With the support of the National High-tech Development Program (dubbed "863" Program), a research team, making up of scientists and engineers from the CAS Shenyang Institute of Automation, China Polar Research Center and Beihang University, has been successful in its trial operation of home-grown polar robots in China's 24th Antarctic expedition, which was started last November.
Two 15-minute, 25-kilometer flights were made by a robotic glider, conducting sea-ice temperature observation and aerial photography, while experiments were carried out on the mobility, environmental adaptability and waterproofness of a snow/ice surface moving robot. The feat marks a new stage of polar robot research, development and application, according to experts.
