Adhering to the principle that scientific research should be geared to major national needs, to the world frontier academy, and to characteristic development of electronic machinery, SMEE has conducted fruitful research in the fields of electronic equipment mechano-electronic coupling, precision control and modern design, multi-physical field coupling and mechanics, complex system modeling and control, electromagnetic compatibility, Industrial Internet, electronic test and control, and time-frequency control. SMEE has undertaken a number of high-level research projects including 973 Project, 863 Project, key grants and projects of Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), and major weapon projects, making great achievements including 6 second prizes of National Science and Technology Progress Awards, over 40 Science and Technology Awards at provincial/ministerial levels, over 10,000 SCI/EI-indexed research papers, over 30 ESI highly cited papers, and over 40 monographs and textbooks. SMEE has a creative and well-structured research team with distinctive features. The scientific funding has increased by more than 30% annually for ten consecutive years.

Principal Research Areas

1.    Electromechanical Coupling Theory and Method

Electromechanical coupling is explored of large reflector antenna, slotted array antenna, active phased array antenna, high-density assembly system and feed system, with the model for structural-electric-heat coupling theoretically established and the influence of structure over electronic performance disclosed. The research findings have been successfully applied in 40-meter aperture S/X-band radio telescope antenna in China Manned Space and Lunar Exploration Project, and in early warning aircraft, achieving significant military and social benefits. The research was honored the second-prize of National Science and Technology Progress Awards in 2008 and 2013 respectively.

Large active phased array radar

2.    Precision Control Theory and Technology

Research is conducted on the dynamic modeling, analysis and control of the servo system of high-performance antennas, large space deployable structures and super-large radio telescopes, with great achievements made in optic-mechanical-electric integration of large radio telescopes, structural and control integration of radar antenna servo systems, and modeling, analysis and process control of mesh deployable antennas. The research findings have been successfully applied in the closed-in weapon system (CIWS) of warships, and in the 500-meter aperture spherical radio telescope (FAST), the largest one in the world. In 2004, the research was honored the second-prize of National Science and Technology Progress Award.

Tianyan (Eyes for space view) — five-hundred-meter aperture spherical radio telescope (FAST)

3.    Modern Electronic Equipment Design Theory and Method

Application is explored of modern design theory and method in the development of electronic equipment, with great achievements made in integrated performance analysis and simulation, multi-disciplinary optimization, and digital prototyping and cooperative design. The software developed “Reflector Antenna Integrated Design Platform”, and “Electronic Equipment Optimization Support Platform” have been successfully applied in the development of 7.3-meter aperture ship-borne antenna (S & X bands) on space tracking ship Yuan Wang, and air-borne fire control radar. In 2005 and 2014, the research was honored the first-prize of Shaanxi Science and Technology Awards.

The deployable mesh antenna for the mobile communications satellite system, "Tiantong-1"

4.    Multi-physical Field Coupling and Mechanics

Research is conducted on structure and material design and damage and magnetic flux-energy conversion of electromagnetic weapons, on the application of superconducting material and equipment in electromagnetic pulse (EMP) weapons, on equipment structural deformation measurement and nondestructive testing (NDT), and on pneumatic-heat-structural field coupling of aerospace vehicles. The research geared to the national defense needs has wide applications. The findings in multi-field nonlinear complex dynamic system are leading globally. The research was honored 1 second-prize of National Natural Science Award, and 2 awards at provincial/ministerial levels.

5.    Complex System Modeling, Analysis and Control

Research topics mainly includes (1) the modeling, analysis, control, and scheduling in complex systems, discrete event systems, and cyber-physical systems, (2) robot control theory in intelligent manufacturing, (3) social network modeling and control, (4) data mining, and (5) artificial intelligence-based bioinformatics detection and diagnosis. The research group has undertaken more than 30 projects, including the ones from National Natural Science Foundation of China, the National High-End Foreign Specialized Intellectual Property Project, and the National/Shaanxi Provincial International Cooperation Project. The group has published 2 monographs and over 300 SCI papers including more than 100 IEEE Trans. papers. As of August 2021, over 30 papers have been in the ESI highly cited paper database (top 1%), with the achievements cited by 230+ research organizations from 40+ countries and regions, including IBM, HP, VOLVO, MIT, and GIT. Exchanges and cooperation with relevant research teams or laboratories in 30 countries have been established and conducted.

6.    Precision Time-Frequency Control

Research is mainly conducted on the measurement, comparison, control and processing of time-frequency signals, synchronization processing of precision clock sources, drift compensation processing technology of precision frequency sources, intelligent instruments, robotics and BeiDou navigation application technology.. In terms of time-frequency signal measurement and comparison, it has formed its own unique technologies. The research results have been successfully applied in satellite navigation, positioning, timing, communication, and many other fields. Various scientific research projects have been undertaken such as NFSC, Key Research and Development Plan Project in Shaanxi Province, Shaanxi Coal Joint Fund Project, National Defense Pre-research Project, and Second Generation of Satellite Navigation System Project. The research was honored National Invention Prize twice, and the second-prize of Science and Technology Award at provincial/ministerial levels many times.

7.Key Technology for Intelligent IoT Perception and Electronic Test Instrument

Intelligent sensing IoT test systems, instrument core test algorithm, bus control and test technology, fault diagnosis and prediction, and embedded instrument technology are explored. The technological advantages lie in the IoT sensing and intelligent access, the microwave and millimeter wave high power integrated circuit automatic test, phase noise test, comprehensive test of 5G communication equipment, high precision temperature measurement, with plenty of authorized patents. A number of projects have been undertaken, including National Science and Technology Major Project, 973 Project, Project of NFSC, National Twelfth Five-year Pre-research Project, and National Defense Pre-research Fund and Technology Development Project. The research has reached an advanced level domestically.

8.    Intelligent Manufacturing and Industrial Big Data

Key enabling technologies for smart manufacturing and Industrial Internet, the industrial software technology innovation model of industrial big data, industrial artificial intelligence, Industrial Internet, industrial digital twin and CPS is constructed. Director Unit of Shaanxi Industrial Big Data Special Committee and member unit of National Industrial Big Data and intelligent system branch. It has formed more than 800 models of industrial algorithms, more than 100 patents (10 conversions) , more than 20 industrial software such as the intelligent manufacturing big data platform, the industrial internet big data platform, and two CPS national standards. It is responsible for more than 50 projects, including the major national science and technology projects and the major data projects of the National Development and Reform Commission, the National Industrial Internet, industrial software and intelligent manufacturing projects, the major projects of the National Defense Bureau of Science, technology and Industry, the National Natural Fund projects, and the major intelligent manufacturing projects of Shaanxi Province, with more than 10 enterprises to establish a joint laboratory and applied to more than 30 enterprises, won the Shaanxi Province Science and Technology Progress Award, Henan Province Science and Technology Progress Award, Shaanxi Province Teaching Achievement Award.

Other Research Areas

1.    Electronic Equipment Environmental Protection

2.    Intelligent Manufacturing and Industrial Internet Advanced Electronic Packaging Technology

3.    Microwave Test

4.    Complex Electronic System Electromagnetic Compatibility

5.    Electromechanical Integrated Design and Structural Optimization Design

6.    Fault Diagnosis and Intelligent Information Processing

7.    MEMS Design Theory and Method

8.    High-performance Motor Intelligent Control and Power Electronics