On July 7, the Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech), through its Advanced Institute for Ocean Research (AIOR), launched the i³ Expedition (Innovative Integrated Intelligent Systems Expedition), in conjunction with the Deep Blue Voyager 2035 Global Ocean Experiment Expedition. Departing from Zhuhai, the mission aims to conduct multidisciplinary scientific research in the northern South China Sea.

This expedition marks SUSTech’s first large-scale deployment of an integrated “air-surface-subsea” unmanned systems fleet, incorporating aerial drones, unmanned surface vessels (USVs), and autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) into a coordinated operational cluster. The mission combines scientific exploration, industrial applications, and public outreach to advance the development of ocean science and technology across multiple dimensions.

Research vessel Xiang Yang Hong 10

The i³ Expedition is led by Chief Scientist Jian LIN, Chair Professor of the Department of Ocean Science and Engineering and Director of AIOR at SUSTech. The team comprises a cross-disciplinary cohort of young scientists, engineers, and media professionals. The expedition is supported by the ocean-class research vessel Xiang Yang Hong 10. The 4,615-ton, 93-meter vessel is equipped with state-of-the-art technologies, a diverse array of unmanned aerial vehicles, the L25C USV, and newly developed AUVs.

Group photo of the expedition team

Over the course of the mission, the team will conduct synchronized, multi-platform, co-located observations spanning the atmosphere to the seafloor in the northern South China Sea. This pioneering operational model establishes foundational technologies critical for the development of next-generation autonomous ocean observation systems and advances the frontiers of ocean scientific research.

The i³ Expedition exemplifies strategic collaboration between leading academic research and high-tech industry partners. It mobilizes experts across more than ten disciplines, from senior academicians and professors to early-career scientists and elementary and high-school students. Major Chinese media outlets, including CCTV, Xinhua News Agency, and Shenzhen Media Group, will provide extensive live coverage, offering the public a direct lens into deep-sea exploration.

Aeromagnetic fixed-wing UAV

The departure of the i³ Expedition also marks the formal commencement of the Deep Blue Voyager 2035 Global Ocean Expedition—a decade-long strategic initiative convened by Zhanhai ZHANG, Chairman of the China Ocean Mineral Resources Research and Development Association, with Professor Jian LIN serving as Chief Scientist.

This global voyage, conducted in annual stages, will chart major oceanic corridors: beginning in the Pacific (Shenzhen–Pacific–Chile), traversing the Southern Ocean (Chile–Drake Passage–Brazil), the Atlantic (Brazil–South Atlantic–South Africa), and the Indian Ocean (South Africa–Madagascar–Jakarta–Shenzhen). Each leg of the voyage invites participation from research institutions, industrial partners, and international collaborators.

Aligned with the objectives of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, the expedition seeks to establish a dynamic international platform bridging science, industry, and society. It aims to advance the global understanding of ocean systems, foster technological innovation, and cultivate the next generation of ocean professionals.

The i³ Expedition concludes with its return to Shenzhen’s Shekou Port on July 11. The operation underscores SUSTech’s leadership in the development of intelligent marine technologies and its expanding role in deep-sea exploration, ocean governance, and the sustainable management of global ocean resources.