Chinese scientists have developed its first high-precision underwater positioning system, which is believed to be up to the advanced international level.

The underwater global position system (GPS) can, apart from internationally prevailing functions of monitoring and dynamic positioning, pilot and position underwater objects in real time, said Li Deren, a senior official with the National Remote Sensing Center of China.

The system is a sign of China's accession to the top levels of underwater GPS technology.

The system operates by gathering sound and GPS data from four buoys and a GPS detector which is transferred to the system, which computes the object's exact position.

Tests have indicated that in depths less than 45 meters, horizontal position accuracy is within 5 cm and depth precision 30 cm.

(Xinhua News Agency January 11, 2004)