China’s deep-sea manned submersible, Jiaolong, has undergone significant upgrades using domestically produced components, marking a new chapter in the nation’s deep-sea exploration efforts. The enhancements promise greater efficiency and capability for scientific missions in the ocean depths.
The latest upgrades, which commenced in November last year, focus on critical systems that are now entirely sourced from within China. On March 25, Jiaolong completed a month-long series of trials, achieving a new milestone by performing four consecutive “two-dives-a-day” missions. This feat was made possible by its newly installed 7,000-meter-class high-energy-density oil-immersed lithium battery system.
“Before the upgrade, Jiaolong required around 10 hours to recharge after each dive, making frequent missions nearly impossible,” explained Zhang Yi, a senior engineer and diver at the National Deep Sea Center of China. “Now, with the new lithium battery system, it takes just three to four hours to fully charge, allowing the submersible to dive again much sooner and more efficiently.”
The submersible’s maneuverability has also seen a significant boost. The ascent, descent, and navigation of Jiaolong depend on thrusters located at its tail. Previously, all seven thrusters were imported. They have now been replaced with domestically produced versions, increasing the cruising speed from 2.5 to over 3 nautical miles per hour and boosting thrust from 89 kg to over 100 kg.
“Upgrading to our own thrusters not only enhances performance but also reduces dependency on foreign technology,” Zhang Yi added.
Another notable enhancement is the installation of a 36x zoom 4K high-definition camera at the front of the submersible. This camera allows researchers to observe the deep-sea environment in unprecedented detail, even capturing the fine hairs on the tentacles of sea anemones.
Li Jiabiao, an academician with the Chinese Academy of Engineering, highlighted the significance of these upgrades: “This round of enhancements includes major improvements to the energy supply, especially the batteries. The thrusters have been substantially upgraded, and the ascent and descent systems have been optimized. These advancements are pivotal for Jiaolong to conduct more precise operations over a broader area. The upgrade is highly valuable and meaningful.”
With these improvements, Jiaolong is poised to embark on a new series of research missions. The submersible is expected to complete more than 80 dives by 2025, contributing valuable data and insights into the mysteries of the deep sea.
