NCIE
NCIE
China deploys robots for telescope maintenance
China's intelligent robotic systems and self-made platforms have passed the maintenance test of the 500-meter Spherical Radio Telescope (FAST), which is also the world's largest radio telescope with the largest reflecting surface with a single aperture, China Media Group (CMG) reported.
The project, led by the Guizhou Radio Astronomy Observatory, is carried out in collaboration with 10 departments, including the National Observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Harbin Institute of Technology.
Dubbed the "Heavenly Eye of China", the telescope is located in a naturally deep and round karst depression in the southwest of Guizhou Province, and its reception area is the size of 30 standard football fields.
A key issue in ensuring FAST's observing capabilities is its reliable maintenance. Robots are able to perform risky operations that are beyond human capabilities, overcoming the influence of climate, which limits astronomical operations.
Thus, they will help ensure the safety of the telescope's work, increase the duration and efficiency of its observations, contributing to obtaining new scientific results.
"Intelligent robots are expected to add about 30 days to the telescope's viewing time per year," said Jiang Peng, FAST's chief engineer.
