Beijing, December 01: China will conduct the first large- scale aerial survey of 1,600 square km of the ocean and icebergs in Antarctica using an unmanned plane, a researcher involved with the ambitious project said today.
The dragonfly-like plane, equipped with aerial cameras, infrared radiometers and infrared probes will conduct observations over Prydz Bay near China’s Zhongshan research station in Antarctica, Xie Chengyin, from the robot research institute of Beihang University, said.
Xie, who is travelling with the Xuelong icebreaker during China’s ongoing 26th Antarctic expedition, said the drone will observe an area of 1,600 square km near Zhongshan station, and produce key data about the atmosphere, ocean and icebergs.
The drone known as Xueyan (Snow Swallow) is made of fiberglass fiber reinforced plastic and weighs 15 kg. It can carry 10 kg of research equipment and fly continuously for about two hours, Xinhua news agency reported.
Xie said Chinese scientists conducted a small-scale unmanned plane experiment in the region during China’s 24th Antarctic expedition.
China opened its second research station in Antarctica in 1989 after setting up its first unit there in 1985.
–PTI