Spark

"What the hell? A drone with a payload of 10 tons and a speed of Mach 1.9? Is it real or not?"

In an office of the 611 Institute, Yang Wei asked in disbelief while holding a telephone receiver.

"Who mentioned it? My brain is burnt out? Ah? Chen Nian. It's okay."

"When will he want it? There's no rush for this project."

"That's good, that's good. When J-20B passes the engineering verification and reaches the mass production standard, we will start to do it here."

"Difficulty? It shouldn't be too difficult. Anyway, the projects from him are not too difficult."

"Understood, understood, as soon as possible."

"J-20B? The technology demonstrator can fly now, what, who wants to use it?"

"Over there in the military region? Then let them contact me."

"Okay, let me prepare here, but the performance will definitely not reach the upper limit of the design, and the variable cycle engine has not yet been produced."

"How long? Look at the 606 Institute. Now they are jointly developing with 624. It's not a big problem."

After hanging up the phone, Yang Wei let out a long breath.

He thought he had paid enough attention to Chen Nian, but he didn't expect that his expectations of him were not enough!

After completing the design work of two domestic fourth-generation aircrafts in a row, he has turned to drones now!

Moreover, judging from his setting of the parameters of this drone, this is definitely not a bad street stuff like the Global Hawk.

Super high mobility, super large ammunition load, plus stealth performance that is almost the same as J-20

There is no doubt that it is aimed at the goal of manned/unmanned joint formation!

With this unmanned aerial vehicle, the comprehensive combat strategy of the fourth-generation aircraft has become possible.

Only one formation is needed to complete a series of tasks such as air raids, ground penetration, and important target clearance in a single flight.

Whether it is in terms of combat efficiency or lethality, it can be qualitatively improved.

Even, this thing can also be used as a self-explosive bomb truck when necessary, opening the door for subsequent formations.

I remember when the J-22 was first born, some people in China discussed that such a fourth-generation aircraft was useless except for kicking the door. Without the support of echelon formations, even if the door was kicked open, there was no way to launch an air strike on the target inside the door.

What we lack is the Flanker.

Therefore, the J-20 project has actually been questioned. Many people believe that there is no need to develop a carrier-based fourth-generation aircraft when there is already a fourth-generation aircraft, and that energy should be devoted to the Flanker model.

What now? Isn't the flanker here?

Moreover, this unmanned flanker is much easier to use than other manned aircraft.

After all, it does not need to worry about casualties during the penetration process, and the space for operation is much larger.

Thinking of this, Yang Wei smiled gratifiedly.

Hey, this project fell into my hands again, the distance that was thrown away by 601 before can be pulled back all of a sudden

However, the military region actually wanted to receive the J-20B in advance, saying that it was going to be tested at sea, which he did not expect.

Has the situation on the sea reached this level of urgency?

I heard that a second-hand warship was sent there two days ago, pretending to be a fishery administration ship.

It seems that the navy has also emptied the bottom of the press box, and there is no way but to let the air force go up to top it up.

However, this is also the meaning of the existence of researchers like myself.

Able to form a single-point breakthrough in one's own field, use one's own strength to make up for the shortcomings of the entire country, and help those fields that are temporarily lagging behind to overcome difficulties.

This kind of "heroism" really fits my fantasy of heroes.

After thinking for a while, Yang Wei picked up the phone.

"Hey, Lao Yang? Are you almost finished testing your PL-17?"

"Yes, I want to test the J-20B, you can send it over another day"

On the other side, Xigong University.

Chen Nian and Wang Jiancheng stood on the playground, with several remote-controlled model airplanes borrowed from the model airplane company beside them.

Today is the time to actually test the AI ​​system of the "Yujing 01" UAV.

The name "Yujing" was created by Wang Jiancheng. It comes from the "Book of Heavenly Officials" explaining astrology. In the book, the star official restrained the left foot of the white tiger represented by Sansuke in the jade well, thereby controlling this powerful tiger.

It is very appropriate to be used in the drone AI flight control system.

