Tech giants start by disassembling systems

Chapter 156 The Hunt

2020 11 Month 8 Day.

A week has passed since Hongyuan Feiniao issued its three-pronged counterattack statement.

During this week, domestic public opinion almost unanimously sided with Hongyuan Feiniao. It consistently topped the Weibo trending topics list, the Feiniao Industry Alliance surged from 217 to 248 members, Hangxindatong's "100 Enterprises Plan" nearly stalled, and the H-Link V2.0 open-source version surpassed 120,000 downloads.

However, international public opinion is in a completely opposite direction.

Starting on November 5th, a meticulously planned media offensive spread like an undercurrent through mainstream Western media.

Reuters was the first to publish a lengthy, in-depth commentary titled "Flying Birds: A New Example of Technological Nationalism."

The article, which took nearly 5,000 words, described Su Chen’s three-pronged counterattack—light armor alliance, H-Link free and open source, and S1 price reduction—as “a closed ecosystem strategy using technology as a weapon.” It also quoted the views of three anonymous “industry analysts” who claimed that “Hongyuan Feiniao is trying to build a technological barrier that excludes international cooperation.”

The article contains the following passage:

"...This Chinese company, less than a year old, refused to supply its core materials to international clients, while simultaneously disrupting market pricing order through a free strategy. This is not innovation; it's a classic example of technological nationalism..."

Bloomberg followed suit with a column titled "Lightweight Armor: A New Barrier in the Carbon Fiber Industry," which even compared the Lightweight Armor Alliance to a "technological iron curtain."

Nikkei Asia's report was even more direct—"Chinese Drone Companies Reject International Cooperation, Global Carbon Fiber Supply Chain Faces Restructuring." The article quoted "an unnamed Toray executive" as saying, "We regret that Hongyuan Feiniao has politicized lightweight armor technology."

The Financial Times' commentary was the most scathing:

"Su Chen of Hongyuan Flying Bird, a 25-year-old Chinese man, is weaving a technological iron curtain with carbon fiber. He refuses to supply materials to Boeing and Airbus, while dumping their flight control agreements for free. If this behavior were done by European and American companies, it would have been targeted by antitrust agencies long ago."

In addition to the "official" reports from these mainstream media outlets, the smear campaigns on social media are even more unscrupulous.

Numerous anonymous accounts have appeared on Twitter, spreading various false information about Su Chen and Hong Yuanfei.

"The data for Hongyuan Feiniao's light armor is seriously falsified; its actual performance is far lower than advertised."

"Su Chen's academic background is questionable; it is said that there was academic misconduct during his postgraduate studies at Tsinghua University."

"Hong Yuan Flying Bird's financial chain is about to collapse, and it is currently secretly seeking government assistance."

These tweets were widely shared in a short period of time, forming an organized public opinion offensive.

Although Chinese netizens quickly noticed the suspicious nature of these tweets—their posting time was highly concentrated, their wording style was highly consistent, and their retweeting patterns clearly showed signs of being manipulated by online trolls—these messages had already had a significant impact on the international public opinion arena.

Some international small and medium-sized enterprises that were originally observing the situation began to waver, and some overseas companies that had already submitted alliance applications also chose to postpone them for the time being.

When the news reached Suzhou, Su Chen was in the DRIE laboratory.

The day after the successful initial test of the 200mm cavity, he began designing the 250mm cavity. Based on the verification results in virtual space, the 250mm cavity required a fine-tuning of the guide channel angle from 11.5 degrees to 12.2 degrees, along with adaptive modifications to the gas path system.

Lin Wei called him and gave him a brief report on the international public opinion situation.

"Reuters, Bloomberg, Nikkei, Financial Times—they've all covered it." Her voice carried a hint of weariness. "The wording is even more vicious than I expected. There are also a large number of trolls on Twitter spreading rumors that you falsified your academic credentials and that your company's funding chain has collapsed."

"Hmm." Su Chen responded, his pen still in his hand—he was drafting an installation plan for the 250mm cavity's guide channel on paper.

"Aren't you worried?" Lin Wei asked helplessly.

"What are you worried about?" Su Chen asked without looking up. "They can write their stuff, I'll etch my silicon. Will Reuters' comments reduce my DRIE etching rate by even a micrometer?"

