(1) Base of Discipline Innovation for “Design and Manufacturing Science and Technology of Mechanical Platform for Special Purposes”
“Discipline Innovation Plan for Higher Education Institutions” (known as “111 Plan”) was initiated by the MOE and the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs (SAFEA) with the vision of accelerating the process of Chinese higher education institutions’ growth to the world class universities. The Base was approved in 2007, and passed the assessment for accreditation in 2012. In July of the same year, the Base was accredited by the MOE and SAFEA, and was included in a new round of academic innovation planning for further funding.
Relying on the Discipline of Mechanical Engineering, the Base is dedicated to the development of the science and technology industry and the needs of the national economy, with special attention dedicated to research in bionic robotics, sensing and control, extreme manufacturing, integration and application of mechanical platforms. In the cooperation with renowned scientists and institutes abroad in cutting edge and common technology of Mechanical Platforms for Special Purposes, the Base has built a cooperation mechanism and an internationally influential research team, making a series of achievements in scientific research, talent development, international exchanges and discipline platform building, and becoming a base for intelligence innovation and a window for international cooperation.
Forty-nine world renowned scholars have been invited to work in the Base, including Prof. Toshio Fukuda, member of Japan Academy, laureate of “lifetime achievement award” in the field of robotics and automation, and president of IEEE Region 10; Prof. Costas P. Grigoropoulos from UC Berkeley, the founder of laser assisted nano-manufacturing; Prof. Atsuo Takanishi from Waseda University, the designer in general of the first humanoid robot; Prof. Kazuhiro Kosuge, president of IEEE Robotics and Automation Society; and Prof. Macro Ceccarelli, president of International Federation for the Promotion of Mechanism and Machine Science.
(2) Base of Discipline Innovation for “New Energy Vehicle and Application”
Based on the basic theories and relevant technologies of new energy vehicles, the Base of Discipline Innovation for “New Energy Vehicle and Application” strives to introduce international intelligent resources in the areas of Theory and Technology of New Energy Vehicle Design, Theory and Control of Vehicles’ Electric Drive, New Power Systems and Control, Theory and Application of New Energy Vehicles’ Power Systems and Theories of Green Traffic Behaviors and Safety Control Techniques, in order to strengthen international exchanges, to establish cross-discipline cooperation with other international institutions and to elevate its innovation capability and competitiveness.
The Base has carried out extensive cooperation with plenty of academic teams and scholars from abroad. The scholars include: Prof. Ichiro Hagiwara from the Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, the University of Tokyo; Prof. Philip de Goey (guest professor of Beijing Institute of Technology) from the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology; Prof. Heiner Bubb from the Technical University of München; Prof. Yoichi Hori from the Department of Advanced Energy, the University of Tokyo; Prof. Ma Zhengdong from the Department of Mechanical Engineering, the University of Michigan; Prof. Klause Bengleer from the Institute of Ergonomics, Technical University of München; Prof. Tony Roskilly from the University of Newcastle, UK; Prof. Chen Rui from the Department of Aviation and Automation, Loughborough University; Prof. Geert Wets from University Hasselt; Research Fellow Mr. Chen Haibo, chief of the Institute of Transport Studies, The University of Leeds; Prof. Chris Mi from the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, University of Michigan; Research Fellow Mr. Liu Fengshan from the National Institute of Scientific Research, Canada.
Up to now, four joint research centers/labs have been built and 25 agreements for cooperation and joint research have been made between the Base and relevant research institutes from Canada, the UK, Russia, Germany, Australia and Switzerland, constituting a rich foundation for international cooperation in scientific studies. Many important accomplishments have been made in the exploration of theories in system integration and control, new internal combustion generation, electric drive, lithium battery pack and green traffic, as well as in key techniques and products, and the industrial application and demonstration of new energy products.
The Base has been cooperating with ETH Zurich in the exploration of simulation and control of hybrid power and has created a supportive platform. The Matching Design of Motor Working Conditions by Prof. Schaefer from the Technical University of Berlin, and the software for motor performance analysis developed by Prof. Sharkh from the University of Southampton have been introduced in the electromagnetic field design and performance simulation analysis of in-wheel motor liquid cooling. In the new structure of fractional slot winding, the torque density of in-wheel motor exceeds 10 Nm/kg. The Base also explores the motor gearbox integration by cooperating with McMaster University to improve the transmission efficiency and power/torque density, and promote the reliability of the vehicle operating system through on-board diagnostics.
According to the agreements between BIT E-bus Operation System and Tauron Polish Energy, an electric vehicle public transportation system in Poland will be established and carry out demonstration operations. Electric buses together with a platform of a power battery swapping system, a battery charging and discharging station, and an emergency service system will be exported to Poland and will be promoted in neighboring countries or other EU member countries. The High power density electric drive system originated from a Sino-Germany cooperative project was applied and mass produced.
