IPR infringement and counterfeiting in China

Chang'e-3 mission to use cutting-edge deep space tracking

The Chang’e-3 lunar probe will be the country’s first attempt at a soft landing on any extra terrestrial surface and the first moon landing by any country in almost 40 years.

The extreme distances present new challenges for the mission control team, who must remotely manouver both the probe and the lunar rover to a high level of accuracy. Our reporter Han Bin has been granted special access to the command center, where it’s all taking place.

“This is the Beijing Aerospace Command and Control Center. It’s the headquarters of the tracking and control system for the lunar probing satellite—the Chang’e 3. Moments after launch all of the monitoring and command orders will be made from here, making this site the project’s nerve center. ”

Going into the heart of China’s space program.

Or some might say, the brain.

Wu Fenglei, Deputy Director of the system design department, explains why the tracking and control system is key to the lunar project.

This command hall decides the fate of Chang’e 3. Numerous simulations are run again and again...

"We need to rehearse the whole process, and do extra practice for some crucial stages, like the braking, landing and separation of the Lander and moon rover." Wu Fenglei said.

The Chang’e 3 will involve China’s first use of an X-band Observation System in the soft landing and for the moon rover. China has built two giant antennas for that specific task.

There’s also the unified S-band observation system or USB and the very long baseline interferometry, or VLBI. Simply put, they’re used to track the distance and the angle position of the satellite for orbit determination.

"Through receiving the data from the rover, we know its working conditions, and we also send orders to control its function, through the image data it sends back to us. So, it’s a two-way communications." Xi Luhua, Senior Engineer of Beijing Aerospace Control and Command Center said.

Senior Engineer Xi Luhua has worked on all three Chang’e projects. She says this first moon rover provides both a challenge and an inspiration in deep space tracking and control.

This state-of-the-art Command and Control Center has witnessed all of China’s space progress, including the Shenzhou manned space missions, and the previous two lunar probes. This is the place where scientists and engineers collect data, monitor signals and make crucial decisions at each stage. And it’s here that China will write another page of aviation history with the launch of the Chang’e-3.

Source: CCTV

Senior advisor explains key details of Chang'e 3, China's next lunar mission

The Chang’e 3 mission is the latest step in China’s ambitious space program. It is set to carry out some tasks that so far haven’t been done by any other country in the world.

Our reporter Ai Yang sat down for an exclusive interview with Ouyang Ziyuan. The 78-year-old is the senior advisor of China’s lunar probe project, and is sometimes referred to as the father of Chang’e missions.

"It’s very difficult to soft land on the moon because there’s no atmosphere. A soft landing must ensure all equipment is safe on board the lander and the rover. Previously the US and the former Soviet Union both achieved this, but it was by either just a lander or just a rover. China will be the first country to land a rover AND a lander on the moon at the same time. The lander will start working immediately after landing, by observing space using an optical telescope. So this will be a combined exploration of the moon by the lander and the rover. The lander has boosters, which allow it to remain hovering at about 100 meters above the lunar surface. Then using special cameras it will look for a flat place to land on. Then when it’s about four meters above ground, its engine will stop. The lander’s four legs are shockproof and will ensure a soft landing." Ouyang Ziyuan said.

|"The Chang’e 3 mission will achieve three "firsts". Number one: space observation from the moon. This is the dream of many astronomers because atmosphere, wind, snow and pollution don’t obstruct visibility as they do on earth. The result is also better because of the longer periods of uninterrupted observation from the moon due to it orbiting the earth. One day of observation on the moon is equivalent to 14 days on earth. Number two: we have an ultraviolet camera on the lander to monitor the earth. This camera is different from the one used by America’s Apollo 16. Ours can see the formation of the earth’s plasmasphere and its density change. It’s better than a satellite, which can only record data section by section as it orbits around the earth. On the moon it can observe half of earth at a time without moving. This is something people have always wanted to do. Number three: we will be the first to learn the structure and layers of the moon 100 meters below its surface with radars installed at the bottom of the rover. As the rover drives on the lunar surface, it will be as it can cut and see what’s 100 meters below. These three highlights are what no other countries have done so far." Ouyang Ziyuan said.

