Liu Xi, born on April 18, 1938, was the former Director of the Institute of Fangzi New Technologies before he retired in 1995. In the Fall of 2010, he enrolled in Computer Network Technology through the open education programme at the junior college programme of Weifang Radio and TV University (WFRTVU). He graduated in March 2013.

Liu Xi's work experience was closely related to study, research, invention, and continued learning and improvement. No matter what company he worked in or what job he performed, he was able to combine his work and the needs of the company with learning relevant information, increasing his knowledge and operational capacity, and making inventions. He invented the Clay Shredder, Mine Hoist and Traction Machine, Silicon Planar Transistor, Epitaxial Chip and Integrated Circuit, Ultra-low Temperature Dry Reed Relay, and more, which have created great benefits for the enterprises he worked in.
After his retirement, he founded Weifang Wandelang Auto Electric Appliance Manufacturing Co. Ltd (WFWDLAEAM) in 2003, serving as the Chairman and Chief Engineer. The company is now one of the largest suppliers of instruments and appliances for farm machinery manufacturers, including Foton Lovol International Heavy Industry Co., Ltd., Wuzheng Group, and Shifeng Group. Its current annual output value exceeds RMB 30 million. It has created taxable revenue of over RMB 1 million and more than 100 job opportunities, while mentoring a group of college students who have become the technical backbone of the company.
In 2004, the automatic controller’s performance in the header on the Half-feed Rice Harvester developed for Foton outpaced similar products on the market in both Japan and South Korea.
In 2007, he presided over the development of the dynamic magnetic meter, LCD meter, and step-motor meter for automobiles. In 2009, when the micro-stepper motor meter was tested for EU electromagnetic compatibility on Foton tractors, the company was the only supplier of meters that passed the tests on the first try. It has contributed to Foton vehicles being able to access the EU market.
In 2010, he applied to establish Weifang Leiwei Medical Instrument Limited Company, which aimed to harness the Internet of Things to transfer smart home monitoring to remote home monitoring and provide services for senior citizens. The Internet of Things monitoring system for the elderly built up a kinship hotline between the elderly and the youth, as well as a life support hotline between the elderly and their guardians. It has enabled older people to have a more comfortable and safer senior life at home and will benefit China's aging society.
Currently, the company is collaborating with another company in the joint development of an intelligent public transportation system utilizing the Internet of Things. The system will include centralized management of all vehicles (including vehicle status assessment, error detection and maintenance instruction, etc.), unified scheduling, automatic stop announcement, ability for passengers to view real-time bus location, and so on.
Due to his family’s status, Liu Xi began life as a bread earner at the age of 18, failing to enter college. However, he never ceased learning. He has taught himself engineering knowledge, which includes the Theory of Mechanics, electrodynamics, quantum mechanics, mechanics of materials, fluid mechanics, solid state physics, semiconductor physics, wireless electrical engineering, the Principles of Mechanics, mechanical drawing, the Principles of Internal Combustion Engines, and so on. In 1960, he enrolled at the Shandong Institute of Technology (SDIT) in college-degree correspondence courses on power plants, electrical power grids, and distribution systems. The institute was overwhelmed and unable to keep up with correspondence education during three consecutive years of natural disasters from 1959 to 1961. The correspondence programme was suspended after Liu Xi had only finished learning advanced mathematics. He was only able to earn a single-subject certificate of completion in Higher Mathematics. He later learnt Mathematical Statistics, Operational Research, and Linear Programming through the Mathematics Division at the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). He also studied computer technology such as Boolean Algebra, Principles of Computers, DBASE II Database, DOS operating systems, and BASIC language, etc. at Shandong University, which laid a solid theoretical foundation for his future research and development.
Yet dreams of college lingered. When he was over 70 years old, Liu Xi learnt that he could both learn professional knowledge and earn nationally recognized qualifications through WFRTVU's distance open education system. He was pleased to enroll in Computer Network Technology as an open education student in the spring of 2010. Liu Xi studied in a careful, rigorous, and meticulous manner. For each course he would delve deeply into the subject matter until he fully understood it. He would regularly consult his professional tutors at the RTVU, on one subject or another. His studious and progressive spirit is fully appreciated by the tutors and school leaders and he has also become a model for other students. In March 2013, Liu Xi successfully completed his studies as a junior college student and enrolled himself in the undergraduate computer science and technology programme.
