Chapter 153 Technical Feasibility of Meteorological Weapons
After the meeting, Lu An personally signed and sealed the approval, and the "Star Arrow 1" project was officially launched, with Wu Guangyu as the general person in charge of the project. Lu An was not involved in front-line rocket technology research and development, but now he has the support of Star Stream software tools and a team of top experts in the aerospace industry, which is enough.
He can completely act as a hands-off shopkeeper. This is his favorite status. He only needs to follow up on the project regularly to check the progress.
· In the early stage of the Astral Dynamics, as long as rocket technology is developed, Lu An basically does not need to take action. It will not be until the mid-term stage when he starts to develop transport spacecraft that can travel between the earth and space that he will exert his strength.
· The core tasks in the mid-term stage cannot rely entirely on these rocket experts. Traditional chemical fuel rockets will gradually become obsolete at this stage.
Spaceships that can travel between the earth's surface and outer space no longer use chemical fuels, but use controllable nuclear fusion energy as their power source.
However, spacecraft still cannot bear the main force of transportation capacity for the distance from the surface of the earth to outer space.
Because the upper limit of a single transport capacity of a spacecraft is only a thousand tons, which is naturally exaggerated at the moment. However, in the future era of increasingly frequent human space activities, this capacity will definitely not keep up with the needs of the times.
At that time, large-scale shipping capacities all started at the square ton level.
As for super spaceships of 10,000-ton, 100,000-ton or even 1 million-ton level, these big things cannot land on the surface of the planet. They can only be parked in the planet's orbit, and they can only be built in the space dock.
Unless the anti-gravity technology is mastered, this technology was not developed even in the human civilization of Lu An’s previous life.
A super spaceship with a transport capacity of more than 10,000 tons. It is positioned for large-throughput, long-distance inter-planetary shipping, such as from the earth to Mars and the earth to the moon.
Just the distance from the surface of the planet to space, a 10,000-ton spaceship cannot land on the surface, and a 1,000-ton spaceship is too slow and costly.
The core transportation capacity for this distance depends on the space elevator that can operate day and night.
The transportation capacity gap between spaceships and space elevators is the same as the current land transportation and sea transportation. Sea transportation outstrips land transportation.
Similarly, the transportation capacity of the space elevator is also beyond the spaceship.
The two have various core positionings. Spaceships are positioned for passenger transportation, and space elevators are positioned for logistics transportation.
From the surface of the planet to space, it is most comfortable for passengers to take a spaceship, and it is more efficient to use a space elevator for cargo.
In the following days, Star Power Aerospace entered high speed. The "Star Arrow 1" project was officially launched this month, and the Star Stream software tool became the core engine driving the project and was quickly integrated into the entire research and development chain.
In a sense, it reconstructs the paradigm of rocket research and development,
The speed of design selection has increased significantly, putting the traditional development model to shame.
Aerodynamic shape optimization that used to take weeks or even months can be completed in just a few hours or even dozens of minutes using the Xingliu software tool.
Just like trying on clothes, engineers try hundreds of different airfoils, fairing shapes, and engine layouts in the virtual world of supercomputers to see changes in performance in real time.
Structural engineers use the Xingliu software tool to perform topology optimization. On the premise of ensuring strength, the remaining material is removed like a sculpture of a work of art, achieving near-extreme lightweighting.
Simulate the material response under extreme re-entry heat flow on the Star Stream software tool, optimize the layout and thickness of the thermal protection system, and finally perform experimental verification and calibration, saving a lot of expensive physical thermal tests.
As for the engine, the design of the "Xinghuo-1A" engine has gone through thousands of iterative simulations of the combustion chamber flow field, nozzle efficiency, and turbine pump matching on the Xingliu software.
The traditional model requires costly and high-risk ground ignition tests. Now most of the early performance verification and problem troubleshooting are completed in Xingliu software.
A series of difficult problems such as the combustion stability of liquid oxygen/liquid methane and the design of high-efficiency turbine pumps were overcome one by one under the accurate simulation of Starstream software.
In the world of software mode, "Star Arrow 1" is undergoing hundreds of thousands of flight simulations under different working conditions and different failure modes, including the most complex power landing process, simulating various wind speeds, atmospheric density deviations, engine thrust deviations, and even single engine failures.
· System integration efficiency has also been doubled. Xingliu software was used to build the fully digital body of "Star Arrow 1", from aerodynamics, structure,
The simulations of all subsystems, from thermal and propulsion to avionics, are seamlessly integrated and run on this virtual rocket.
This makes interface problems, mutual interference, system coupling effects and other huge pitfalls that are only exposed in the later stages of traditional research and development, accurately predicted and solved by Xingliu software simulation in the early design stage.
The current research and development approach has changed from "crossing the river by feeling for the stones" to "following the diagram". It is difficult to think about efficiency without speeding up the process.
The time has come to the end of June.
On Wednesday, June 29, Li Fengting came to Jianing City. Naturally, he came here to meet Lu An.
"The half-year-long test and acceptance of the first-generation armed robot has ended, and all acceptance links have passed." Li Fengting looked at Lu An and smiled: "The military has approved it and can proceed with large-scale procurement."
At this moment, the two people were talking in a reception room.
Lu An immediately said after hearing this: "We can mass produce and deliver them at any time."
Metaverse Intelligent Control delivered 1,500 armed robots in December last year. Now all acceptance procedures have been completed and passed. The military plans to purchase a total of 65,000 first-generation armed robots.
Li Fengting said: “The original plan remains unchanged. 63,500 units will be purchased over five years. 11,500 units will be purchased this year, and 13,000 units will be purchased each year thereafter.”
