On the journey of exploration, we always carry our longing and dreams for the blue sky. Aviation science, as the crystallization of human wisdom, carries our infinite longing for flight and brave pursuit of the unknown.
In the afternoon of March 29, 2024, the Fifth Phase of Juanhu International Academician Lecture Hall invited the Academician Xiang Jinwu of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, President of China Management Science Society, Professor of Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, to give a special report. Academician Lee Der-Horng, Dean of ZJUI, presided over the event.
With the theme of "Aviation Science Technology and Development ", Academician Xiang Jinwu gave a detailed introduction to the current research progress in aviation science and technology from three aspects: the history of aviation development, cutting-edge key technologies, and prospects. He quoted what the General Secretary Xi Jinping said in his congratulatory letter to the 32nd International Aviation Science Conference, pointing out that aviation science and technology is one of the scientific and technological fields with the fastest development and the greatest impact on human production and life since the 20th century. Today, the world is experiencing profound scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation, and aviation science and technology is also facing unprecedented development opportunities.
The human flight journey stems from continuous understanding and conquest of the sky, always keeps a longing for the sky, guided by science on the road to constantly explore and seek knowledge, resulting in current achievements. Academician Xiang Jinwu explained to students the hardship of previous flight explorations in reference to rich and detailed historical materials, introduced the contributions of theoretical scholars such as Newton and Euler, as well as the practical explorations in the field of flight by several generations from Otto Lilienthal to Wright brothers. In addition, he recounted that since the airplane was invented in 1903, the aviation technology was inspired by nature and made significant progress under the impetus of aerodynamics, leading the aviation industry pacing to higher, faster, and farther goals. The improvement in wing shape, fuselage, cabin had driven the continuous progress in the maneuverability, ceiling, and speed of aircraft. Practice is the source of knowledge, while the latter can guide practice. People learn to fly from nature and summarize the rules from flying. The development of calculus and aerodynamics, humans have also opened a window for people to understand the mystery of flight more scientifically and correctly.
Academician Xiang Jinwu pointed out that the development of aviation science and technology requires a comprehensive application of multiple professions and disciplines. An excellent aviation master first must be a master of mathematics, mechanics, and materials science. Academician Xiang Jinwu explained key technologies in multiple aviation flight fields, including hypersonic velocity, green supersonic civil aircraft, air-based launch platforms, design of aircraft-engine integration, new type of engines, flight aircraft electronic systems, microelectromechanical systems, autonomous control technology, drone swarm technology, and manned/unmanned collaborative technology, and also analyzed the development goals of aviation key technologies, including "high, fast, far, long, small, cluster, and intelligent" .
In terms of the development trend of the aviation equipment industry, Academician Xiang Jinwu believes that the market's demand for green environmental protection, economic efficiency, comfort and convenience, and intelligent interconnection provides direction for the development of the aviation equipment industry in the civilian field, and the essential factors in the promotion of civilian aviation industry come from intelligence, digitalization, and autonomy. The integration and innovation of the new generation of information technology are injecting unprecedented vitality into the aviation industry, pushing the aviation field striding to a higher level.
After the lecture, Academician Xiang Jinwu patiently and carefully answered the questions from enthusiastic students, creating a lively atmosphere on site. The exchanges ignited the students' passion for aviation and their infinite expectations for the future development of aviation.