There was a two-second silence on the other end of the phone.

"Okay." Lin Wei sighed. "What about the international clients? Some small and medium-sized enterprises that were initially hesitant are starting to back out."

"As expected." Su Chen put down his pen, leaned back in his chair, and said, "Lin Wei, who do you think is behind this media offensive?"

"It's hard to say. It could be a stakeholder in the carbon fiber industry, or it could be Hangxindatong leveraging their resources. The timeline of the IDSA report's financial backer and this media offensive highly coincides."

"That's right." Su Chen's tone was as calm as if he were discussing the weather. "Since they want to upgrade, then we'll upgrade too. Notify Zhang Haotian that the waiting period for non-alliance companies in the Light Armor category is extended from three months to six months. Add a clause to the alliance charter—any company with financial dealings with IDSA will automatically lose its eligibility to apply for alliance membership."

"Wouldn't this be too harsh?" Lin Wei hesitated. "Boeing and Airbus were initially showing signs of softening their stance..."

"Whether they loosen their grip or not is none of our business," Su Chen's voice turned colder. "Light armor isn't like cabbage; it's not something anyone can just buy. Since they've chosen to use a media offensive to exert pressure, they should be prepared for a doubly long waiting period."

"……Understood."

"There's one more thing," Su Chen added. "Contact Zhang Haotian and have him prepare a detailed white paper on our light armor technology, compiling all the testing data, authoritative certification reports, and customer feedback. Release it simultaneously on our official website and Zhihu. They say we're fabricating data; let the data speak for itself."

"good."

After hanging up the phone, Su Chen picked up his pen again.

He glanced at the Reuters article title that was pushed to his phone screen—"A New Example of Technological Nationalism."

A cold smile curled slightly at the corner of his lips.

Technological nationalism?

No, this is called technological autonomy.

When the S1 phone was cut off from chip supplies, why didn't Reuters call it "technological hegemony"? When IDSA used a baseless report to cause international clients to collectively back down, why didn't Bloomberg call it "commercial suppression using the media as a weapon"?

It takes skill to be so self-righteous about double standards.

However, Su Chen really didn't have time to engage in verbal battles with these media outlets.

The design of a 250 mm cavity is the top priority.

According to the simulation results in the virtual space, four sets of guide channels are needed for the 250 mm cavity, with the angle adjusted from 11.5 degrees to 12.2 degrees. However, there is still a variable in the real world that the virtual space did not fully simulate—the thermal expansion effect of the cavity wall.

During the initial test of the 200 mm cavity, Su Chen noticed a subtle phenomenon: after running continuously for forty minutes, the temperature of the cavity wall rose from room temperature to about 65°C, and the actual angle of the guide channel shifted by about 0.08 degrees due to thermal expansion.

0.08 degrees.

On a 200 mm cavity, this offset is almost negligible. However, when magnified to a 250 mm or even 300 mm cavity, the cumulative effect of thermal expansion may cause unacceptable deviations in the airflow distribution.

This is a problem that has never occurred in the virtual space.

Because the virtual space of the disassembly system simulates the physical process under ideal conditions, while the effect of thermal expansion, which accumulates over a long period of time, needs to be repeatedly tested in the real world to be accurately modeled.

"Shen Zhiming." Su Chen called Shen Zhiming over.

"President Su?"

"Did you record the temperature data from the first measurement of the 200mm cavity?"

"It's recorded." Shen Zhiming pulled up a set of curves on the computer. "After running continuously for 40 minutes, the temperature of the cavity wall rose from 23°C to 64.7°C, and the temperature in the guide channel area was slightly higher, reaching 66.2°C."

Did you notice the 0.08-degree angular deviation?

Shen Zhiming paused for a moment, then quickly typed a few keys on the keyboard, bringing up another set of data. After looking at it for a few seconds, his eyes widened suddenly.

"Mr. Su, are you saying... thermal expansion caused the angle of the guide channel to shift?"

"对。200毫米上偏移0.08度影响不大，但250毫米上可能会放大到0.15度以上。如果不解决这个问题，250毫米腔体的均匀性可能无法达标。"

Shen Zhiming's expression instantly turned serious.

