Reported by: Ji Xing
Translated by: Han Jie
Edited by: D.Parker
Date: Nov.6th, 2017
On November 6th, 2017 the Guangming Daily published in its column “Scholars of Guangming” a full-page report on "Liu Yong Tan: Patriotism and the Power of the Chinese Dream." It is the moving account of HIT’s own Academician Liu Yongting.
Link: http://epaper.gmw.cn/gmrb/html/2017-11/06/nw.D110000gmrb_20171106_1-16.htm
The original text is as follows:
Liu Yong Tan: Patriotism and the Power of the Chinese Dream
Liu Yong Tan (1936---), whose ancestral home is Wuhan, Hubei Province, is a professor at Harbin Institute of Technology, a doctoral tutor, an expert on radar and signal processing technology and a member of the Chinese Communist Party. He has long devoted himself to teaching and research in the field of electronic engineering. He has specialized in the systematic study of new radar systems and signal processing technology. He is a rich resource having profound knowledge in radar systems and signal processing technology. He has made a series of important scientific research achievements in the field. He has made major breakthroughs in the "New System Radar and System Experiments." His research and leadership was responsible for building the first new system radar station in China. In radar research, he developed the motion compensation theory. He also proposed a new compensation theory for large bandwidth signals and systems. Liu Yongtan won first prize in the State Science and Technology Awards in 1991, second prize in 1997, and first prize again in 2015. He became a member of The Chinese Academy of Sciences in 1991. He was among the first group selected to be academicians of The Chinese Academy of Engineering.
Editor's Note
The report of the 19th NPC pointed out that innovation is the first impetus to development and a strategic support for building a modern economic system. We will strive to be world leaders in science and technology. We must strengthen basic research, accomplish forward-looking research and be leaders in major breakthroughs in innovative achievements. Professor Liu Yongtan from Harbin Institute of Technology knows this truth well and has demonstrated the profound meaning of "innovation" with his life-long theory and practice. He has a vision to create a road for China's new radar system. To this end, he has led his team in hard work. He doesn’t fear difficulties, rather forges ahead. His efforts have culminated in numerous achievements of scientific and technological innovations. Even after receiving numerous honors, Liu Yongtan has never forsaken his original purpose and what has brought him so far. His purpose has always been to bring happiness to our people, rejuvenate the nation and demonstrate responsibility to China’s glorious mission.
Liu Yongtan is known as a "versatile person." Not only is he an educator, an expert in radar technology, and a leader in scientific research, he can also discuss literature, art, philosophy and history. It seems there is no end to his knowledge! After only moments with him one can sense his deeply keen insight, wise conversation, and noble spirit.
One
On December 1, 1936, Liu Yongtan was born to a literary family in Nanjing. These were troubled times for China and the world. Trouble and misery were problems facing all families. How can people live in peace when the country is in trouble? Less than a year after his birth, his family became refugees. "Yongtan" was not only his family’s hope for him, but also their deepest hope for the country's destiny.
“‘I would have known that after my death, everything in the world is irrelevant to me; but the only thing that saddled me is that I fail to see the reunification of the country with my own eyes. Therefore, when the Great Song army recaptures the lost ground, please do not forget to tell the good news to your father!’ ‘I am thirty years old with my fame is not established, but what is the fame? It is just like dust, nothing. What I long for is fighting for 8,000 miles, keep fighting for the reunification of the country with the companion of clouds and moon in the difficult journey. I cannot wait, cannot let the teenager's hair easily getting white, and then only in exchange for sad remorse and sighs...’I will never forget my mother's passion for chanting poems and explaining the country's sense of honor after I finished my homework under a dimly lit lamp.”
Liu Yongtan began to read history books and recite poetry. His curiosity grew. At a very young age his mother began to cultivate patriotism and a love for “our China.” His father often told Liu Yongtan that science could save the country and revitalize China.
In 1953, Liu Yongtan was accepted at Harbin Institute of Technology with a dream of contributing toward the industrialization of China. He studied hard and after three years he was sent to Tsinghua University to learn radio technology. There he had outstanding achievements as he prepared for a career in teaching. In 1958, Liu Yongtan returned to Harbin Institute of Technology to participate in the formation of the Department of Radio Engineering. He officially became a new teacher and technological worker at HIT that summer.