However, expectations are expectations and reality is reality.

At this moment, both Chen Nian and Wang Jiancheng were inevitably a little nervous.

After all, the results of computer simulations are one thing, but actually flying them is another.

After the plane rises into the air, every disturbance of the airflow may have a significant impact on the input data, and even exceed the judgment limit of AI, resulting in system failure and the risk of a crash.

Therefore, all they can do is to debug all the data as much as possible, set up all emergency procedures, and in the most extreme case, let the system directly alarm and disconnect the AI ​​flight control, and hand over control to the pilot waiting aside.

"How is it? Has the system been debugged?"

Looking at Wang Jiancheng who was still busy, Chen Nian asked.

Before that, they have modified the remote control of the model airplane. The remote controllers used to control the model airplane are all connected to the computer through the circuit board. The host is responsible for the signal input. After the AI ​​​​program processing, the signal is output to the remote control of the wingman. After signal relay, the control of the aerial model is realized.

Such a control method will undoubtedly have a problem with time delay. If it is really a military drone, the time delay once back and forth is enough to cause major tactical deformation.

But fortunately, the flight altitude of model airplanes is low, and the signal transmission time is short, so basically there is no need to consider this issue.

When it is actually a military aircraft, just move the program carrier computer to the drone.

Anyway, the onboard computer of Rainbow-8 must have no problem running such a program

Noticing Chen Nian approaching, Wang Jiancheng quickly stopped what he was doing and replied:

"Basically everything is fine. I just finally adjusted some parameters of 'Yujing 01' and increased the fault tolerance range. If there is a failure to follow, the wingman will automatically lower the altitude and fly around the field. Try to follow again."

"In this way, the risk of crashing is greatly reduced."

"Yes. But after the test, you have to delete this fault-tolerant program. After all, if it is an actual combat, there is no difference between flying around and committing suicide."

"understand."

Wang Jiancheng nodded repeatedly. He checked the parameters for the last time, then exited the control background, returned to the main interface of Yujing 01, and said to Chen Nian:

"No problem, you can prepare to start flying."

His voice trembled a little, Chen Nian patted him on the shoulder comfortingly, turned his head and said to the flying hand who had been waiting by the side:

"Start flying!"

Following his order, all the pilots excitedly ran to their model airplanes and threw them into the air one by one.

Everyone had looks of anticipation on their faces, after all, this was the first time for them to fly model airplanes in this special way.

Doesn't it need to be controlled by itself, the plane can automatically follow a certain lead plane as the "standard bearer"?

If this kind of story is not seen in reality, they will only think it is a plot in a science fiction novel.

Taking a step back, even if it can be realized, the risks in the process are uncontrollable.

What if one falls?

You must know that each model airplane is condensed with their countless efforts, not to mention the direct crash, even if there is a little bump in normal times, they will feel distressed.

Therefore, when Wang Jiancheng found them at first, their reaction was very unified, that is, they refused.

In the end, it was Chen Nian who lost face.

Last time, he adjusted the aerodynamic layout of the model airplane for many members of the airplane model society, which was regarded as leaving a favor and paving the way for today's events.

Coupled with Chen Nian's promise that if the plane crashes during the process, they will be compensated according to the assembly cost, and they finally agreed to the test flight.

——

Of course, I was still a little reluctant.

But this reluctance disappeared without a trace after they came to the scene.

Hey guys, who doesn't love aviation, who doesn't love it?

Crash? Just drop it, let's talk after playing enough!

So, with this in mind, they watched the model plane take off with intense eyes, while discussing the status of the plane excitedly.

"Damn it, my remote is disconnected and the AI ​​is taking over!"

"Mine is mine too! Look at the planes, the formation has already begun!"

"Mine has also taken over, the five-machine formation hey -- wait, why are they flying like this, shouldn't it be the arrow formation if they fly so scattered?"

"Most of the arrow formations are used for performances. Judging from their design, they are obviously aimed at actual combat."

"The one at the front should be an electronic jammer, the one behind it is the lead plane, and the one above the right front of the lead plane is an early warning plane."