Many distinguished scholars and experts have been appointed to work in the Base. They include five candidates of “National Thousand Talents Project”, whose research fields are e-vehicle system integration, lightweight construction of e-vehicles, energy saving internal combustion engines and advanced power-train technology respectively; one candidate professor of the “Recruitment Program of Global Experts”, with a research interest in kinetics of the e-vehicle power system; and ten consultants, guest professors, part-time professors and heads of joint labs. Four joint labs have been built, namely the Joint Laboratory for New Concept Power Train and Energy Research, BIT-U Waterloo Joint Laboratory for Green and Intelligent Vehicles, Joint Laboratory for New Energy Vehicle Dynamic System and Control, and Joint Laboratory for Driving Assistance and Road Traffic Safety.
(3) International Joint Laboratory of Bionic Robots and Systems
The International Joint Laboratory of Bionic Robots and Systems was set up to strengthen the tie with world class foreign universities in promoting high-level basic and high-tech research, and fostering talents in innovative studies.
In 2015, the Lab passed the MOE assessment, and became the only joint laboratory in the field of robotics in China. The Lab is collaboratively run by Beijing Institute of Technology and Waseda University with the participation of different overseas institutes including Humanoid Robotics Institute in Waseda University, which has been the center for “International Robotics Research” supported by the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology; the Bionic Robotics Institute in Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies; and the Unmanned System Research Center in National University of Singapore.
The Lab aims to integrate research results in the fields of molecular bionics, biomechanics, multi-scale sensing and control technology, and multiple artificial intelligence technologies with what is known about the special functions, structures and mechanisms of living creatures and their organs. Many breakthroughs have been achieved in the exploration of sports bionics, microanalysis and operation of living organisms, bionic perception and interaction, and bionic control and system integration, and have helped find solutions to major leading edge issues in science.
(4) High-tech Innovation Center of “Intelligent Robot System”
The High-tech Innovation Center of “Intelligent Robot System” was set up with the vision to enhance the innovation capability and improve the industrial structure of Beijing, the political and cultural center of China and the channel for international exchanges and scientific innovations.
The Center, one of the first high-tech innovation centers invested by Beijing Municipal Government, was approved in July 2015 to help integrate Chinese and foreign resources in innovative studies and promote scientific research and applications according to the strategic development needs of Beijing and China. Talents are fostered in the innovative studies conducted in universities and colleges owned by both the central and municipal government. The Center strives to develop a platform for industrialization of scientific research in producing intelligent robots that serve families, assist the elderly and disabled, facilitate scientific education, and provide aerospace services. The Center also seeks to promote the development of a service robot industry and to improve independent innovation strength and problem solving capabilities.
The Center has achieved the first stage funding of 500 million yuan (about $77 million). At least 70 percent of the investment is targeted at recruiting overseas talents (which covers half of the total cost for recruitment of talents), and at incorporating Chinese talents for innovation.
(5) Beijing International Co-operation Base for E-Vehicle Drive System
Backed by the university-based National Engineering Laboratory for Electric Vehicles, Beijing International Co-operation Base for E-Vehicle Drive System was approved by the Beijing Municipal Science & Technology Commission in March 2014 with the vision of promoting international academic exchanges and furthering cooperative research in key technologies and basic theories of e-vehicle drive systems.
The Base focuses on the studies of electric motor drive systems with highly specific characteristics and high efficiency transmissions, as well as the integration and control, examination and evaluation of the electric drive system. Different platforms have been established for respective research objectives including integration and simulation technology of e-vehicle systems, development and testing of e-vehicle power drive systems, development and testing of traction battery pack technology, development and testing of electrification of e-vehicle key components. For the above, the Base was certificated by the CNAS (China National Accreditation Service) for Electric Motor Drive System Testing. Many achievements have been made and honors given at the national and ministry levels in areas of permanent magnet motor drive, integrated motor drive and battery charging systems and in-wheel motor drive systems. Serial products of permanent magnet motor drive manufactured in university-enterprise collaboration have been going into scale application.
Dedicated to attracting talents for innovation, the Base has invited eight overseas scholars to work in China for over one month each year, and one candidate professor of the “Recruitment Program of Global Experts” who works in China for over two months each year. International collaborations and exchanges have become a normal practice in the Base. Each year the Base sends at least three post graduate students abroad in a joint degree program, and more than ten teachers and students to various programs for international academic exchange. At present, the Base is undertaking two joint projects. One is between China and Germany and the other is between China and Canada. The optimal design method of electric in-wheel motor systems was introduced by the Technical University of Berlin. And in cooperation with the University of Southampton, the Base also brought in the Simulation and Optimization Methods of the Electromagnetic Performance of Electric Motors, which improves the torque density of in-wheel motors by over 20%.