Beijing: 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
First Published: Tuesday, December 01, 2009, 21:05