Traditional straw checkerboard sand-fixation is time-consuming, labor-intensive and relies on off-site material collection. In response, Professor Cai Xiaobing's team from Xi'an Jiaotong University's School of Aerospace Engineering has developed UAV laser sand-fixation technology. Based on Beidou navigation for precise positioning, UAVs equipped with laser devices ablate the desert surface to form microsized checkerboard barriers (MCBs), enabling fully automated sand-fixation that only consumes electricity and requires no manual work. The achievement has been published in the top international mechanical journal Additive Manufacturing and highly recognized by global peers.

The core innovation lies in the "using sand to control sand" green concept. Instead of consuming a large amount of straw, the technology directly utilizes desert silica sand: laser sinters sand grains into a "root-like" protruding structure firmly embedded in the sand layer, which can resist force 8-10 winds. With Beidou's centimeter-level positioning, UAVs operate around the clock along preset paths, avoiding human access to harsh desert environments and greatly improving efficiency. Powered by electricity, it can achieve "zero external energy input" through solar power, conforming to green development requirements.

In terms of cost and environmental protection, the technology has obvious advantages: its cost is only 203 yuan per mu, half that of traditional manual straw checkerboards. Wind tunnel tests confirm its sand-fixation efficiency is improved by 85% at certain heights, matching traditional methods' protective effect. Unlike chemical sand-fixation (which may cause pollution) and biological sand-fixation (which requires large water resources), it uses no additives, realizing eco-friendly sand control. Having passed laboratory wind tunnel verification, the technology will enter field applications, and is expected to be rapidly promoted with the booming low-altitude economy, reducing desert management costs and providing "Chinese wisdom" for global desertification control.