South China's first specialized lake test base for marine intelligent equipment has completed its initial phase and begun operations in Baiyun district, Guangzhou.

Built on a former abandoned quarry beside Honglu Reservoir at the foot of Baiyun Mountain, the facility has already completed full-function lake tests of high-end marine equipment, including 3,000-meter-class autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) and small remotely operated vehicles (ROVs).

The lake test base in Baiyun. [Photo/WeChat account: gz_baiyunfabu]

Marine equipment R&D typically passes through three stages of tank tests, lake tests, and sea trials. Lake testing is the key link between laboratory research and real-world maritime application, accounting for more than 30 percent of the overall R&D cycle.

The base is operated by the Guangdong Institute of Intelligent Unmanned Systems and offers standardized, full-process technical support for lake test projects. Its test waters stretch up to 520 meters long and 330 meters wide, with an average depth of nearly 30 meters.

Clear water, stable hydrology, and surrounding hills that block outside interference allow the site to meet the testing standards for acoustic, optical, electrical, and magnetic elements. Shore platforms, equipment storage, cranes, workboats, and an uninterrupted power supply support multiple devices running tests in parallel.