China's first high-end and multi-functional remote sensing unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) made its successful test flight on Monday in Huangguoshu Airport, Anshun City, southwest China's Guizhou Province.

The remote sensing system, jointly developed by Peking University and Guizhou Aviation Industry (Group) Co Ltd, adopts intelligent and high-definition data retrieving technologies. According to experts, it is of a world-class standard in terms of flight function, navigation accuracy, communications, equipment as well as manufacturing cost.

The Institute of Remote Sensing and Geographic Information System of Peking University is one of the pioneering units to have engaged in developing remote sensing technologies and application research in China.

Guizhou Aviation is China's largest aviation development and production base. It has been researching and developing UAVs for many years. The coaching and unmanned planes developed by it made successful maiden flights on December 12, 2003.

In recent years, the institute and the company have cooperated in research and development, making breakthroughs in remote sensing facilities, image recognition and processing, image resolution and downsizing facilities.

According to experts, the UAV remote sensing technology has great development potential in China. It could be widely used for land and environment surveys, meteorological research and natural disaster monitoring.

Remote sensing technology is a tool that is widely used to study, for example, the Earth's surface and atmosphere, from a distance from an aircraft or satellite.
 
(China.org.cn by Wang Qian, August 11, 2005)