UAV First Discovers the Mystery of Everest

A UAV research team, consisted of the Automation Technology Center of HKUST, Automation Technology Center of HITSGS and DJI Innovations, took 10 days in the middle of June to finish flight test and aerial research on typical areas in Tibet, including Yang Zhou Yong Cuo Lake (shorted as Yang Lake, 4400m Altitude), Everest (8844m altitude) Karoula Glacier (5560m altitude), Cuo Na Town Virgin Forest and lake etc.

XP3.1 system which has been applied in UAV, use GPS and INS as the code to proceed remote monitoring and control through the wireless data transmission link, enabling the GPS coordinates of autonomous navigation flight and data test at the same time, such as: video and pictures, timely transmission the data to ground control terminal. UAV systems can carry 5-15kg of load according with different power systems, such as visible light or infrared video pod, laser range finder, atmospheric data detecting device, flying at an altitude of up to 9000m. A flight radius can be more than fifty kilometers by using of electric drive, even up to and over 200km when using gasoline drive. Compared with the fixed-wing aircraft, UAV enjoy the main advantages like you can take off and land on any terrain (without the flight track), can hover in the air, monitor the fixed targets steadily and repeatedly, operate the heli easily even in the wind because of the good performance. With different load, UAV can be used for aerial photography, scientific exploration, geographical terrain observations, meteorological environment data acquisition, public security monitoring, electricity, and military applications.

In recent years, more and more countries, including America, Japan, Austria, invest huge amount of capital and talents to the development and application of UAV technology. The market of UAV has grown up to a scale of over 1 billion USD and will approach to 3 billion USD within 10 years.

UAV research team (hereafter shorted as UAVRT) which based on HKUST automation technology center is one of the most influential team in China. At the very beginning of 2004, UAVRT started carrying on amount of deep and systematic investigation on the key technology and application of UAV area. During the 5 years, several big achievements were reached. 1) UAV system (DJI XP3.1 standard) was firstly used to the rescue project of Wenchuan Earthquake and Surveillance of Yansai Lake. 2) UAV control technology firstly became industrialized. At present, DJI XP3.1 standard is selling in America, Europe, and Asia etc. After lots of effort UAVRT has made in recent years, DJI receive good reputation from customers.

In order to reach a higher investigation level of UAV technology and application, UAVRT made a plan to do flight test and aerial investigation in some typical plateau area of Tibet two years ago. Owing to the rarefied air, severe condition, which arises from its special geographical condition, our helicopter met special requirement and risk. As we all know, high altitude is a fatal risk of flying. The Hump (a 3000m altitude) which played a key role in World War II met the high altitude difficulty.

The Eco-environment of Tibetan Plateau has a big influence not only the local area but also China, even the whole world. It is meaningful to study it by modern science and technology, including the glacier, jokul, lake, forest, the present and future condition of plants and animals. Though improvement of the protection and surveillance of environment in Tibet has been achieved by government, modern technical equipments and support are still needed due to the special geography and Meteorology conditions and the limitation of present resource and technology. People try to find new equipment to handle this problem and the new rising UAV technology become one of the best choices.

Considering the characteristics of the rarefied air and severe condition in the plateau area, UAVRT improved the wholly design of UAV and named it "Everest I ". Everest I is with the electric motive power which do no harm to the environment and UAVRT not only increase the fly time but also enhance the stabilization of the heli under the severe condition.

The first station (see picture 1) UAVRT chose to do flight test and aerial investigation is the first castle of Tibet (built 3centry BC and the first Tibetan King lived in it) ---Yongbulakang, which located at the edge of Shannan district and is 3600m altitude. When UAVRT was flying the heli, lots of local residents came and enjoyed themselves. UAVRT gained the first series of data there.

The second station is that UAVRT visited the environment department of Shannan district, Tibet University, China Science and Technology Institute Tibetan Plateau Research Institute. They try to find out how UAV technology can be applied to the environment protection, resource exploration and information of geography and physiognomy acquisition etc. Professors in Tibet University were so interested in the UAV technology that they required UAVRT to demonstrate the UAV system to them. UAVRT took aerial video for them and communicate with the future cooperation.

The third station is Yangzhouyongcuo Lake (shorted for Yang Lake, a 4400m altitude), one of the Tibetan Spirit Lake in the Shannan District. UAVRT took aerial video of the beautiful lakescape between a 5000m and 5500m altitude even it was blowing heavily, over ms ≥ 6.(see picture 2)

The fourth station is the mainly destination of UAVRT's plan--Everest, they did flight test and aerial investigation from different view points around Everest. Firstly, UAVRT arrived at the Jiawula's pass (a 5200m altitude) and an extreme world presents in front of UAVRT. There are 5 of 8000m altitude peaks( in total we have 14 in the world), Everest( a 8844m altitude), Zhuo'aoyou Peak(a 8201m altitude), Luozi Peak(a 8516m altitude), Xixiabangma Peak(a 8012m altitude) and Makalu Peak(a 8463m altitude). It was blowing over ms ≥ 11 and UAVRT has been exhausted after long time fighting with altitude reaction. However, in high altitude and heavy wind, they took quick action to finish installation and system adjustment and then gain the first series data (see picture 3). Secondly, UAVRT arrived at the nearest to the Everest but highest temple in the world--Rongbu Temple and finished flight test and aerial investigation early next morning.

It is the first time in the world for human being to take aerial video so closed to the Everest by UAV and the valuable data and experience are significant for the future exploration of Everest. Subsequently, UAVRT did flight test and aerial investigation in the Shigatse area, including Karuola Glacier(see picture 5), Nariyongcuo in the Shannan district(see picture 6,7), Yaks(see picture 8) and virgin forest. From the project angle, the program has been satisfactory completed.

UAVRT consistes of Doctor Li Zengxiang---professor of HKUST, executive of Automation Technology Center, HITSGS honored professor. Doctor Zhu Xiaorui---vice-professor of HITSGS CTO Wang Tao---post graduation student of HKUST, major is Electric and IT engineering, founder of DJI Innovation Technology Co.,Ltd Mr Shi Jun--post graduation student of HITSGS, major is Automation Control and Electromechanical Engineering.

A famous scaler once said “Because the mountain was there” when being asked why he climb Everest for several times. As an investigator on UAV, Everest and the high altitude Snow Mountain, glacier, lake and campo in Tibetan area present a special and typical experimental environment and fatal attraction. We achieved clearer view and information about our investigation and applications after the Tibetan plan. It is my great honor to apply my investigation to the Tibetan environment protection---Doctor Li Zengxiang.