Outstanding graduates deeds | Kang Zeyu: moss spend even small like a grain of rice, also still open like a peony

Kang Zeyu, 2023 PhD graduate of the School of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Shanghai outstanding graduate. His research direction is spacecraft control under multiple constraints. He has signed a contract with Shanghai Aircraft Design and Research Institute of Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China. He won the second prize of "Huawei Cup" 2019 Postgraduate Mathematical Modeling Contest, 2021 Student of the Year (team) of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 2021 Government-sponsored Doctoral Joint Training Scholarship of China Scholarship Council and other honors.

Be a scientist on two legs

In April 2019, Kang Zeyu graduated from Northwestern Polytechnical University with a master's degree and went to Shanghai Jiao Tong University to study for a doctor's degree under Professor Wu Shufan. At the beginning, he was very uneasy about his research direction and how to start. Professor Wu taught him that as a doctoral student, he should first closely associate his pursuit with the national mission, and then try to be a "two-legged" researcher on this basis, so that he could walk well and fast.

The "two legs" mentioned by Professor Wu on the one hand is the research practice project of the research group, and on the other hand is the solid and in-depth theoretical direction. Starting from these words, Kang Zeyu has participated in a number of scientific research and practice projects of the research group. As the chief teacher of student attitude control, he has deeply participated in the research of SJTU Siyuan No.1, the first small student satellite of Shanghai Jiao Tong University. SJTU Siyuan No. 1 is a standard 3U cubic star, 80% of which is independently developed by students in Professor Wu Shufan's team. It has been in orbit for more than one year.

Through his deep participation in the research and development of satellites, Kang Zeyu deeply realized the relationship between theory and engineering practice. Theory supports practice, but practice is not limited to theory. Only by constantly discovering problems, solving problems, iterating several times and organically combining the two can some difficulties in his field be solved. On this road of scientific research practice, Kang Zeyu is still moving forward, and the small satellite he participated in the development of will continue to carry out scientific observation.

In academic research, Kang Zeyu never relaxed himself. Toward the end of the satellite project, he applied for the doctoral joint training program of China Scholarship Council and was approved to study and work in the Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics of the University of Toronto, Canada, under the supervision of Professor Christopher J. Damaren, director of the Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

Under the guidance of his supervisor Professor Wu Shufan, Associate Professor Shen Qiang and his foreign advisor, Kang Zeyu has mastered the methods and attitudes of scientific research, trained the writing ability of scientific and technological papers, and cultivated the ability of independent scientific research. He treats scientific research problems with a discerning attitude, actively tracks research frontiers and development directions at home and abroad, broadens his vision, and produces results. Finally, his research results have been accepted by AIAA Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics, the top publication in the field of aerospace. Scientific research is rarely smooth sailing. Despite the setbacks of rejection of journal articles for many times, he was always able to raise his spirits and steady his mind after a short period of confusion, find and solve problems, and climb the academic mountain with the tenacity of a scholar. He always quipped that Ph.D.s who did not experience rejection were lucky, and he always believed in the power of hard work and faith.

I have seen glory and I yearn for it

Kang Zeyu's dream of sky began when he was a child. His uncle, who graduated from China Southern Airlines, is engaged in aircraft design in the first aircraft Academy, and his cousin, who graduated from Beijing Airlines, is engaged in aerospace design in Chengdu. After the college entrance examination, he resolutely applied for the Northwestern Polytechnical University.

In July 2020, Kang had his first chance to see a rocket launch in person. The launch, from Wenchang, Hainan Province, was carried by a Long March-5 rocket to launch the "Tiansen 1" probe, China's first Mars exploration mission. It was an epoch-making event in China's space history. Orange flames shot out, five fat tails rose with blue stripes, and the roar came from far and near, and the crowd cheered. At that time, the scene has remained in the deep memory of Kang Zeyu, who witnessed the astronaut's sense of honor, pride and responsibility. As a student of the aerospace major, he was greatly encouraged, learning this line will be engaged in this line of determination more firm.

In December 2020, at the symposium with Academician Tang Changhong, chief division of "Y-20", Kang Zeyu had the honor to communicate with Academician Tang face to face, which was a successful day for him to pursue stars. After the symposium, Academician Tang wrote "Kunpeng Spreading its wings" on his notebook to Kang Zeyu. He was greatly encouraged, which strengthened his confidence in the aerospace industry.

From here to the world

In a blink of an eye, the doctoral career is coming to an end, and the job search begins. Kang Zeyu resolutely put the aerospace research Institute as a key direction. With solid theory and rich practical experience, he has been recognized by many research institutes and employers. When he was in Canada, he was impressed by the model of the C919 on the desk of his foreign minister's office, and it has been a long-term vision for him to let foreigners fly on a large aircraft developed by Chinese people. By chance, he submitted his resume to ComAC, and after layers of selection, Kang Zeyu was selected into the second ComAC large aircraft "Youth Top-notch Talent Program". After graduation, he will join ComAC Shanghai Aircraft Design and Research Institute, and set up his own research team to face the technical difficulties and overcome the difficulties. As a doctor graduated from the School of Aeronautics and Astronautics of Jiaotong University, he will assume greater responsibilities, brave to face challenges, and contribute his strength to the cause of the motherland's large aircraft. Looking forward to one day, we can fly to the world in our own big plane!