In the spring of 1965, Liu Yongtan set out on what would be the first of many scientific and technological research challenges. He took leadership for the development and overall design of the "single pulse delay receiver.” Unfortunately, he was unable to complete his task. With the arrival of the “Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution” in 1970, Liu Yongtan was sent to the countryside. He settled in a commune in Wuchang County, Heilongjiang Province. He collected manure, planted, transplanted, but his study of radio technology was put on hold.
Liu Yongtan was well versed in the historical process. Not only did he not despair, but he found healing as he grew stronger in character. He knew that society inevitably twists and turns in the process of development, and that the individual must stand the test of adversity.
“If we love our country, we should truly understand our country. Millions of farmers were doing the same work. How could I have any complaints?” Heavy paddy field work did not bring depression to Liu Yongtan, rather it inspired him. It was at this time he developed life-threatening kidney problems, which has continued to plague him throughout his life.
After returning to school in 1973, Liu Yongtan’s began working on SAW device research. The research required a great deal of numerical calculations. This led to Liu Yongtan becoming the first person in the department to learn to use computers.
In 1978, Liu Yongtan was promoted to associate professor in the Department of Radio Engineering. One day in August of the same year, Liu Yongtan was repairing a flood embankment. He was handed a piece of paper which told him to report to the Beijing Language and Culture University. Here he would participate in foreign language training courses. Although he lacked preparation in this area he forged ahead. With a solid "internal strength", he excelled in studies and was accepted to study abroad.
In June 1979, Liu Yongtan went to study and work at the University of Essex and the University of Birmingham. The Department of Electronic Engineering at the University of Birmingham had extensive documentation and advanced test equipment. They had gathered a large number of well-known experts and scholars in radar technology. Liu Yongtan’s supervisor, Professor Sherman was one of them. Before Liu Yongtan came to study, very few Chinese students had been accepted and most of them were only involved in research support work. The situation saddened and challenged Liu Yongtan. He refused to be discouraged. Instead he worked harder. Liu Yongtan often reminded himself: "I am Chinese. My success represents the image of a new generation of Chinese intellectuals."
Two
At the beginning, Sherman gave a large amount of English literature to Liu Yongtan to study. With excellent English and deep professional knowledge, Liu Yongtan quickly completed the "homework." His diligence, hardworking and talent won Sherman's trust and appreciation. Sherman started letting him help with doctoral students and allowed him to participate in the development of some of the major scientific research projects -- "Civil Sea Remote Sensing Signal Processors." This technology is a completely new area for Liu Yongtan, who understands the arduousness of this topic.
Design - test - failure - summary - retest ...... countless days and nights slipped away in the study of Liu Yongtan silently. Finally, more than a year later, he completed the research and development of signal processing machines of international advanced level successfully. Sherman commented: "Liu Yongtang accomplished the engineering system alone, which is one of the most practical and in complete engineering equipment, so the scientific research is very important both in theory and in practice. His contribution is innovative. “During the study, the University of Birmingham awarded Liu Yongtan the title of “Honorary Fellow”.
Liu Yongtan has a new understanding of the radar from this rare scientific research mission. Although the traditional radar has a name of “telescoping thousands miles”, but there are some unreachable places. Therefore, many countries in the world have devoted themselves to the research and development of the new system of radar so as to enable “telescoping thousands miles”. The Department of Electronic Engineering of the University of Birmingham is doing this work.
"China also must develop such a radar! This is what I want to do!" Liu Yongtan said, "When I succeed in this field of study, I must go back to China. No matter how hard I work hard in the United Kingdom, I was doing work for others. When I return to China, I can label 'The People's Republic of China' on my work. How happy and satisfied it is!
In the autumn of 1981, Liu Yongtan immediately returned to China after completing his education. At the moment, a vision has sprouted in his mind -- embarking on a course of China's new system of radar.
The new system radar is called as "the 21st century radar" by the Russians. Among the more than a thousand kinds of radars in the world today, the new system radar not only represents a trend of modern radar, but also plays an important role in the fields of aerospace, navigation, fishery, coastal oil development, marine climate forecasting and the development of coastal economic zones. In the mid-1970s, China had conducted a raging battle on the radar of this new system. However, due to the difficulty and the technical blockade imposed by other countries, many failed to reach the final result.
