Chinese ocean research station takes deep dive for long look at seafloor
- Mobile lab will work with maritime drones to chart sea life and conditions for at least six months
- Data will be relayed back to land via an underwater glider
Chinese researchers have established a deep-sea station on the ocean floor that will work with a fleet of underwater drones to gather data and conduct experiments, according to state media.
State news agency Xinhua reported on Saturday that the uncrewed, remote-controlled station was in position but did not say where or how deep it was located.
The station is equipped with various chemical and biological sensors to study life and conditions on the seafloor, and has a lithium battery that will allow the system to conduct observations for at least six months.
Xinhua quoted researcher Chen Jun, from the Institute of Deep-Sea Science and Engineering at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, as saying the station could carry out tests and analysis on a par with a land-based laboratory.
Chen also said that carrying out experiments in the deep sea would help avoid corruption or loss of sample data due to environmental changes.
The battery – developed jointly by the deep sea institute and the Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology – will also allow the base station to move on the seabed, and supply power to visiting drones, CAS said on Friday.