阅读理解
Many years ago, people relied on the sun, the moon and stars
to find their way around. Later, the compass was introduced. And now, we have
satnav(卫星导航)systems to guide us. A satnav system
uses groups of satellites to show the user's location. They send information to
a receiver, such as a smartphone, to show us where we are.
The earliest built satnav system is the Global Positioning
Satellite System, which belongs to the US. Then there is Russia's Global
Navigation Satellite system,the European Union's Galileo and China's own satellite
navigation system, Beidou.
On October 18, 2017,
an ARJ21-700 plane, which was the first domestically(国内地) produced jet equipped with the Beidou
navigation system, successfully completed a test flight. The results showed the
performance of the system developed by China matches that of similar systems
produced abroad, according to the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China.
Since its introduction in 2000, the Beidou navigation system
has been increasing numbers of applications linked to everyday life, from
shared bikes to farming.
When it comes to
shared bikes, smart locks that support Beidou chips offer more accurate
positioning than others, making it easier to find a bike.
Farmers can use Beidou-enabled tractors to plow(犁)the soil and use unmanned aircraft with
Beidou to sow seeds, which can improve efficiency and make better use of
resources. Beidou's farming applications have spread from Heilongjiang Province
to Beijing, Liaoning, Shanxi, Hubei and other regions across China.
With its many uses, the Beidou navigation system is even
playing a big role in the Belt and Road Initiative(一带一路). “To date, the Beidou system has
covered most parts of the Asia-Pacific region, as well as countries along the
Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road,”
said Yang Changfeng, chief designer of the Beidou system.
Today, there are more than 20 Beidou satellites above our
heads, and China plans to launch even more this year to expand the Beidou
network to better serve the Belt and Road Initiative.
“As Beidou expands its overseas reach, it will be
increasingly popular in the logistics(物流) industry,” said Miao Qianjun,
Secretary General of the navigation services association. “Ships, for example,
can use it to position themselves while sailing across oceans to European
countries, no longer limited to Southeast Asian regions in the near future.