In addition to the basic theory and ideas, Liu Yongtan simply cannot find much information, but no relevant technology for reference. In response, some people said at the time that large research institutes did not yet possess such qualifications and abilities, let alone a university. Others said that the risk of such research is too extensive and the research period is too long. It is likely that they spent a lot of time and energy but got nothing... but Liu Yongtan do not change his vision.
In the early spring of 1982, Liu Yongtan made a special trip to Beijing to report to the leaders of the pre-research department of the Ministry of Aerospace Industry at that time, giving a detailed introduction on the radar development of the new system in the developed countries at that time and talked about his own plans. The leaders of the pre-research department listened very earnestly and made the plan to support Liu Yongtan on the spot. He hoped that he would quickly organize the scientific and technological research efforts and develop the new system radar as early as possible. After receiving support, Liu Yongtan immediately carried out a thorough planning and preparation. Based on the latest technological information of the world's radar and based on the new scientific achievements he made abroad, he adopted a unique signal and digital processing technology and proposed a plan for developing a new radar system to China. It was likewise during this year that Liu Yongtan gloriously joined the Chinese Communist Party.
After 10 months of continuous fighting, a report containing more than 200,000 words, "the New System Radar Overall Program Demonstration Report" was born. In the summer of 1983, the former Science and Technology Commission of Ministry of Aerospace Industry held a program review meeting to review the report of the new system radar program in a detailed assessment. The seminar held for a full four days, and the experts participating unanimously voted to pass the report. Two well-known senior experts attending the meeting said with deep feeling: "We have not seen such a detailed demonstration report for years!"
This is a pioneering battle to fill the gaps in our country and start from scratch. The ensuing battle was even more arduous. After more than 800 days and night efforts, thousands of experiments and the acquisition of tens of thousands of test data, Liu Yongtan's preflight project of the Ministry of Aerospace Industry won the "Key Technology and Program Demonstration of New System Radar". The fruitful breakthrough of many key technologies has laid a good foundation for the successful development of China's new system radar.
In July 1986, the Ministry of Aerospace Industry held an appraisal meeting on key achievements of the new system radar in Harbin Institute of Technology. More than 50 experts reviewed, discussed and commented carefully: "Harbin Institute of Technology has made significant progress in technological breakthroughs in more than two years and has mastered the key technologies of the new system radar. Some of the individual technologies have entered the international and domestic advanced ranks. The major key technologies have been broken through, so that the original plan is feasible and already has the conditions to further improve the radar system design and establishment of an experimental station. "Since then, the new system radar was transited as a national science and technology applications and basic research projects from the pre-research project.
Liu Yongtan and his team have completed the pre-research mission, and he could conclude the report and apply his award. However, he believed it is not enough just to talk about stratagems on paper. What the country really needs is to further establish a practical radar experiment station. In 1986, Liu Yongtan began to preside over the "New System Radar Research" and worked hard to develop a complete radar system. In 1989, China's first new system radar station was completed. In April 1990, the radar station completed the commissioning of the whole machine. In October 1990, the appraisal meeting jointly held by various departments of the state announced: "The achievements of the new system radar research are among the most advanced in the world." In 1991, the project won the first prize of the State Science and Technology Awards.
Since 1987, Liu Yongtan and his colleagues have also undertaken research and development on the new system radar of the national "863" project. Liu Yongtan led his team and the Aviation Industry Corporation of China successfully developed the first experimental radar in China, laying a solid foundation for the further development of China's radar technology.
Liu Yongtan's creative scientific achievements and outstanding contributions in radar and guidance technology have attracted the attention of domestic and foreign counterparts. His outstanding achievements led to be approved by the State Personnel Board in 1990 as a middle-aged expert with outstanding contributions. In 1991, he was elected a Member of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Academician) and in 1994 among the first group selected to be academicians of The Chinese Academy of Engineering.
Three
Liu Yongtan said the following sentence: "My title of " double academicians " is the result of the collective wisdom of the entire institute." Indeed, it is quite unlikely that scientific and technological activities will allow one to fight alone. The new system radar research team is of mutual cooperation.
