As the Leading Unit of the National Key R&D Program of the Ministry of Science and Technology
Overview: As the leading unit of the National Key R&D Program project, the research team of Harbin Engineering University undertaking the "Research on Key Technologies of Full-Ocean-Depth Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV)" project, together with the "Wukong" full-ocean-depth AUV, set an Asian deep-diving record of 7,709 meters earlier this year. They then challenged the Mariana Trench again, completing four dives exceeding 10,000 meters – 10,009 meters, 10,888 meters, 10,872 meters, and 10,896 meters. This surpassed the previous world record of 10,028 meters for untethered AUVs set by foreign counterparts in May 2020, and successfully passed the sea trial acceptance.
At the Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench, 10,896 meters below the surface in the pitch-black abyssal waters, the water pressure is equivalent to 2,000 African elephants standing on a single sheet of A4 paper. The "Wukong" full-ocean-depth Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) cruised silently, transmitting accurate deep-sea environmental data and breaking the global record for the deepest AUV dive. Underpinning this extraordinary achievement is the fully self-developed magnetic coupling underwater power engine independently developed by Tianjin Haoye Technology Co., Ltd. – this "Chinese heart" has given the "Wukong" the strength and confidence to navigate the 10,000-meter-deep ocean.
In 2016, Haoye Technology undertook the National Key R&D Program project and officially launched the arduous research and development journey for the "Wukong"’s power system. At that time, core deep-sea equipment technologies had long been monopolized by Western countries, and the 10,000-meter-class underwater power system faced three critical "choke point" challenges: sealing, power output, and control precision. "Ordinary machinery would be instantly crushed and destroyed in the 10,000-meter deep sea. What we needed to do was to make the power system operate stably in extreme environments while achieving precise control," said Han Ye, founder of Haoye Technology, encapsulating the core challenge of the R&D effort.
The R&D team first confronted the ultimate test of 10,000-meter water pressure. Drawing innovatively on the pressure balance principles of deep-sea organisms, the team spent several years developing pressure compensation self-balancing technology. To verify technical feasibility, they conducted hundreds of pressure tests, during which dozens of experimental devices were crushed and rendered useless. Ultimately, they successfully achieved pressure balance between the interior and exterior of the power system, ensuring that the thrusters would not leak or malfunction at 10,000 meters depth. Building on this breakthrough, the team further overcame bottlenecks in magnetic coupling seal design, developing the world’s first fully self-developed magnetic coupling underwater power engine. Using contactless transmission technology, it completely resolved the leakage issues of traditional mechanical seals, creating a reliable power barrier for the "Wukong".
In addition to high pressure resistance, the "Wukong"’s autonomous cruising requirements imposed stringent demands on the intelligence and energy efficiency of its power system. The Haoye Technology team integrated multidisciplinary technologies including motor electromagnetic design and hydrodynamic simulation, independently developing high-power-density motors and compact drivers, and establishing a three-in-one core R&D system of "controller-permanent magnet motor-hydrodynamics". By optimizing control algorithms, the power system not only delivers high-efficiency power output but also possesses "AI intelligence" to autonomously perceive the marine environment. It can dynamically adjust operating parameters based on water current changes, enabling the "Wukong" to independently complete 10,000-meter underwater missions without mother ship accompaniment.
After three to four years of dedicated R&D, the custom-built power system developed by Haoye Technology for the "Wukong" finally passed rigorous verification. Integrating over 60 patented technologies, this system achieved 100% localization in core components such as motor electromagnetic design and magnetic coupling optimization, successfully breaking international technological blockades. During sea trials, this power system supported the "Wukong" to complete four dives exceeding 10,000 meters, reaching a maximum depth of 10,896 meters, with a total of over 40 deep dives and a 100% equipment intact return rate – far exceeding the performance of international comparable products. When the "Wukong" achieved high-speed underwater acoustic communication with the mother ship at a distance of 15 kilometers on the 10,000-meter seabed, stably transmitting status information, the stable operation of this power system provided the core guarantee.
The success of the "Wukong" not only marks China’s full-ocean-depth AUV technology entering the global leading ranks but also demonstrates Haoye Technology’s independent innovation capabilities in the underwater power field. As a "Specialized, Sophisticated, Unique and Novel" enterprise deeply engaged in underwater power systems, Haoye Technology has spent more than a decade advancing from developing 850-meter-class deep-sea thrusters to breaking through to the 10,000-meter class, turning many "impossibilities" into realities. Today, in addition to the "Wukong", its power systems provide core support for over 30 national major deep-diving equipment such as the "Canghai" and "Tan Suo 11000", with a cumulative deep-sea operation time of nearly 30,000 hours.
From repeated debugging in the laboratory to extreme verification in the deep sea, Haoye Technology has written a chapter of "Intelligent Manufacturing in China" in the field of deep-sea power through independent innovation. This "power core" navigating the deep sea not only drives the "Wukong" to explore the unknowns of the ocean but also propels China’s maritime power strategy forward, allowing Chinese strength to shine brightly in the depths of the blue ocean.
