China creates unique positioning device of world's largest radio telescope FAST
- 8 years ago
China has created a unique positioning device for the world's largest radio telescope FAST's feed cabin, and the world's first flexible optical cables through four-year scientific research, said a scientist in a recent interview with CCTV in southwest China's Guizhou Province.
The installation of the feed cabin of China's single-aperture spherical telescope FAST in Pingtang County in the province was completed last Friday, meaning the giant telescope is ready to function.
Zhu Wenbai, chief of the feed cabin system, said the feed cabin is the most vital part for FAST to receive and send signals. Selection of the optical fiber is a difficult problem for scientists.
"The optical fiber is glass fiber, which is a very fragile thing. This is a challenge for us. If we don’t have the optical cables, it is like a telescope without optic nerves, or having broken optic nerves," said Zhu.
The cabin is home to a feed source which collects signals from the universe, Zhu added.
"We have a six-bar parallel robot which can respond very fast to the signal, and can reduce the positioning error to 10 millimeters," said Zhu.
The installation of the feed cabin of China's single-aperture spherical telescope FAST in Pingtang County in the province was completed last Friday, meaning the giant telescope is ready to function.
Zhu Wenbai, chief of the feed cabin system, said the feed cabin is the most vital part for FAST to receive and send signals. Selection of the optical fiber is a difficult problem for scientists.
"The optical fiber is glass fiber, which is a very fragile thing. This is a challenge for us. If we don’t have the optical cables, it is like a telescope without optic nerves, or having broken optic nerves," said Zhu.
The cabin is home to a feed source which collects signals from the universe, Zhu added.
"We have a six-bar parallel robot which can respond very fast to the signal, and can reduce the positioning error to 10 millimeters," said Zhu.