For radar development, researchers spend most of their time experimenting on the spot. During the field test, Liu Yongtan often led the team members spent several months in the harsh conditions of the test site. They could only go home with their loved ones just a day or two before the Spring Festival, then they had to return to the test site just a few days later. Liu Yongtan has repeatedly told team members that:
"Compared with theory, there are plenty of unexpected things to be mixed into the actual situation, which needs to be carefully analyzed and solved one by one. This is also a good thing because you can never improve without touching practical problems. What you have are very beautiful theories in books, but you’ll find it often different in the actual situation, and only address the problem in practice, can reflect the perfect theory.”
During the early commissioning, the system came down frequently. Where exactly is the problem? Hundreds of thousands of lines of large control programs, coupled with a huge system containing of launch, receive, signal processing, display and other equipment, and any one of the minor failure may lead to the failure of the entire system. To find the crux of the problem of such a large system, the workload is undoubtedly heavy. The running status in the experiment is the key to decide whether the project can be successfully transferred to the next stage of development. Liu Yongtan led his team, working more than ten hours a day, checked from each program of the system, solved one after another, to ensure the stable operation of the system.
The new system radar is different from the previous microwave radar, even the experts of the Ministry of Aerospace Industry also underestimated the difficulty of its engineering. The approved funds have been depleted after purchasing the necessary equipment. One can't make bricks without straw. In the face of this situation, some people are discouraged. At this critical moment, Liu Yongtan not only did not back down, but boldly went forward. After repeated discussions, they decided to raise funds and won the support of the relevant state departments. In the ensuing days, these outstanding scientists and technologists finally built China's first new system radar station in 1989 going through snow and wind.
“Where there is a will, there is a way.” On April 3, 1990, it is an unforgettable day for all the team. On this day, Liu Yongtan and his team's new system radar technology finally made the target appear on the screen. All team members were in tears, for the ecstasy after the success, and also for the unknown difficulties in eight years. In the past 8 years, Liu Yongtan's team also evolved into an electronic engineering institute containing of dozens of people from the original six-person research group.
“Without theoretical guidance, practice is blind, and theories that have not been proved and enriched by practice are empty. Only when the two are closely integrated and complemented each other, the combination is the guideline for us to accomplish the task of innovation and scientific research.”
Although the research results won the first prize of the State Scientific and Technological Award, Liu Yongtan thought it was not enough. If these achievements cannot be turned into real applications, it is undoubtedly like a sword without a blade, which is good-looking but not useful for the country. That is a huge waste and loss.
"Be sure to turn the fruits of the lab into a real application." In the face of yet another important decision in life, Liu once again made the decision to make profit for all without considering himself. This time, he knew it would need more than eight years. What happened later touched Liu Yongtan deeply "accidentally". After hearing of his decision, all the team members supported with him without hesitation. The backbones of the team are Xu Rongqing, Zhang Ning, Quan Taifan, Deng Weibo, Ma Zilong, Zhang Qingxiang, Yu Changjun and Zhao Bin, who said: "Liu is highly ambitious and united in tackling the problem together. We believe him."
Any team has its own "spirit." What is this spirit? It is a character, also a feeling. Liu Yongtan adhered to the character and feelings of self-courage to challenge, the courage to go forward in the dilemma and the determination in front of the problem without hesitation. His character and feelings have long been deeply rooted in the hearts of every member of the team.
"The new system radar project has been highly valued by the country. It is of great significance to the country, schools and professions. We are under great pressure, but we must do a good job." In 1997, the new system radar was approved for setting up the project and HIT was approved as the overall unit for research. This is the first breakthrough in the domestic colleges and universities. They all know that there is only one way in front of them.
"Study one by one and exclude problems one by one. We can say that we have grown up in solving the powerful electromagnetic interference in more than a decade." Team members are marred by memories of the years moving from the experimental site to the actual site: There are a lot of theory and technical difficulties and gaps still have to be solved and filled in. In addition, geographical and environmental differences have created many new problems and difficulties in practical work. Among them, the biggest problem is that there is a wide range of radio stations, shortwave radio stations, fishing vessels with powerful electromagnetic interference. Indeed, this was not easy. Generally speaking, such projects are completed by specialized institutions, but not a university. Not to mention Liu Yongtan’s two-dozen-people team.
