经济新闻
上海表彰加速船舶和火箭装配的突破性技术 2026-07-02
A research team led by Shanghai Jiao Tong University has won the highest honor in this year's Shanghai Science and Technology Awards for developing an intelligent docking and assembly technology that significantly shortens the construction cycles of large ships and launch vehicles.
The technology, developed by Professor Wang Hao's team at Shanghai Jiao Tong University's School of Mechanical Engineering in collaboration with seven partners, including Jiangnan Shipyard Group and Shanghai Aerospace Equipments Manufacturer, addresses longstanding challenges in the shipbuilding and aerospace manufacturing industries after more than a decade of research, Yicai learned at the award ceremony on July 2. The team won the only Special Prize in this year's competition.
The construction of large ships and spacecraft typically involves manufacturing multiple sections in parallel before final assembly. Some of these sections exceed 100 meters in length and weigh more than 10,000 tons, requiring millimeter-level precision during assembly. Traditional manual methods are time-consuming and prone to errors, creating a major bottleneck for ship deliveries and aerospace missions.
The research team developed an integrated intelligent docking system by combining innovations in robotics, computer vision, and structural mechanics. The system automatically performs the calibration, matching, and alignment of large components and has already been deployed in the assembly of China's new-generation ships and next-generation launch vehicles.
For example, the docking interface of a large ship section can be as large as two basketball courts and contain nearly 1,000 nail-head-sized alignment features. To identify these features quickly and accurately, the team developed a multi-feature matching technology that analyzes both the overall contour and fine details to determine the optimal docking position and orientation, Zhang Guoxin, chief expert at Jiangnan Shipyard, told Yicai.
The system has significantly improved assembly efficiency for both ships and launch vehicles, according to the research team.
The technology is expected to be applied across more high-end equipment manufacturing sectors in the future, providing key technological support for China's ambitions to become a leading maritime and space power, Wang told Yicai.
Shanghai has presented its annual science and technology awards since 2002 to recognize individuals and organizations for outstanding scientific and technological achievements. This year, 206 awards were presented, including 54 Natural Science Awards, comprising 21 first prizes and 33 second prizes. The city also granted 27 Technological Invention Awards, including one Special Prize, 17 first prizes, and nine second prizes.
Source: Yicai Global