"I'll start modeling right away. We need to incorporate the coefficient of thermal expansion into the airflow simulation."

"No rush," Su Chen waved his hand. "First, conduct a long-term thermal stability test using a 200mm cavity. Run it continuously for two hours, recording the temperature and etching data every ten minutes. I need the actual thermal expansion curves, not simulation estimates."

"clear!"

Shen Zhiming turned and ran out of the control room, his figure disappearing in the direction of the workshop.

Su Chen watched his retreating figure, a slight smile playing on his lips.

This kid is making rapid progress.

Three months ago, he was just a routine process maintenance engineer, but now he can independently identify and analyze abnormal data in experiments.

Given time, Shen Zhiming will become one of the top process engineers in the domestic DRIE field.

And this is one of the seeds that Su Chen planted.

While Su Chen was focused on tackling the DRIE technology, another undercurrent was quietly brewing in Beijing, hundreds of kilometers away.

.........

September 11, evening.

A high-end private club next to the Beihang University campus in Haidian District, Beijing.

Professor Fang Jianhua, vice dean of the School of Microelectronics at Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, sat in a private room with a cup of Longjing tea that had gone cold in front of him.

Sitting opposite him was a Japanese man in his early fifties—Akira Ishikawa, the technical director of Bosch China.

The two had been talking for almost an hour.

"Professor Fang, let me repeat myself." Ishikawa Akira spoke fluent Chinese with a slight accent, but his precise wording made it easy to forget he was a foreigner. "The joint laboratory project between Bosch and Beihang University has a total investment of five million RMB, all borne by Bosch. In addition, we will recommend you for a six-month visiting scholar position at the MIT Microsystems Lab, as well as the opportunity to co-author two IEEE papers."

Fang Jianhua didn't speak, his right hand unconsciously twirling the teacup.

He is 53 years old this year and has worked at Beihang University for 28 years, rising from lecturer to vice dean. While not academically top-notch, he possesses strong administrative skills, a wide network of connections, and considerable influence in the MEMS academic community.

But it only has a "certain" level of influence.

Compared to Professor Zhou Zhiyuan of Tsinghua University, Fang Jianhua's academic standing is far inferior. Zhou Zhiyuan's "Fundamentals of Microelectromechanical Systems Design" is the designated textbook for more than 20 universities across the country, while Fang Jianhua's most influential academic achievement is merely a review paper that has been cited more than 300 times.

This is also a thorn that has always been in Fang Jianhua's heart - he and Zhou Zhiyuan graduated from Tsinghua University in the same year. Zhou Zhiyuan stayed at the university to teach and became a leading figure in the field of MEMS, while he went to Beihang University and worked there for more than 20 years, but never made a real breakthrough in academia.

Now, Bosch has given him an opportunity.

"Mr. Ishikawa," Fang Jianhua finally spoke, his voice not loud but each word clear, "why is Bosch suddenly so interested in MEMS education?"

Akira Ishikawa smiled slightly.

"Professor Fang is a sensible person, so I won't beat around the bush. Su Chen from Hongyuan Feiniao is pushing for MEMS development boards to be used in universities. If this succeeds, the impact on Bosch will be far more than just losing an order for a few hundred sets of experimental boards."

"I understand." Fang Jianhua nodded. "Training a generation of engineers who grow up using Hongyuan chips—that's the truly terrifying thing."

"Exactly." Ishikawa Akira's expression turned serious. "Bosch holds over 35% of the MEMS market share in China, with annual revenue exceeding four billion RMB. If Chinese universities start teaching Hongyuan Feiniao's MEMS chips from now on, then three to five years later, when these students graduate and enter the industry, they will instinctively prioritize Hongyuan Feiniao's solutions over Bosch's. This is a strategic threat to Bosch."

"So you need someone to give a different voice in academia." Fang Jianhua looked at Ishikawa Akira, his gaze calm.

"Yes," Ishikawa Akira said without hesitation, "We need an influential scholar to point out the problems with Hongyuan Feiniao MEMS development boards being used in universities from an academic perspective. Not baseless smears, but reasonable and evidence-based questioning."

Fang Jianhua remained silent for a long time.