"Then the next two planes, one should be an air superiority wingman for air support, and the other is a ground attack plane."

"You can tell by looking at their flying speed. They are all designed and have a saying."

Listening to others' explanations, everyone couldn't help but marvel again.

"Niuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuor is really Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon."

"Then what do you think? Needless to say, Senior Chen, that Wang Jiancheng is also a seed player. If you are specially recruited, look, the formation has begun to change."

Everyone looked up, and saw that the height of the early warning aircraft continued to climb, and the electronic jammer also turned to the left, giving way to the attack position of the central lead aircraft.

After a brief pause, the lead plane began to pull up and slow down, followed by the air superiority wingman, while the ground attack plane, which was originally located at the rear, accelerated to a forward position.

Immediately afterwards, the flight formation began to lower its altitude, and the ground attack aircraft accelerated its dive.

After diving to a critical altitude, it pulled up quickly and returned to formation.

The large-angle turn began, and the flight formation drew an astonishing arc and began to fly from the edge of the field to the central area.

The flight battle position was adjusted again, the electronic jammer and the early warning aircraft fell to the rear, and the ground attack aircraft that had "emptied their ammunition" quickly returned, and quickly lowered their altitude to land.

In the end, all the model airplanes landed on the ground!

Of course, the landing process is still controlled manually, after all, this thing does not belong to the scope of Yujing's work.

But even so, the onlookers on the ground were already amazed.

"Damn it. This actually works? Is this tactical move determined by the AI ​​itself? Or is it a preset program?"

"The preset program, the AI ​​is only responsible for the program execution."

"However, although it is said to be a preset, the core of the tactics is the lead plane. All flights are based on the position of the lead plane. It is already very impressive to be able to do this."

"Look at the few pull-ups, dives and large-angle turns just now, even if we control it ourselves, we will definitely not be able to make it so smooth."

"The entire formation is like a whole. This is no longer an aircraft. This is a real air composite battle group."

Hearing everyone's exclamations, and seeing the model airplane returning safely to the ground, Chen Nian and Wang Jiancheng looked at each other, and a thought flashed through his mind at the same time:

This time, it really did!

The effect of the first actual measurement far exceeded their expectations. Although it is only a model aircraft, the level of intelligent decision-making demonstrated by Yujing 01 is very close to the level of a truly usable military AI!

Several times, when the lead plane was performing unforeseen maneuvers, the wingmen had completely left the formation, but in just a few seconds, under the control of Yujing 01, they found the most suitable way to return.

They did not rely on their own speed advantage to chase, but after comprehensive data from all aspects, they made a decision to either passively wait or actively import.

And to achieve this step is also the critical point of Yujing 01 from "running" to "usable".

Wang Jiancheng excitedly ran up and down the field. He looked at the plane that had just landed for a while, and returned to the computer to look at the data just downloaded.

After finally calming down, he finally ran to Chen Nian and said:

"Senior! We really did it!"

There were faint tears in Wang Jiancheng's eyes, and Chen Nian could fully understand his behavior at the moment.

After three months of hard work day and night, I made great strides, but also stagnated, and even encountered an extremely difficult setback at the last juncture.

Today, his "child" was finally born smoothly, how could he not be happy?

Therefore, Chen Nian also smiled and said:

"It's done! Awesome!"

In fact, he is more aware of the limits of this model than Wang Jiancheng.

He also knows that Yujing 01 still has a long way to go before it can be used in the military.

But anyway, it's a fantastic start.

At this time, don't say such unsightly words as "there is still a big gap" and "continue to work hard".

Since it is a victory, it should be celebrated with a toast!

As for the follow-up plan?

Maybe, it's time to change this project from an ordinary college student's interest project to a research project of a research institute.

He secretly made a decision:

After Wang Jiancheng finished the finishing work, finished writing the thesis of the results report, and finished the final improvement of Yujing 01, he handed over the model to the 611 Institute.

At that time, Wang Jiancheng may become the first researcher to enter the 611 Institute as a college student