"The human knowledge of the moon is largely derived from samples brought back to earth by Apollo 16. In 1978, US president Jimmy Carter gifted us one gram of their samples and we did lots of research using just half of that gram. Our Chang’e 5 will also return with samples. I believe within 2 to 3 years we will be able to carry out very systematic and accurate research with the samples. For now, one tough test the Chang’e 3 mission must pass is withstanding extreme cold conditions. The rover’s wings collect solar energy during the day, which allow it to function. But at night none of the equipment works, because the temperature drops as low as minus 180 degree celcius. Electronic devices are damaged if they’re colder than minus 40 degrees, so we will use atomic energy storage batteries to heat them up at night and keep them operational. The batteries have to be able to work for long periods at a time, as one night on the moon lasts two full weeks on earth. " Ouyang Ziyuan said.

Source:  CCTV

Chinese Foreign Ministry: Japan trying to stir up trouble

Japan says it will raise the issue of China’s Air Defense Identification Zone during the Japan-ASEAN special summit, which will be held in December in Tokyo. It plans to ask ASEAN countries to take the same stance as Japan does. China’s Foreign Ministry has responded to the news.

"We have repeatedly made our position clear on the issue of the East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone. We would like to ask Japan to explain to other countries whether it has an ADIZ or not. When Japan first set up its ADIZ and later on expanded its ADIZ several times, it never consulted with other countries. And look at the size of Japan’s ADIZ. Japan doesn’t want to allow others to do what itself has been doing. And it’s trying to stir up trouble. This approach is senseless and speaks of Japan’s ulterior motives." said Qin Gang, Spokesman, Chinese Foreign Ministry.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe says Japan is seriously concerned about China’s air defense zone. Abe met officials of the Liberal Democratic Party at his residence and accepted their written proposal asking China to "retract the decision." Abe says he will seek backing from neighboring countries and international institutions. Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida said he will discuss the issue with US Vice President Joe Biden next week. Japan sent out aircraft last Saturday to monitor China’s surveillance planes. On Thursday, Japan’s self-defense forces dispatched more aircraft into the air defense identification zone. Japan set up a similar zone in 1969. It includes China's Diaoyu Islands.

Source: CCTV

Chinese jets monitor US & Japan planes in China’s ADIZ

China’s Air Force says it detected and identified US and Japanese planes entering the East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone on Friday. The Air Force responded by scrambling fighter jets to monitor the aircraft. Also, in a slight change from its initial response, the Obama administration has advised the country’s civilian carriers to comply with the rules of the new air defense identification zone.

Chinese fighter jets scrambled from their bases. Friday saw similar action as Chinese jets flew into the Air Defense Identification zone to monitor activity by Japanese and US planes.

Two US spy planes and ten Japanese flights entered the newly established Zone. China’s Air Force spokesman Shen Jinke said, that Chinese fighter jets were scrambled to verify these foreign aircrafts and monitored them throughout their path in the air zone. Shen also informed that the Chinese Air Force is maintaining a status of "high alert", and will take measures to deal with any threat to China’s airspace.

Meanwhile, China’s Foreign Ministry also said on Friday that Japan’s objection and concern to China’s ADIZ is senseless, and is only to stir up trouble.

"We have repeatedly made our position clear on the issue of the East China Sea air defense identification zone. We would like to ask Japan to explain to other countries whether it has an ADIZ or not. When Japan first set up its ADIZ and later on expanded its ADIZ several times, it never consulted with other countries. And look at the size of Japan’s ADIZ. Japan doesn’t want to allow others to do what itself has been doing." said Qin Gang, Spokesman, Chinese Foreign Ministry.

Responding to Friday’s incident, Japan’s Defence Minister Itsunori Onodera said on Saturday that Tokyo has made no changes in the nation’s sense of alertness.

"In any event, including what happened yesterday in regard to the regulations for the air defence identification zone we have no reason to believe that there has been any great change to procedures as they have stood until now." said Itsunori Onodera, Japan Defense Minister.

Meanwhile, Washington has suggested US commercial flights follow the rules of China’s air defense identification zone. The US State Department said on its website that "The US government generally expects carriers operate consistent with foreign country’s air notice requirements." But it also said the advice does not indicate the US government’s acceptance of the new air zone.

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden is visiting China, Japan and South Korea next week, and the issue of the new air defense identification zone is expected to feature prominently during the visit.

China announced its Air Defense Identification Zone last week.

Source: CCTV

US airlines notify China of flight plans

In response to US government advice, two of the biggest US airlines, American and Delta, have notified Chinese authorities of flight plans when travelling through the East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone.