He knew perfectly well that Ishikawa Akira's "reasonable questioning" was just a nice-sounding phrase. Essentially, Bosch needed an academic proxy to use the vice dean's position and influence at Beihang University to counter Zhou Zhiyuan's push.

But the five million dollar joint lab funding… the six-month visiting scholar position at MIT… the IEEE paper…

These are things he might never be able to obtain through his own academic abilities in his entire life.

"Will you participate in the industry roundtable live broadcast the day after tomorrow afternoon?" Akira Ishikawa asked.

"Yes." Fang Jianhua nodded. "I've accepted YuChen.com's invitation."

"That's good." Ishikawa Akira stood up and bowed slightly. "Professor Fang, I look forward to your rational voice at the roundtable. I will have someone deliver the joint laboratory agreement to your office next Monday."

Fang Jianhua watched Ishikawa Akira's departing figure, picked up the cup of Longjing tea that had completely gone cold, and drank it all in one gulp.

Tea is bitter.

But for some reason, he felt even more bitter inside.

.........

Meanwhile, at Tsinghua University's Heqingyuan residential community.

Professor Zhou Zhiyuan sat in his study, with a stack of circuit design drawings for MEMS development boards spread out in front of him.

These drawings were sent to me by Su Chen a few days ago—a complete design scheme for a MEMS experimental teaching kit, including a development board motherboard, six detachable sensor modules, an outline for the accompanying experimental manual, and the framework for an online course platform.

Cost: 48.5 yuan per set.

Zhou Zhiyuan read it three times.

The first impression is from the perspective of a MEMS expert: the design is ingenious, highly modular, and the sensor selection covers six basic types: acceleration, gyroscope, pressure, temperature and humidity, magnetic field, and photoelectric. Although the core chip is still under development, the development board has reserved enough expansion interfaces, which can seamlessly connect to Hongyuan Feiniao's self-developed MEMS chips in the future.

The second time I read it, I looked at it from an educator's perspective—the outline of the lab manual was very well designed, progressing step by step from the most basic sensor principles to advanced multi-sensor fusion algorithms, suitable for teaching needs at different levels from undergraduate to graduate.

The third viewing was from the perspective of an old man.

He recalled that thirty years ago, when he was a young professor, he had also tried to promote China's independent MEMS teaching system. But at that time, the foundation of MEMS technology in China was too weak. Let alone development boards, there wasn't even a decent domestically produced MEMS chip.

Ultimately, he had to compromise and use Bosch and ST chips as teaching examples in the textbook.

It has been used for over twenty years.

Now, a young man named Su Chen walked up to him and said, "Professor Zhou, I'll do this."

Zhou Zhiyuan picked up his phone and dialed Su Chen's number.

"Su Chen, I confirm my participation in the industry roundtable the day after tomorrow afternoon."

"Professor Zhou, thank you." Su Chen's voice came through the phone, calm but sincere. "However, I must warn you, the other party might be very difficult to deal with. I heard that Bosch China has made some... arrangements behind the scenes."

"I know." Zhou Zhiyuan smiled slightly. "Fang Jianhua took on the Bosch joint laboratory project; it's already widely known in the industry."

Aren't you worried?

"What's there to worry about?" Zhou Zhiyuan's voice carried a calmness born of experience. "I'm sixty-seven this year, retired. I don't need funding, I don't need papers, I don't need titles. The only thing I care about is that I've taught MEMS my whole life, and in the end, I was teaching someone else's stuff. Now I have the opportunity to change that. What do I have to worry about?"

There was a few seconds of silence on the other end of the phone.

"Professor Zhou..."

"Alright, that's enough." Zhou Zhiyuan interrupted Su Chen. "Go and work on your DRIE. Leave the roundtable to me. Remember, technology is fundamental. Only when your DRIE breaks through will every word I say at the roundtable carry weight."

"clear."

After hanging up the phone, Zhou Zhiyuan pulled a yellowed old book from the bookshelf—the first edition of "Fundamentals of Microelectromechanical Systems Design" that he wrote thirty years ago.

Turning to the title page, one finds a line of faded text:

"Dedicated to the future of MEMS in China."

Thirty years have passed.

This "future" may finally be coming.