Lu An nodded and said, “No problem, this year’s delivery task will be completed next month.”
Metaverse Manufacturing’s current production capacity and orders for armed robots are not enough to fill the gap, because the current robot production capacity can reach 30,000 to 50,000 units per month.
The military has purchased 11,500 armed robots. If urgent, they can even be produced within a week. Normally, it takes about 10 days.
Had it not been for the demand for Xiaoyuan robots from the civilian market, the factory would have been shut down for 50 weeks out of 52 weeks a year.
Li Fengting waved his hands and smiled and said: "Then there is no need to be so anxious. The delivery will be completed by the end of the year, and the military still needs to make some adjustments."
Lu An nodded: "That's okay."
This matter was finalized quickly. There is nothing more to say. It has been planned for a long time.
After a while, Li Fengting looked at Lu An and smiled and said: "You have to prepare for another thing."
Hearing this, Lu An asked curiously: "What is it?"
Li Fengting said: "For the 11th Zhuhai Air Show to be held in November in the second half of the year, you are here to make arrangements and prepare the first generation of armed forces. The foreign trade version of the robot will be displayed at the air show. This is also the reason why your company will deliver it at the end of the year. After the air show is unveiled, the military will no longer have to hide the armed robots and can train openly. "
The current Zhuhai Air Show is no longer a simple air combat equipment exhibition, there are also a lot of land combat equipment on display.
After Lu An heard this, he immediately asked: "Has it been approved to launch a foreign trade version?"
Li Fengting nodded: "Yes, it has been officially approved. This is the second thing I want to tell you."
One of the important reasons why the military approved the foreign trade version so quickly is to consider the follow-up issues of the iteration of armed humanoid robot technology.
It is not appropriate to deploy large-scale troops at this stage. 65,000 troops is already a very large scale, a proper army-level force scale.
Hence, when the second generation is launched, we have to consider upgrading it. But what about the first generation armed robots that have been purchased? You can't just retire where you are, right?
This has become an unavoidable problem, and this thing cannot be transferred to civilian use.
After thinking about it, there is only one answer.
After retirement, let Metaverse Intelligent Control's original factory recycle it, cut off some of the important technical modules, turn it into a "smart version", and then sell it to foreign customers such as Sat tycoons. The price of the foreign trade version must be several times more expensive, so Metaverse Intelligent Control will not lose money even if it is recycled at the original price.
The funds used to recover blood will be used to purchase second-generation armed robots, including the third and fourth generations in the future.
Even if Lu An did not mention a foreign trade version now, the military must consider a foreign trade version, because this is the best strategy for cyclical replacement.
· After the new generation comes out, they will sell the ones they are tired of playing as second-hand goods to the younger brothers outside.
This kind of recycling basically does not cost much money, which is equivalent to passing on the cost.
Lu An nodded and said, "No problem, I will arrange the air show."
At this time, Li Fengting looked at Lu An again and said, "One last thing, the military has heard that you have overcome a world-class mathematical physics problem some time ago."
Lu An looked at him with interest and said nothing.
Li Fengting said: "Based on the major scientific breakthrough you have brought this time, the military wants to know if it can develop meteorological weapons based on this?"
As soon as these words came out, Lu An couldn't help but show surprise. : "Weather weapons?"
Li Fengting nodded and said: "Yes, the climate problem is also a classic turbulence problem. Is it technically feasible to control the atmosphere? As for the specific application level, the military has proposed four meteorological application methods."
Hearing this, Lu An looked at the other party curiously: "What four?"
Li Fengting immediately explained the four major meteorological application methods proposed by the military in an orderly manner.
Precision Drought: Make the enemy's key areas, such as logistics hubs, farmland, water sources, etc., remain sunny, hot and rainless for a specific period of time.
Performed by persistent abnormally high temperatures, low humidity, and no effective precipitation, resulting in reduced crop yields, water shortages, accelerated aging of infrastructure such as asphalt pavements, and restricted movement of people.
Fixed-point heavy rain: causing short-term heavy rainfall or even floods in key areas of the enemy, such as traffic arteries, military bases, low-lying camps, etc. It can cause flash floods, mudslides, washed-out roads, soaked equipment, hindered movement of personnel and even casualties.
Battlefield Fog/Fog Elimination: Create thick fog in key areas to cover our own operations, affecting enemy reconnaissance, targeting, and air operations, or dispersing the natural haze environment used by the enemy.
Typhoon/storm path deflection: Deflecting the typhoon/severe storm that threatens one's own or friendly forces from its natural path, or causing it to land early or late, enough to avoid key areas or consume energy at sea, or even lead it to the enemy's control area.
The ability to control the weather has a dual effect. It can not only become a weapon system, but also benefit the world.
For example, artificial rainfall can achieve efficient, predictable and controllable rainfall in arid and semi-arid areas and areas with concentrated reservoirs. Compared with traditional artificial rainfall, the efficiency is greatly improved, and the cost of water resource acquisition is greatly reduced. There is no need to divert water from the south to the north anymore. It can directly rain in the north through meteorological intervention.
Flood risk control, when floods gather, uses the method of "peak shaving and valley filling" to reduce the risk of downstream flood peaks, smooth the flood process line, reduce peak flow, and protect downstream cities and farmland.
Frost/glacial defense, protect agriculture and aviation from frost and glacial disasters.
· Regional climate optimization, alleviating long-term droughts, and regulating local temperatures,
· It can be seen that technology itself is neither good nor evil, and the key lies in the application intention.
After Li Fengting finished speaking, he stared at Lu An and said nothing, waiting for his reply.
After a while, Lu An replied: "Yes."