A spokesman for Delta Airlines said on Saturday it has been complying with the Chinese requests for flight plans for the past week. American Airlines said it was also complying, but declined to say for how long it had done so.

Source: CCTV

Toyota Debuts Driver Awareness Research Vehicle at Los Angeles Auto

“At Toyota, our focus is not only on protecting people in case of an accident, but also on preventing that accident from happening in the first place,” said Chuck Gulash, Director of Toyota’s Collaborative Safety Research Center (CSRC).  “While the auto industry will never eliminate every potential driver distraction, we can develop new ways to keep driver attention and awareness where it needs to be – on the road ahead.”

Gulash discussed three specific safety research initiatives aimed at better leveraging vehicle design and interaction to help drivers keep their eyes on the road, hands on the wheel and brain engaged and aware.  These included Toyota’s DAR-V new-concept research vehicle and the funding of two university research programs.

Research Vehicle Helps Reduce Potential Distractions Before Driving
“Cars have become an interaction of multiple screens.  Initially, there was the windscreen, and rear window and the rear and side-view mirrors,” said Gulash. “We now have multiple gauge clusters, large information screens and heads-up displays all feeding us information and competing for our attention.”

The DAR-V was developed in partnership with Microsoft Research to help reduce driver distractions before the key is even in the ignition.  Utilizing Microsoft technologies such as Kinect, the interactive systems integrated into the design of the vehicle display important, highly personalized information on the side window when the driver approaches the car.

Using a combination of gesture control, voice and the key fob, drivers can navigate information such as updates on traffic and the weather, appointments and schedules for the day ahead, and even route details that might include a gas station if the vehicle is low on fuel.  By addressing these critical daily priorities before even setting foot in the vehicle, a driver potentially has more mental bandwidth to focus on driving.

“We need to start thinking of the car and the driver as teammates, sharing the common goal of saving lives,” said Gulash.  “The best teammates learn from each other.  They watch, listen and remember.  They adapt.  They communicate.  And they assist, as needed.  In doing so, over time, a foundation of trust is built.  Together, the teammates are building a common situational awareness of their driving environment.”  

Because the DAR-V system can recognize and differentiate between individuals, the system might also be used to reduce driver distractions in other ways.  For example, children might play “games” designed to help them buckle their seatbelts quickly, easing the stress on parents and helping them focus more of their attention on the road.

MIT AgeLab Observes the Human Factors of Voice Command
  Chuck Gulash,Director of Toyota’s Collaborative Safety Research Center (CSRC) discussed a study undertaken at MIT’s AgeLab which Toyota helped to fund. These results were published in a white paper authored by Dr. Bryan Reimer and Bruce Mehler,  of MIT, whose purpose was expand understanding of the human factors of voice command.

Researchers found that the mental demands on drivers while using voice command were actually lower than expected, potentially because drivers compensate by slowing down, changing lanes less frequently or increasing the distance to other vehicles.  However, in a number of the voice interactions studied, the amount of time drivers took their eyes off the road during voice command tasks was greater than expected. The situation is often more pronounced among older drivers, some of whom were found to physically orient their bodies towards the voice command system’s graphical interface when engaging with it.

Stanford Autonomous Driving Human Factors
This idea of building trust by sharing tasks is being taken to a new level with a collaborative project between the CSRC and the Stanford University.

Using one of the most advanced driving simulators in the country, researchers are studying how drivers interact with new automated safety technologies that are increasingly capable of taking over responsibility for driving the car.  The system combines EEG sensors to track brain activity, skin sensors to measure emotional arousal and eye-tracking headgear to follow directional glances.  The system can perfectly align what’s happening inside the car, what’s happening outside the car and what‘s happening inside the driver’s brain.

The simulator is unique in its ability to instantly shift from fully automated control to driver in full control to mixed control. The research will help inform design improvements to automated systems that will improve how they work in partnership with the driver to improve safety for everyone.

For example, the project will help to understand how a driver responds to a sudden “takeover now!” alert compared to less aggressive commands or explanations. Other issues include studies of how driver abilities are affected by prolonged periods in fully automated mode, including potential reduction in reaction times or situational awareness.

“These are questions that need to be answered”, Gulash concluded, “not only to help build a product.  But also, to build a foundation of understanding and guidelines for how we proceed with further research into the human factors of automated vehicles.”

Source: Toyota