Chapter 56

Early inertial guidance was platform‑type, with good measurement conditions and small computational load, but the weight and size were large; intercontinental ballistic missiles and large launch rockets all installed this system.

However, small spacecraft could not use it, so strap‑down inertial guidance devices appeared.

Eliminate the inertial guidance platform and mount it directly on the missile body!

This way, as the missile body shakes and tumbles, the coordinate system changes, requiring a high‑speed computer to perform real‑time coordinate transformation in order to obtain correct data.

In the early days this scheme could not be realized, after all the computers used for the calculations were larger and often occupied an entire room; but by the 1980s a single 8086 chip could finish all the calculations!

Tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, fighter jets, even missile launch vehicles… all can be fitted with strap‑down inertial guidance devices! So this thing must be developed!

In the early 1980s, Chengdu's Factory 132 and Marconi Company discussed avionics and planned to introduce inertial guidance, but because the airframe was too small they failed to install it; later, in the late 1980s, the J‑8 Peace Paradigm project finally managed to mount it, only to be tricked by the Americans and end up with nothing.

Once inertial guidance is installed, no matter how far it flies it will not get lost!

So this thing must be developed; taking advantage of this ground‑to‑ground missile modification project, we will make it!

Zhou Ding listened attentively, nodding frequently.

Wait, why is the bed shaking?

Qin Miao lifted his head and first saw a pair of… cute little feet dangling below the edge of the bed, swaying back and forth; on the bunk, the person sitting there had both hands supporting his chin, staring unblinkingly at Qin Miao, his eyes full of affection.

"Cough cough, Chu Miaomiao classmate, could you please pull your feet in…"

"Oh oh, sorry, you continue."

Chu Miaomiao embarrassedly pulled her feet back, her face slightly red; seeing the person below still studying, and on the opposite bunk Yang Can was researching her project, so Chu Miaomiao furtively bent over to sniff, not smelly… sniff again, still not smelly!

How could San Shui brother notice that I was looking at him?

To be more reassured, Chu Miaomiao took off her socks and placed them beside her nose, finally confirming there really was no odor; San Shui brother turned his head, surely not because he was smoked… after all, I wasn't wearing nylon socks, I had just changed into fresh cotton socks before going out!

Wait!

Chu Miaomiao suddenly felt something was off; looking down, she saw Teacher Zhou already lost in thought, while Qin Miao had stood up as if to go out, but then froze there, eyes wide open, staring at her!

It's over!

"Cough cough, I'll step out for a moment." Qin Miao said, picking up the few water cups on the table: "I'll also go fetch some water for you."

Chu Miaomiao's face flushed crimson; she had no odd fetish, she was merely… what did San Shui brother's gaze mean? Pity? Comfort? Or what?

Ha Gong Da, Mechanical Department, Truck Cannon project office.

When the first ray of morning sunlight shone down, the project office already had a crowd of heads gathering; they held their documents, showed them to the guard on duty, then entered and began the day's work.

"Has Qin Miao not returned yet?" Professor Yuan entered, looked around, and then furrowed his brow.

National Day holiday, two days off, and this Qin Miao? He's been out for a full five days!

National Day fell on a Wednesday; Friday would be when normal work resumed, but now it's already Monday of the new week!

"I don't know; he said he went back to his hometown, the round trip would take two or three days, then after returning home he might visit relatives, so probably about a week." Student Tian Chun Guang said beside them.

Buzz, buzz buzz!

Just then, the roar of an engine sounded from outside.

In this university campus, vehicles occasionally pass by, but today's vehicle is different—the distinctive clatter within the roar is the sound of a high‑pressure oil pump delivering oil, and it is so crisp that it indicates the engine is excellent, likely imported?

Pfft!

The sound of the air brakes rang out.

Is the vehicle still stopped outside?

"Report! Superior orders us to deliver two Mercedes‑benz trucks to Ha Gong Da!"

Professor Yuan looked in surprise at the green‑uniformed soldier loudly reporting at the door, then suddenly realized.

Good, the chassis vehicles have arrived! Hurry and go take a look!

Professor Yuan strode out and looked at the two trucks parked outside.

A huge bumper, dark‑green body, cab‑over engine, the three‑pointed emblem on the front is plastic, non‑reflective, six chunky off‑road tread tires—just looking at them is satisfying.

Wait!

Professor Yuan looked at the canvas‑covered cargo compartment—what's this? An inclined launch mount inside? Beside it sit several boxes, sprayed with the Red Flag‑2 emblem?

Professor Yuan turned to the green‑uniformed soldier who had made the report: "Comrade, did you make a mistake? We asked for trucks, not these missiles! Why did you even haul the launch rig over?"

"That's correct; all of it is for Ha Gong Da—the trucks go to you, the equipment on top goes to the Aerospace Department, Zhou Ding and Comrade Qin Miao."

"Aerospace Department? Qin Miao? Qin Miao is from our Mechanical Department; our Truck Cannon project was brought in by him!" Professor Yuan grew anxious: "Did you make a mistake?"

"Impossible; the superiors repeatedly instructed that the Qin Miao of the Aerospace Department, the 'three‑water' Miao."

"Wow, a Mercedes‑benz!" At that moment a delighted voice came from behind: "Finally here!"

"Qin Miao? You've finally shown up!" Professor Yuan saw four people approaching, ignored the other three, and lunged straight at Qin Miao: "Our Truck Cannon project has finished design; now we just wait for the chassis to arrive to begin trial installation—you've got to take the lead!"

"Fine, no problem!"

"Comrade Qin Miao, the two Red Flag‑2 missile test rounds and their matching launch equipment have been delivered to you; please sign for them!"

"This came too? Today double blessings!"

"Qin Miao, Qin Miao!" Professor Yuan grabbed Qin Miao: "Our Truck Cannon project is a key item affecting Ha Gong Da's reputation; before this project is finished, how can you work on other things? Let this comrade sign—he's Zhou Ding—just hand it over to him!"

Zhou Ding's face changed; he took a few quick steps and intercepted Professor Yuan.

"Qin Miao is a student of our Aerospace Department; I haven't been around lately, but you've been dragging him here every day to serve as a laborer—I won't mention past matters. Now our Aerospace Department has received a key project from the Capital Space Institute, and Qin Miao must not be taken away by you again!"

"No way; first come, first served! Our project was approved earlier, so we have priority—Qin Miao, come with me!"

"Qin Miao belongs to our Aerospace Department, you're shameless—Qin Miao, come with me!"

Professor Yuan grabbed Qin Miao's left arm, Zhou Ding took his right arm, they began a tug‑of‑war, and Qin Miao… became the rope!