Pursuing the Dream of Serving the Country Through Aerospace with Craftsmanship
Xin Ru, a 2014 master’s graduate in Mechatronic Engineering from the College of Engineering, Shantou University, is a senior engineer and currently Chief Engineer at Beijing Lingkong Tianxing Technology Co., Ltd.
During his studies, he participated in a major science and technology special project of Guangdong Province and was awarded Excellent Master’s Thesis of the university.
After graduation, he has dedicated himself to the aerospace industry. He took part in the full development cycle of key in-cabin equipment for the Chinese Space Station (which has operated stably in orbit for five years), and conquered technical challenges in foldable air rudders for launch vehicles.
As the first inventor, he holds multiple national invention patents such as
A Foldable Air Rudder for Hypersonic Vehicles. His technologies have been verified in multiple flight tests, making important contributions to China’s manned spaceflight and national defense industry.
Guidance from Teachers Lights the Way
Solid Foundation for Steady Progress
For Xin Ru, his years at the College of Engineering were not only a journey of academic learning but also the starting point of his craftsmanship spirit.
In graduate school, he was fortunate to be supervised by Professor Zhao Yongjie.
“Professor Zhao’s rigorous, pragmatic and dedicated research attitude has deeply shaped my professional character,” Xin Ru recalled.
His supervisor often stayed late in the laboratory and kept guiding students even on weekends.
His words, “Study hard at university; some knowledge may not be useful right now, but it will be in the future,” became his motto for overcoming difficulties throughout his career.
Those days at the foot of Sangpu Mountain — late nights of research in the lab, the warmth of a 2.5-yuan three-dish meal in the canteen, and the melody of
Horse Racing when the library closed — not only consolidated his professional foundation but also cultivated his down-to-earth, pragmatic and enterprising engineering character.
Seven years after graduation, when he faced coupled mechanical, thermal and structural challenges in developing foldable rudders for a key launch vehicle model, the design methods he learned in graduate school enabled him to quickly break through bottlenecks and ensure the smooth progress of the major project.
Chasing the Aerospace Dream to Build National Heavy Equipment
Breaking Through Hardships with a Strong Sense of Responsibility
Empowered by his alma mater, Xin Ru resolutely embarked on a career in aerospace after graduation, aligning his personal interest with national needs.
He has successively participated in the construction of the Chinese Space Station and led the development and flight tests of multiple solid launch vehicle models, completing a remarkable transformation from a student to a builder of national strategic equipment.
For the space station mission, the key in-cabin equipment he designed achieved lightweight construction and has operated stably in orbit for more than five years.
In the field of launch vehicles, he focused on the highly challenging foldable air rudder technology for hypersonic vehicles, which operates under extreme conditions including high temperatures and large overloads.
Xin Ru innovatively designed a thermally sealed and thermally matched structure, breaking through traditional technical limitations.
Verified in multiple flight tests, his achievements have made outstanding contributions to China’s manned spaceflight and national defense industry.
Integrating Intelligence with Cutting-Edge Technologies
Creating New Opportunities Through Cross-Disciplinary Integration
At the forefront of hard tech, Xin Ru has keenly observed that the artificial intelligence wave is sweeping the world and becoming a core driver of industrial transformation.
“The deep integration of artificial intelligence with engineering disciplines such as mechatronics and aerospace holds massive innovative opportunities,” he noted.
He believes that future high-end equipment will become more intelligent and autonomous.
For engineering students, this represents both a challenge and a promising frontier.
He advised current students to strengthen their traditional engineering foundations while actively embracing cutting-edge technologies such as AI, develop interdisciplinary systematic thinking, and combine “hard manufacturing” with “soft intelligence” to gain an edge in increasingly fierce technological competition.
Cultivating Virtue and Upholding Original Aspiration
Striving Far with Sincerity and Integrity
Looking back on more than a decade of professional life, Xin Ru summarized four valuable life lessons:
Lifelong learning.“Only through continuous improvement can we keep pace with the industry and the times.”
He emphasized that aerospace technology evolves extremely rapidly, and ceasing to learn means falling behind.
Calmly solving dilemmas.When facing tough problems, there is no need to rush; temporary pause often brings new insights and breakthroughs.
Sincere and tolerant conduct.“Being willing to endure small losses is a blessing.”
Treating others honestly and working steadfastly will eventually earn recognition and rewards.
Cherishing family.Family is the strongest support.
Taking good care of family allows one to pursue dreams wholeheartedly.
Lights of Sangpu Mountain Shine Upon the Sky
Message to Juniors to Carry Forward the Legacy
“The lights in the Mechatronics Building, the warmth of the canteen, the wisdom of lectures, the melodies of concerts…”
Xin Ru’s heart is filled with warmth when recalling the College of Engineering.
It not only equipped him with professional knowledge but also nurtured his growth with profound humanistic care.
To current students, he expressed high expectations:
“Cherish your precious study time at Shantou University, solidify your engineering foundation, practice more, research deeper and improve continuously.
Choose career directions aligned with national needs and cutting-edge fields, and integrate your strengths into the tide of the era.
Achieve value through hard work, pursue dreams with craftsmanship, and a bright future awaits you!”
From the foot of Sangpu Mountain to the boundless sky, Xin Ru has embodied the responsibility and commitment of STU engineering graduates with the rigor and perseverance of an aerospace engineer.
His story inspires more engineering students to look up at the stars while staying grounded, leaving their own marks on the journey of building a strong country through science and technology.
STU Engineering Legacy
The “STU Engineering Legacy” alumni promotion campaign is an important initiative of the College of Engineering to inherit its spiritual roots and gather momentum for development.
Since the university’s founding in 1981, the college has educated graduates across all walks of life — overcoming challenges on engineering frontlines, making breakthroughs in cutting-edge research, and dedicating themselves silently in grassroots positions, all interpreting the engineering spirit of “focus, rigor and innovation” through concrete actions.
By weaving together these scattered stories, “STU Engineering Legacy” turns the struggles of senior alumni into a beacon for younger students and helps current learners find direction from role models around them.
It also serves as an emotional bond between the college and its alumni.
The campaign not only makes alumni feel cared for and recognized by their alma mater but also builds a platform for resource sharing:
alumni enterprises can conduct industry-university-research cooperation with the college to translate scientific achievements into industrial power;
entrepreneurial alumni can provide internships and guidance for students, enabling the inheritance of experience.
This two-way interaction boosts alumni career development while injecting new vitality into the college’s discipline construction and talent cultivation.
Furthermore, “STU Engineering Legacy” acts as a window to showcase the college’s educational achievements and enhance social influence.
When alumni take leading roles in major engineering projects or win honors in technological innovation, their accomplishments represent the best proof of the college’s talent training quality.
Promoting these achievements helps attract outstanding students, expand cooperative resources, further implement the “college-academy collaboration” and “five-in-one education” systems, and cultivate more high-quality engineering talents for the industrial development of Shantou and the whole nation.
