Chapter 24: The 'Gentleness' of Lasers and the Troubles of 'Firecrackers

While joint testing exposed problems,

The in-depth optimization of individual equipment was also proceeding vigorously.

Everyone was like a wound-up spring, striving for excellence in their respective fields.

Chen Guang shut himself in his "optics corner," as if trying to isolate himself from the outside world.

On his workbench, aside from the core laser equipment,

it was piled high with various optical lenses, mirrors, special material samples, and several computers running simultaneously.

The screen displayed complex simulation models, waveform charts, and densely packed experimental data.

After the power upgrade, his laser system had gained more ample confidence.

But how to turn this confidence into an intuitive "visual impact" and "technical shock" during the presentation?

While ensuring absolute safety, this requires extremely clever conception and repeated debugging.

"Brother Feng, I've preliminarily planned two demonstration directions."

Chen Guang found Feng Yan, who was checking the presentation PPT with Li Yang.

His eyes sparkled with the particular light of a tech enthusiast, a mix of fatigue and excitement.

"One is 'ultimate precision and fine control,' for example, etching clear, intricate micro-patterns or text onto a specific photosensitive material."

"To demonstrate our potential application value in micron-level processing;"

"The other is 'rapid response and dynamic tracking,' for example, simulating tracking of a high-speed moving small target (I plan to use a launched specific lightweight ball)."

"To conduct continuous, stable tracking irradiation, demonstrating its potential in interception or guidance."

Feng Yan's eyes lit up as he slapped his thigh:

"Great, Old Chen! These two directions are well chosen! One shows the limit of precision, the other shows reaction speed!"

"It's way better than dryly talking about wavelength, power, and pulse width!"

"What support do you need? Just speak up!"

Chen Guang pushed up his glasses and took out a list he had prepared earlier:

"We need several types of high-resolution photosensitive materials with different properties as target plates for etching tests."

"We also need a high-speed camera with a frame rate of at least one thousand to capture the tracking process."

"Furthermore, we need a launching device that can provide stable, repeatable initial speed and angle..."

"Consider it done! Right away! Immediately!" Feng Yan waved his hand, instantly becoming a "resource operations master".

He pulled out his phone and began searching the contacts for senior and junior fellows in the relevant field, making calls nonstop.

A few days later, the needed materials and equipment arrived through various channels.

Chen Guang began his "laser show".

For the first attempt at micro-engraving, he chose a simple prototype of the words "Tie Lang Gong Fang".

However, the laser power was not precisely controlled, and the pulse width setting was too large.

Only a soft "hiss" was heard, and the expensive special metal target plate instantly showed a small scorched pit.

Not a trace of the intended strokes appeared.

"The energy density was too high, causing ablation."

Chen Guang recorded the data expressionlessly, replaced the target plate, and adjusted the parameters.

On the second try, the power was reduced.

But the beam's focus point was not precisely aligned with the target plate surface.

The engraved strokes had blurred edges and uneven depth, as if scratched with a dull knife.

"Focus offset, insufficient depth of field." He recorded again and adjusted the optical path.

Third try, fourth try… the scrap bin beside the workbench

Soon filled up with discarded target plate fragments.

Yet Chen Guang was not discouraged at all; each failure brought him one step closer to success.

When he finally found that perfect parameter window,

he heard the almost inaudible "sizzle" sound made by the laser head moving,

and saw in real time on the computer screen that small target plate,

as clear lines, rich details, and sharp-edged text patterns gradually emerged.

He clenched his fists tightly, and his usually calm face showed an uncontainable excitement.

"Success!" he exclaimed, raising his voice unusually.

Even Wang Hao, who was tightening screws nearby, poked his head out to watch.

On the other side, the high-speed moving target tracking test was full of challenges… and noise.

Wang Hao volunteered.

Using a small pneumatic launcher he had somehow acquired and modified,

to launch those specially made lightweight balls coated with a high-reflectivity film.

At first, the laser either couldn't keep up with the ball's bizarre trajectory,

or it would prematurely offset to empty space.

"Old Wang, can't you fix the launch angle and force? There are too many variables!"

Chen Guang stared at the erratic target trajectory on the screen and couldn't help complaining.

"Brother Guang, speed up your response! Strengthen the filtering algorithm!"

"The balls have already landed and your laser spot is still not in place!"

Wang Hao, meanwhile, was frantically loading the balls while protesting loudly.

The two people, separated by most of the warehouse, passed the buck to each other via shouting and communicators.

Their arguing was lively, adding a lot of 'vitality' to the otherwise dull R&D work.

Feng Yan sometimes couldn't help but want to go over and mediate.

But seeing that, although they were arguing, they still kept their heads down debugging and constantly trying.

He felt that this was the most genuine state of R&D.

After countless rounds of debugging the recognition algorithm, calibrating sensor delays, unifying launch parameters, and optimizing the prediction model.

Finally, in the slow-motion replay captured by the high-speed camera.

That red low-power laser spot was like the most loyal hound.

It clung tightly to the high-speed, ever-changing trajectory white ball.

From launch to landing, it almost achieved full-coverage 'roll call'!

"Awesome! (voice cracking)" Wang Hao watched the red dot on the screen that followed like a shadow.

