended to nuclear power, tidal power generation and other applications, and China's robotic equipment industrialization base will be established.

       How to ensure that the deep sea dives smoothly?

 

        Reporters saw two unmanned remote control devices in the factory. They are 3 meters square and do not look too big. They only weigh 5 tons.

 

       The unmanned remote control submersible is usually lowered to 3000 meters below sea level by a umbilical cord. The umbilical cord is not only responsible for lifting the submersible, but also for signal transmission and power supply.

 

       There is strong surge and turbulence in the deep sea. How can we ensure that the umbilical cord does not knot? How to ensure the balance of submersible when diving down?

 

       The technical personnel strictly pointed out the secret. Reporters saw that each of the eight corners of the submersible has an electric fan-shaped turbine, that is, a propeller, which can provide power, but also for 360-degree attitude adjustment. "Decentralization is a live operation, and the propeller will dynamically adjust the balance." Yan Xu said.

        How do we work under 3000 meters of water pressure?

 

        Chen Jian said that deep-sea equipment manufacturing requires strict material. 3000 meters deep water pressure is huge, and sea water is also corrosive to equipment.

 

       So, how to ensure that the submersible in the 3000 meters deep sea, to offset the pressure of normal work?

 

Yan Yun said they used pressure compensators.

 

       "As we all know, with the sinking, the water pressure is also increasing, equipment in the process of falling, some devices inside and outside the pressure difference is also increasing, which requires a pressure compensator. These instruments are glass panels, why not break, because in the process of falling or rising, the pressure compensator automatically adjusts to fill the instrument equipment, compensate for the pressure difference. Yan Yan explains.

 

        According to him, the pressure value of the underwater terminal device will always be maintained at 0.7 to 1 atmospheres.

        What operations can the robot arm perform?

 

        The reporter saw that this deep-sea robot has two mechanical arms, but the tools are not quite the same. The left hand is like a pair of pliers, which can be used to clamp, and the right hand is more free. It can perform some rotation operations, such as screwing.

 

        There are also some "eyes" - searchlights around the arm. "According to the different turbidity of the sea water, probably can illuminate clearly 3 meters range, if more turbid can see clearly 1 meter, ensure operation. If it gets cloudy, it will enable sonar devices. Yan Yun introduced.

 

       "The crew synchronizes before the display on the ship. This long distance transmission and signal transmission, there will be voltage drop and signal loss, which we have taken into account. Yan Xu said.

 

         According to Yan Yun, their "deep-sea robot" is highly sensitive and can even pick up a needle at the bottom of the sea.

       What can deep-sea robots do to develop submarine resources?

 

       The ocean is not only the cradle of the origin of life, but also contains endless mineral deposits. Nowadays, more and more countries are casting their sights on the deep sea. What resources can be developed in the deep sea? What role can deep-sea robots play?

         Li Xiangyang, Director of the Ocean Affairs Administration of China, said that the area of submarine polymetallic nodules is very wide. China has investigated more than 2 million square kilometers in the Pacific Ocean, of which more than 300,000 square kilometers are valuable prospective mining areas. The United Nations has approved 150,000 square kilometers of these areas as pioneering areas for China. Besides, there are many metal sulfides on the seabed.

 

         Li Xiangyang is the project leader of the National Key R&D Program "Deep-sea Polymetallic Nodule Mining Test Project". According to his introduction, in May 2001, China signed a contract with the International Seabed Authority for exploration of polymetallic nodules, with an area of 75,000 square kilometers for 15 years. "Last year has been renewed for 5 years." Li Xiangyang said that in 2011 and 2014, the contract area for exploration of 10,000 square kilometers of polymetallic sulphides in the southwest Indian Ocean and 3,000 square kilometers of cobalt-rich crusts in the Northwest Pacific Ocean were awarded.

         
         Mining is one of the applications of deep sea unmanned submersible.  Diao Xinyuan, assistant director of the Institute of Oceanography at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said the deep-sea submersibles could also help scientists map the seabed topography.

 

        "Previously limited by altitude, terrain resolution is only 10 meters, with deep-sea submersibles, can almost completely close to the terrain glide, mapping the topographic map, can be done at present centimeter-level." Diao Xinyuan said.

        The offshore wind power will also develop toward the deep sea in the future. Zhao Shengxue, director of East China offshore wind power research and development center, said that offshore wind power in China is mainly in offshore areas. According to preliminary planning, the development potential of offshore wind power in the range of 5 to 25 meters is 200 million kilowatts, and the development potential of 5 to 50 meters is 500 million kilowatts.

 

        "This is almost the same level of hydropower as our country, and has broad prospects for development. The offshore wind power will develop toward the deep sea in the future. Most of China's wind power plans are within 50 km offshore distance, and Jiangsu's plans are close to 100 km. Some advanced offshore wind power countries in Europe have been built to nearly 150 kilometers. Zhao Sheng said.

 

         Laying wind power equipment on the sea is a problem. Chen Jian introduced that deep-sea robots have a function to lay submarine cables. "Offshore cable laying requirements are high, laying depth requirements of 2 meters, channel through the anchorage requirements of deeper, more than 3 meters." Zhao Sheng said.

        Recently, the discovery of some new species in the deep sea has made many people realize that there are completely different ecosystems in the deep sea.
       
        "The high temperature, darkness and salinity of the seabed make deep-sea organisms have special physiological characteristics and gene expression, which is a new resource for the development of industrial enzymes." Li Xiangyang said.

 

         Diao Xinyuan, assistant director of the Institute of Oceanography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, said that many unknown organisms in the deep sea need to be discovered.

 

         Diao Xinyuan, director of the Science Research Shipping Center, discovered many new creatures with his colleagues during the research. "Through some deep-sea unmanned submersibles, we have obtained a large number of deep-sea biological samples. Nine new species of large-scale deep-sea organisms have been found in the deep-sea cold spring area, hydrothermal area and seamountainous area. 1 new genera and 5 new species were found in the Manus thermal liquefaction energy ecosystem. Diao Xinyuan said. (reporter Li Yukun)