Zhang Yonggang, Chief Engineer of Intelligent Systems and Head of the Intelligent Department at BAIC Automotive Research Institute, leads a research and development team that has successively developed industry-leading product technology systems such as BAIC’s platform-based electronic and electrical systems and the first generation of the Internet of Vehicles system. Currently, he is leading a professional R&D team to integrate internet technology to develop more intelligent, safe, and comfortable BAIC self-owned brand vehicles. Zhang Yonggang stated that as more intelligent and humanized features are perfected, the intelligent systems in vehicles can help passengers achieve more work and entertainment activities, transforming cars from ordinary transportation tools into a third living space beyond the office and home. Making BAIC self-owned brand vehicles run on every road in the world is the goal of every BAIC employee.
Bonded with Automotive R&D Since Childhood
Born in November 1977 in Shihezi, Xinjiang, Zhang Yonggang spent his happy elementary and middle school years there. The large-scale agricultural mechanization of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps allowed him to experience the power of machinery, and the charm of machinery deeply attracted him, planting the ideal of becoming an engineer in his heart. In September 1998, he was admitted to Henan University of Science and Technology (formerly Luoyang Institute of Technology), majoring in automotive and tractor design and manufacturing.
In July 2002, he graduated with excellent results and joined Chery Automobile as an automotive electrical engineer. During this period, he participated in the development of a series of milestone models with self-owned brands such as Chery Fengyun, Qiyun, QQ, Dongfang Zizi, and Ruifeng, growing from an ordinary engineer to a leader in a professional department, expanding his understanding of automobiles from component development to the development of the automotive industry.
Stepping Up in Critical Moments
In December 2009, BAIC successfully acquired the relevant intellectual property rights of Swedish Saab, accelerating the development of BAIC’s self-owned high-end brand vehicles. In January 2010, vehicle products based on Saab technology entered the development stage, marking the application phase of the digestion and absorption of Saab’s core technologies. The development of BAIC’s self-owned brands increasingly required more high-level automotive talents.
BAIC’s senior management understood that acquiring Saab’s relevant intellectual property rights only meant having the foundation to build a high-end technology platform, but these technologies came from overseas markets. Whether they could meet the needs of the Chinese market required someone to transform them. Therefore, BAIC decided to seek support from the Saab technology team to thoroughly improve the existing Saab electronic and electrical systems while introducing professional talents to jointly develop products that meet the current needs of the Chinese market.In April 2010, Zhang Yonggang was invited to join the Beijing Automotive Research Institute to establish the electronic and electrical department, marking a new phase in his personal career.
“Saab quickly arranged for technical personnel to come, but they quoted a ‘sky-high’ remuneration.” Zhang Yonggang stated that although the Saab engineers agreed readily, when they learned that a completely new electronic and electrical control system needed to be developed, they directly quoted 9.6 million euros with a two-year development cycle. Such a price and timeline could not meet the needs of BAIC’s self-owned brand development. Seeing this situation, Zhang Yonggang stepped up and firmly told the leadership, “We will do it ourselves!”
Challenging R&D Projects,Saving Millions of Euros
“The product demand of BAIC is the clarion call for R&D personnel to charge forward, and the innovative potential of R&D engineers has been thoroughly stimulated.” In response to Zhang Yonggang’s sense of responsibility, BAIC’s management quickly made a decision to form a 15-person team to start developing the corresponding technology. Zhang Yonggang led this group of responsible, resilient, and hardworking young people, working hard for 9 months to develop a new vehicle electrical architecture system and related components. When Saab’s engineers visited BAIC again for communication, they were very surprised by this young engineering team, which could develop an electronic and electrical control system in such a short time, and they sincerely admired and recognized the capabilities and efficiency of BAIC’s R&D team.
The R&D project completed by Zhang Yonggang and his team saved the company nearly 10 million euros, but he was not satisfied with this achievement. Instead, he led the team to continue their efforts, expanding the vehicle electrical system into three different platforms: high, medium, and low, to meet the company’s requirement of launching a new car every six months. The successive emergence of platform-based and modular products not only met the company’s demand for technical products but also reduced costs, improved quality, and accelerated product development progress.
Creating an Ultra-Convenient Internet of Vehicles System
In 2010, the 3G communication network officially began operating in major cities across the country, marking the full onset of a new mobile internet era. Zhang Yonggang began to think about how to integrate BAIC’s vehicles into the internet, allowing BAIC’s customers to enjoy the benefits of the internet. Through discussions and validations with relevant industry experts, a future-oriented Internet of Vehicles system gradually took shape.