"He was even more excited than when his 'Skyrocket Monkey' hit the target, as if the laser were under his control.

Chen Guang let out a long sigh, leaned back in his chair, and rubbed his throbbing temples.

His face showed a smile of relief mixed with a sense of accomplishment.

His laser was no longer just a dorm-room mosquito swatter.

And had even been complained about as a 'toy'.

It now had the hardcore capability to demonstrate its value on a broader stage.

Compared to Chen Guang's steady progress and finally seeing a glimmer of hope.

Wang Hao's research, meanwhile, had sunk into a sweet yet painful whirl of worry.

The power upgrade sent the potential of his 'Vast Universe Precision Delivery System' soaring like a rocket.

But coming with it was an exponentially growing control complexity.

He wanted to achieve the 'aerial circle' that Feng Yan demanded—an extremely visually impactful unconventional trajectory.

He needed the micro-propellant's combustion stability and millisecond-level coordinated fine control of the four micro Vector Nozzles.

And the stability demands on the projectile itself during violent maneuvering had reached an abnormal level.

"Holy shit, this is harder than letting my Skyrocket Monkey write slender gold script in the wind!"

Wang Hao wildly grabbed his hair at the computer screen where the trajectory simulation software kept spitting errors and its curves flew wildly.

His formerly neat short hair was turned into a bird's nest.

"It feels like asking a drunk sumo wrestler to perform Swan Lake."

"He still had to pull off grace and precision! Where on earth is that balance point?!"

His workbench was piled with calculation sheets covered in complex formulas and rough sketches.

And several burnt-out driver circuit boards.

——Those were the costs of failed attempts to push the control frequency higher.

After several physical tests, that precious 'Initial Unit' either flew off like a headless chicken.

not knowing where it had wandered off to;

or it lost stability midair and tumbled down in a wild spin.

Turning into a loud bang and a fireball of a 'real firecracker', which made Wang Hao wince in pain.

"Old Wang, if we can't do it, at least ensure the stability of these two core demonstration items: the S-type maneuver and precision hit."

"The 'circle drawing' and such can be a backup or long-term display; don't push yourself too hard."

Feng Yan saw the red bloodshot lines in his eyes almost outnumbering the traces on the circuit board, and couldn't help but advise.

"No way!" Wang Hao stuck out his neck.

His eyes glowed with a mix of obsession and refusal to lose.

"Feng Ge, you've already blown the big talk; if I, Wang Hao, can't pull it off,"

"how will I ever stand my ground in the precision delivery field?"

"Besides, what big scenes have those national-level experts not seen?"

"If we don't show them some 'fancy moves' they've never seen, how can we highlight our team's outrageous innovative power?"

"I have to gnaw through this hard bone!"

His drive was such that he'd hit a south wall and not turn back, even wanting to tear that wall down.

This even made the usually calm Li Yang and Chen Guang secretly nod.

The two of them would occasionally set aside their tense work.

They gathered before Wang Hao's workbench, which looked as if it had been blown up, furrowed their brows, and stared at those complex drawings and data,

offering him advice and strategies.

Li Yang analyzed from a mechanical structure and dynamics perspective:

"The match between the projectile's center of mass and its vector thrust is the foundation of stability."

"Your internal component layout might still need optimization; you could consider adding adjustable micro counterweights for dynamic tuning."

Chen Guang then suggested from a control algorithm and signal processing standpoint:

"Your sensor data fusion frequency might be insufficient, or the filtering algorithm may not effectively remove vibration noise."

"You could try the improved Kalman filter I mentioned last time; although it involves more computation, it might better predict attitude."

With the teammates' 'consultation' and help,

Wang Hao's violent emotions gradually eased, and his thoughts became much clearer.

He no longer blindly trial-and-error, but began to systematically sort out the problems, step by step.

Although there is still a long way to go for the "First Unit" to draw perfect circles in the air.

But its flight trajectory is indeed becoming more obedient, getting closer to his preset model.

Night fell again, the workshop remained brightly lit.

Chen Guang repeatedly refined his laser tracking algorithm, striving for flawless performance.

Wang Hao, while welding the received, better-performing micro servos, muttered calculations of thrust vectors.

Li Yang debugged a more complex cooperative command interface between the exoskeleton and "Xiao Bai" on the simulator.

Feng Yan meticulously polished the wording of the report materials, ensuring they were both professional and accurate, and vivid and lifelike.

【Tie Lang Gong Fang Exclusive Micro-Chat Group (Core Cadre Version)】

【Wang Hao: (shared a "hair-1-1-" emoji) Another black night gone, when will my circle be round!】

【Chen Guang: Persevere. Feel free to ask for help analyzing data anytime.】

【Li Yang: Hmm.】

【Feng Yan: @Wang Hao, need a late-night energy boost? As usual, instant noodles are enough, sausages limited.】

【Wang Hao: Want want want! Braised beef noodles, add two sausages!】

【Wang Hao: I'm locked in a life-or-death battle with aerodynamics and control theory, desperately needing carb support!】

【Feng Yan: Received! I'll go boil water now, helping you evolve from 'Firecracker King' to 'Missile Artist'!】