Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering- Let the open source Hongmeng digital base make a difference in the shipping field
On October 23, the 2024 North Bund International Shipping Forum – Digital and Intelligent Forum took place in Shanghai. At the event, Professor Ling Wen, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and a chair professor at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, expressed his aspirations for the open-source HarmonyOS to make a significant impact in the shipping industry. He proposed the idea of developing a maritime operating system based on this open-source framework.
“HarmonyOS is an independently controllable operating system in China, and it is not only used in mobile devices but also serves as the foundational operating system for various industries,” Professor Ling explained. These applications range across sectors such as highways, ports, and power, with specialized systems like the Lu Hong operating system for highways, Gang Hong for ports, and Dian Hong for the power sector.
He described his vision for the future, stating, “An operating system should strive for ‘one platform for all, all converge to one.’ Since the 1960s, every 20 years has seen the emergence of new operating systems that drive waves in the information industry. We boldly propose that by leveraging open-source HarmonyOS, we can construct a maritime operating system. Our goal is to integrate data from digital waterways, ports, and ship operations to achieve a domestically controlled, interconnected, and highly efficient transmission system.”
Professor Ling’s specific scenarios include using open-source HarmonyOS to enhance port operational efficiency, enabling connectivity among all equipment, including smart lifting devices. He envisions the establishment of an intelligent onboard terminal system based on this technology across all deep-sea fleets, significantly improving management efficiency and creating a robust communication network.
Moreover, he pointed out that open-source HarmonyOS could accelerate infrastructure development in the ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) domain for relevant enterprises, with ESG principles also promoting the open-source initiative. He emphasized the importance of cultivating community leaders and fostering deeper collaboration between businesses and the open-source community.
“In building ESG frameworks, the most crucial aspect is the establishment of open-source evaluation standards,” Professor Ling noted. He clarified that the process should not focus on deriving a fixed parameter, model, or formula; instead, it should broadly gather opinions and iteratively refine the standards to achieve a widely accepted consensus on ESG across society.
According to him, HarmonyOS has become one of the leading high-ecological-level development platforms in China, with numerous prestigious universities joining the open-source HarmonyOS technology club. “Everyone is contributing to this endeavor, which is our ultimate goal. For ESG, it’s essential to engage in this open-source work that involves the entire society,” he concluded.
