China's civil manned airship AS700 begins 20-day trial operation

China's independently developed civil manned airship AS700 began a 20-day trial operation on Friday in Yangshuo County, southern China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

The daily flight schedule is from 12:30 to 14:30. The airship flies at a speed of about 60 kilometers per hour and at a relatively low altitude and is designed to fly over several scenic spots in Yangshuo.

Developed by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), the AS700 is an encapsulated-type manned airship that can carry a maximum of 10 people including a pilot.

According to AVIC, it has a maximum takeoff weight of 4,150 kilograms, a maximum flight range of 700 kilometers and a maximum endurance of 10 hours.

The first airship is scheduled to be delivered later this year and once it begins commercial operation, it will be used not only for low-altitude tourism, but also for low-altitude transportation, aerial surveys and even emergency rescue.

China's civil manned airship AS700 begins 20-day trial operation

The three-day HICOOL 2024 Global Entrepreneur Summit ended in Beijing on Sunday after showcasing nearly 1,000 entrepreneurial projects featuring cutting-edge technologies in robotics, drones, microscopes and laser diodes.

The event attracted more than 500 innovative high-tech companies and over 1,000 global investors from nearly 100 countries and regions, creating an international platform for product presentation and communication.

A highlight among the exhibits were the high-power laser diode devices with blue laser output, which are widely used in areas such as new energy, aerospace and 3D printing.

“A key advantage of high-power laser diodes is their energy efficiency. The absorption rate of blue light is 13 times higher than that of green and red light, which means it requires only one-thirteenth of the energy compared to green and red light. This technology has the potential to significantly improve our country's manufacturing standards and energy efficiency,” said Zhong Jianrong, an exhibitor.

The summit featured a new generation of advanced optical microscopes, workshops focusing on the engineering of biological molecules using deep learning, and a large, high-tech drone built for harsh environments.

In addition to these high-tech products, companies offering various services for startups also took part in the event.

“We are able to integrate around 15 manufacturing processes. Our team of engineers can advise entrepreneurs and designers on possible manufacturing processes. In addition, we can plan production for them in a timely manner, thus increasing the efficiency of start-ups and improving innovation effectiveness,” said exhibitor Xiang Huizhi.

The event included over 100 activities designed to facilitate communication between entrepreneurs and investors.

“Through this platform, participants can establish contacts with various parties, including governments, investors, corporate partners and even industry partners. This makes it easier to express needs and explore cooperation potential,” said Wu Yi, vice chairman of the Beijing Overseas Talents Association.

The summit has been held five times so far, attracting over 32,000 entrepreneurial talents from more than 145 countries and regions, bringing in over 24,100 entrepreneurial projects.

It has fostered the growth of 16 unicorn companies and over 120 companies that leverage specialized and sophisticated technologies to create innovative and distinctive products.

Entrepreneur Summit in Beijing ends with the presentation of almost 1,000 projects