"The members whose home are in Harbin often spent two or three months in their bases and then came back to rest for a few days." Liu Yongtan said: "Being able to contribute to the country is our greatest motivation and mission. It is our greatest glory to give us the project, so the team members of our team are honored to do these jobs despite their poverty. "
Sharpening makes a mighty sword, and cold makes a blooming wintersweet. In accordance with the requirement of continuing to improve the performance of the radar proposed by the relevant state departments, it is another more than 10-years hard work and painstaking research. Liu Yongtan and his team had successfully completed their tasks again.
Liu Yongtan's unremitting efforts for the new system radar broke the monopoly of foreign technology, making China the world's few who have such technology. They provided effective countermeasures and technical measures to many long-plagued threats to radar in a lower cost than other technologies, which is of broad application prospects. It is worth mentioning that the achievement of winning the first prize of State Scientific and Technological Award in 2015 would play an irreplaceable and powerful role in defending China’s sea frontier.
Four
Liu Yongtan is both an accomplished radar expert and a good teacher who is good at teaching and educating. He has devoted himself to the teaching and researching of electronic engineering for a long time. Over the past few decades, he has published more than 200 valuable scholarly papers at academic conferences and academic journals at home and abroad and has written two monographs and edited over several books. In May 1989, national teaching material "Radio Guidance Technology" edited by Liu was published by the National University of Defense Technology Press. In October 1999, he published the monograph "Radar Imaging Technology".
Liu Yongtan has successively taught over 10 courses such as "Professional Mathematics", "Basic Electrician", "Multiple Communication Principles", "Radio Receiving Equipment", "Microwave Technology", "Information Theory" and "Radar System". Since the 1980s, he has taught new courses such as "Statistical Radio Technology", "Digital Signal Processing", "Modern Spectrum Analysis Technology", "Radar Signal Detection" and "Processing System." In two years, he taught four classes for undergraduates and graduate students totally about 300 hours.
"Adhere to your ideas, work hard and overcome the difficulties on the way to achieve the success." Liu Yongtan’ way of training students is to pay more attention to the desire of their own learning, research enthusiasm and independent innovation awareness. He believes that innovation is most closely linked with the style of study, which cannot be finished in an ambiguous way. Only by observing “Stringent Standard & Professional Proficiency," learn and understand so that to be innovative. He advocated to " exercise in real situation." His doctoral students' topics all come from specific scientific research and practice, which are the real problems that the country really needs to solve.
Since 2001, Liu Yongtan no longer hold the post of director, chief commander and chief designer, and has passed the baton to young people. Nie Li, the former deputy director of the State Commission of Science and Technology for National Defense Industry, praised Liu Yongtan as a rare “talent”. He brought out a contingent of scientists who are capable of tackling the global frontier issues with style of hardworking. For team members, Liu Yongtan never "make a wish", but always did his best to observe, love and nurture. He recruited talented people without overstressing qualifications. Eight people are promoted to professors, and some outstanding young teachers in the team even won the titles of " Top Ten Youth in Space Industry" and "Outstanding Contribution Doctorate Degree Winners."
“When I was awarded the first prize of the State Science and Technology Award in 2015, Liu wanted my name first, but I disagreed with him. Because I realized that Professor Liu was the core from start to finish and he paid the most. I am also aware that, the new system radar is his dream of a lifetime. It is the greatest award for him to persist one thing in his life and to turn the dream into reality, and other honors are no longer important to him.” Xu Rongqing is the first doctor of Liu since he was a doctoral tutor. As the commander in chief of the project in late phase, he said that Liu took the leadership and led everyone forward with pioneering spirit at the most difficult early stage of the project. In the latter part of the period, even Liu had stepped back and pushed his younger generation to the front, he was still the backbone of the entire team.
"I am 80 years old now and about the same age as the radar, but there is still a lot of work to be done with the new system. We will continue to be more effective to better serve the national economy, so I cannot stop..." There is no smoke or the drums, but Liu Yongtan has always had a strong sense of urgency and the sense of mission. He believes firmly that the new system of radar technology will be more widely used in the future with the continuous development of science and technology, and they will certainly continue to trek to the field of radar and move forward as always.
