Pay attention to the potential value of domestic instrumentation development

Scientific instruments have always been a topic of concern, and instrumentation is often seen as a 'support role' for scientific research and industrial production. However, it has long been a core component of China’s scientific and technological development and improvement of the quality of industrial products, and plays a decisive role. Facts have proved that the "throat" of China's scientific and technological strength and economic development has been partly blocked by instrumentation.

First, the concept is confused and misunderstood

The development of instruments must first clarify a concept. "Instruments" are not "machines." However, people often think that the instrument is only mechanical, and the instrument industry is an integral part of the machinery industry. This concept may be due to the state's management of the instrument industry under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Machinery. At the same time, in the discipline, instrument technology is only a branch of the mechanical discipline. As a result, people have misunderstood the understanding of the instrument for a long time, leading to a serious lag in the development of this field.

In fact, instruments and machines are very different. Machines are tools that transform the world and are based on understanding the world. The development of instruments is based on understanding the world. The correct concept should be: Instruments are tools to understand the world, and machines are tools to transform the world. Instruments are scientific tools for understanding the unknown world and are tools for controlling the production process.

"From this point of view, the instrument belongs to the science of information technology, and it is the source of the original information data to understand the world."

We should put instruments and machines in the same position and treat the instrument industry and the machinery industry equally. The instrument is a high-tech product under the combined effects of mechanics, electronics, optics, computer technology, materials science, physics, chemistry, biology, and other advanced technologies.

Second, it is a propeller for scientific research

Without advanced instruments, it is difficult for contemporary scientific research to achieve innovative results.

From the domestic situation, taking the successful development of “two bombs and one star” as an example, scientific instruments are the flagships of open doors. Because the necessary equipment and equipment were not available at the time because of the international blockade, we could only rely on our own research and development.

According to the relevant data of the Changchun Institute of Optics and Mechanics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, during the development process of “Two Bombs and One Star”, before the first nuclear explosion test in China, Wang Dazhao directed and modified the instrument used for dynamic observation of the fireball—the high speed camera; In the 1980s, China launched a long-range carrier rocket to the South Pacific, and the Yuanwang spacecraft survey ship performed its mission of tracking and measuring the rocket's reentry section. One of the advanced equipment used by the Yuanwang monitoring and control system was Wang Dazhao’s leadership. The optical equipment developed by the Changchun Institute of Optics, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

From an international point of view, about one-fourth of the Nobel Prize-winning physicists work on instrument development. For example, after the birth of a practical laser, Professor Xiao Luo, professor of physics at Stanford University, led the team to work on laser spectroscopy and conducted in-depth research with partners on complex compounds to create saturated absorption spectra and two-photon spectroscopy. This method effectively improves the resolution of the instrument. As a result, he shared with the collaborators the 1981 Nobel Prize in physics. Currently, high-end scientific instruments, such as electron microscopes, mass spectrometers, CT tomography scanners, X-ray material structure analyzers, etc., are not only used to explore natural laws, accumulate scientific knowledge, but also major achievements in science and technology and new areas of scientific research. The opening up has played an important role. While developing scientific instruments in our country should attach importance to independent innovation and self-reliance, it does not mean that all instruments must be manufactured by themselves. It is understandable to purchase advanced foreign instruments and equipment to carry out scientific research. However, it should avoid dependence on imported instruments or blind worship.

Third, only 4% of the total industrial value, but the impact of 66%

The instrument is of great significance to ensure product quality and standardized production.

If something goes wrong at any point in the production process, it will lead to major disasters. This is the case of the accident at the Soviet Chernobyl nuclear power plant. In short, the instrument plays an important role in ensuring product quality and safe production.

Take the change in iron and steel production technology as an example: “In the past, our country’s iron and steel production relied on experienced old workers—they used their experience to observe the change in color of the molten steel in the hearth and to confirm the availability of steel. Modern steel The production workshop is mainly operated by young people. This is precisely because of the advanced instruments and instruments that accurately measure and control the temperature and composition of the iron and steel smelting process."

In the modern industry, oil refinery, chemical industry, metallurgy, and electric power, if they do not have advanced instruments and instruments to perform their functions of detection, display, and control, they will not be able to continue safe production. Even if it was originally thought that the wine-making industry can be produced by indigenous methods, it is still necessary to strictly control the temperature process through instrumentation to create brand names.

According to the National Institute of Industrial Technology (NIST), the United States has to complete 250 million inspections per day for quality certification and control, automation, and process analysis. To complete these tests requires a large variety of analytical and testing instruments. In the early 1990s, the US Department of Commerce’s National Bureau of Standards (NBS) surveyed the investigation of the effect of the instrumentation industry on the gross national product (GNP) value of the United States: the total output value of the instrumentation industry only accounts for 4% of the total industrial output value. However, its impact on the national economy reached 66%.

Fourth, learn more and integrate science together

The connotation of instrumentation has changed a lot compared to the past. Its own structure has evolved from a purely mechanical structure to a system that combines sensor technology, computer technology, electronic technology, and other high-tech technologies. Its use has also evolved from simple data acquisition to data collection, signal transmission, and signal processing. And control in one of the monitoring and control process. Especially since the beginning of the 21st century, with the development of computer network technology, software technology, and micro-nano technology, measurement and control technology has presented the development trend of virtualization, networking, and miniaturization, thus making multidisciplinary and multiple systems of instrumentation disciplines. The attributes of integrated and formed edge disciplines have become increasingly apparent.

However, at present, domestic instruments and instruments are relatively confusing in the development organization. Many types, the same quality, lack of advanced technology. At present, China’s scientific and technological undertakings are in a new period of opportunity. Instruments and meters are integrated interdisciplinary subjects. In order to revitalize the instrumentation industry, it is necessary to give full play to the enthusiasm of all parties. The most critical issue now is how to organize experts from different industries together and realize each The coordination of operations.

Posted on