On September 27th, with the arrival of the "Xue Long 2" polar research icebreaker in Shanghai, China's 13th Arctic expedition came to a successful conclusion. Associate Professor Zhu Zhongben from the Qingdao Innovation and Development Base of Harbin Engineering University, along with the university's independently developed "Xinghai 1000" polar autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV), joined the expedition and obtained extensive data on the underwater ice shape and appearance in the Arctic for the first time in China.

"Xue Long 2" Polar Research Icebreaker

Harbin Engineering University's independently developed "Xinghai 1000" 

polar exploration autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV)

During this scientific expedition, Harbin Engineering University's "Xinghai 1000" polar AUV completed autonomous detection of the under-ice environment and observations of the underside morphology of sea ice in the Arctic. It obtained key oceanographic parameter information such as temperature, salinity, chlorophyll, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, and pH values of the underwater ocean near the Chukchi Sea across five profiles, enriching the Arctic marine information database.

Additionally, equipped with a multi-beam ice shape detection sonar independently developed by the College of Underwater Acoustics at Harbin Engineering University, the "Xinghai 1000" polar AUV completed China's first observational experiment on the underside morphology of Arctic sea ice, detecting approximately 7,000 square meters of ice shape and appearance under the ice and acquiring current velocity and direction information at the ice-water interface at four locations. This contributes to a better understanding of the changes in sea ice and ocean currents in the region and provides data support to effectively address the impacts of global climate change on China.

"Xinghai 1000" is tested in a simulated polar environment

Acquiring the morphological characteristics of Arctic sea ice, especially the ice shape and appearance beneath the ice cover, is of great significance for studying the mechanisms of Arctic sea ice melting. Currently, the detection of Arctic sea ice morphology is mostly based on surface observation methods such as satellites, and there has been a lack of effective means to detect the ice shape and appearance beneath the ice cover.

In response to the urgent need for large-scale, long-term, and deep-sea ocean scientific expeditions and exploration operations under the polar ice cap, Harbin Engineering University took the lead in undertaking the "Polar Exploration Autonomous Underwater Vehicle Development" project, in collaboration with the Chinese Arctic and Antarctic Administration, the 702nd Institute of China Shipbuilding Heavy Industry Group, Tianjin University, Taiyuan University of Technology, and other institutions, completing the project through four years of joint research and development.

The research and development team overcame key technologies such as the overall design of the vehicle in the polar low-temperature environment, propulsion and control, high-latitude precise navigation, acoustic positioning and communication under the ice cap, and environmental condition detection, completing the development of the polar exploration AUV "Xinghai 1000".

Associate Professor Zhu Zhongben from the Qingdao Innovation and 

Development Base of Harbin Engineering University

The 13th Chinese Arctic Scientific Expedition team set off from Shanghai on July 12th and successfully reached the North Pole at 13:55 on September 5th, taking 78 days and covering over 15,000 nautical miles, setting a new record for the farthest navigation in the Arctic by Chinese vessels. The "Xinghai 1000" AUV, on its mission to the Arctic, validated key technologies such as high-latitude underwater navigation, underwater acoustic communication, and precise control of under-ice navigation. These validations have accumulated valuable experience for conducting scientific research in the high-risk and extremely harsh environments of the polar regions, contributing to the development of China's capabilities in polar deep-sea exploration and operations.