The first generation of the Internet of Vehicles system developed by him allows vehicles to connect people, cars, roads, and networks through the internet, providing customers with various information. When a vehicle encounters an emergency, it can connect to the automotive company’s backend system, which will take appropriate measures in response to the alarm received. With the rapid development of the internet and information industry,4G networks began to open up comprehensively, and the internet ecosystem gradually enriched, the technology of the Internet of Vehicles also entered an era of iterative development. Zhang Yonggang developed a new Internet of Vehicles system, mainly including intelligent driving, intelligent connectivity, and intelligent cockpit. This is also a crucial step he took to develop a more humanized automotive intelligent system based on the needs of the times, opening an important chapter for people to enjoy automobiles.
Intelligent Driving
1. Adjust the driver’s seat height through a voiceprint system. Cars are no longer just tools for transporting people and goods from point A to point B, but provide more proactive service functions. For example, BAIC has launched cars equipped with voiceprint systems, where the driver only needs to say a few words to the system window, and the car can recognize the voice and adjust the driver’s seat height, the angle of the rearview mirrors, the temperature inside the car, and play the driver’s favorite music.
2. Real-time traffic information. If there is a traffic jam ahead, the system will inform the driver of the length of the traffic jam and the trend of the congestion, and recommend routes that are not congested or have lighter traffic conditions. To alleviate the driver’s anxiety, the system will automatically play the driver’s favorite music. Once the traffic jam is cleared, the car will cheerfully inform the driver: “Cheer up, you can drive normally now.”
3. Just tell the car where to go and what to do. For example, if going to Jiuzhaigou for sightseeing, the system will arrange the fastest route for the owner, remind them when to refuel, what items to bring, what scenery to see along the way, and what products can be bought conveniently.
Intelligent Connectivity
1. Helping the owner buy satisfactory products. When the car owner frequently visits certain shops or purchases certain products, the car will take photos, analyze, and then filter through online information to recommend the nearest place to buy these quality and affordable products.
2. If the owner wants to buy a certain product but does not know how to choose, the system will provide the owner with selection methods and tips. Just tell the system: “Please take me to the nearest merchant to buy this product.” The intelligent system will respond: “Master, let’s go.” and then enter navigation mode to take you shopping.
3. It can help the owner monitor their home and manage household chores. Zhang Yonggang stated that in the future, the automotive connectivity system will help drivers manage household chores, allowing owners to see everything happening at home through video and remotely control when problems are discovered. For example, they can remotely turn off the faucet or gas.
Intelligent Cockpit
1. Monitoring the condition of various parts of the vehicle 24 hours a day through sensors. For example, tire pressure. If any tire’s pressure is below standard, the sensor will reflect this information to the processor for analysis, which will then be communicated to the owner’s mobile phone.
2. Smart analysis of fuel quality at gas stations. For example, if the driver has previously refueled at gas stations A, B, and C, the intelligent system will analyze the fuel quality at each gas station and inform the owner which gas station has better fuel quality and longer mileage.
3. Monitoring the driver’s health status. The intelligent system can measure blood pressure and, based on the driver’s complexion and unconscious signs of disease, suggest the owner visit the appropriate hospital for check-ups, preventing potential health issues.
Continuously Innovating in R&D, Ultimately Reaping Abundant Rewards
Zhang Yonggang stated that automotive R&D is an endless journey, which is also the joy of R&D work. Now, he has led his team to compile and publish 94 technical standards, apply for and authorize 164 patents, publish 5 papers, and publish 2 books. From 2013 to the present, he has received numerous honors, including the “Third Prize for Independent Innovation Achievements of Capital Workers in 2013,” “Second Prize for Excellent Technological Innovation Achievements of Beijing Workers in 2013,” “First Prize of Beijing Science and Technology Award in 2016,” “Second Prize of China Automotive Industry Science and Technology Award in 2016,” and the “National May Day Labor Medal in 2016.”
Zhang Yonggang expressed that with the significant enhancement of national economic strength, the technological R&D capabilities are also rapidly improving. His ultimate goal is to continuously increase intelligent connectivity functions while creating more customer-satisfactory self-owned brand vehicles, allowing BAIC’s self-owned brands to shine worldwide.
Written by: Xie Deliang, Community Reporter of Beijing Youth Daily