Liu Xi has been engaged in technical work for more than half a century, devoting himself to the development and application of new products and new technology, as well as training young researchers. He has applied for 13 patents and published more than 10 papers or articles. Liu Xi taught himself multidisciplinary theories across various subjects in science and engineering. He continued his studies at the SDIT, the Mathematics Division of CAS, and Shandong University. This helped him build a strong theoretical foundation and a wealth of practical experience. He has developed a number of products which have filled in gaps in municipal, provincial, and domestic markets. He also mentored a number of technical personnel. The Weifang Radio Factory founded by him was once a benchmark enterprise under the Fourth Department of Machinery Industry. After retirement, he continued to benefit others with his contributions and founded WFWDLAEAM, which worked with many universities and scientific research institutions in the development of a variety of advanced auto meters for the domestic market, CAN-bus, and the technology supporting the Internet of Things.
Patent Awards:
1.ZL87211455.4 The first direct-current brain electrotherapy machine
2.ZL87212763.X The only inventor of direct-current gastritis electrotherapy machine
3.ZL92211210. X The first refrigerator main control screen
4.ZL92303250.9 The first refrigerator main control panel circuit board
5.ZL 92211209.6 The only inventor of a power-saving device for watt-hour meters
6.ZL95110497.7 The third all-in-one CPR first aid kit
7.ZL201020648013.7 The first infusion monitoring device
8.ZL201020640268.9 The first remote monitoring diagnosis device for the elderly
9.ZL201120147615.9 The first remote real-time query monitoring device for the elderly
10.ZL201220075331.8 The first infusion monitoring device based on the Internet of Things
11.ZL201220455652.0 The first ambulance monitoring system based on the Internet of Things
12.ZL201220522189.7 The second improved cerebral arteriosclerosis electrotherapy machine
13.ZL201220522125.7 The second improved gastritis electrotherapy machine
14. The second hotline system to help caretake the elderly using the Internet of Things (approval pending)
Main papers and books
1. Using the Planar Transistor as Voltage Regulator Tube, Semiconductor Technology, 1982. 5th edition, sole author.
2. Simplified Calculation of Evaporation Process, Semiconductor Technology, 1982. 5th edition, sole author.
3. Anatomical Analysis Report of AC187K/AC188K Low-Frequency Medium Power Germanium Tube, Shandong Semiconductor Technology, 1982. 1st edition, co-author.
4. An Economic, Reliable, Multi-purpose and Stable Power Supply, Shandong Semiconductor Technology, 1982. 1st edition, sole author.
5. Micrographic, Shandong Semiconductor Technology, 1982. 1st edition, sole author.
6. How to Test Semiconductor Devices with Graphic Instruments, Shandong Semiconductor Technology, 1982. 2nd edition, sole author.
7. Analysis of Direct-Current Electrotherapy against Stomachache, Seminar of Academic Exchanges and Product Development for Traditional Chinese Medicine Engineering in September, 1989, sole author.
8. Preliminary Study on the Effect of the ND Brain Electrotherapy Machine on Longevity, Seminar of Academic Exchanges and Product Development for Traditional Chinese Medicine Engineering in September, 1989, sole author.
9. The Effect of DC on the Treatment of Cerebrovascular Disease and the Health Care of the Brain, Academic Symposium on the Application of Instruments with Modern Technology in the Diagnosis and Therapy using Traditional Chinese Medicine in Aug, 1990, sole author.
10. Practical Handbook of Physical Therapy, People's Military Medical Publishing House , co-author.
Awards
In 1986, won district-wide title of ‘Advanced Worker in Science and Technology;’
In 1987, won district-wide title of ‘Advanced Worker in Science and Technology;’
In 1987, promoted one salary level in Fangzi District;
1988-1990, won title of ‘Top-notch Technical Personnel in Fangzi District;’
In 1989, won the title of ‘Outstanding Scientific Worker of Weifang City;’
In 1988, the Gastritis Electrotherapy Machine won the “Science and Technology Progress Award” in Fangzi District;
In 1988, the Cerebral Electrotherapy Machine won third prize at an invention exhibition in Shandong province;
In 1989, the Gastritis Electrotherapy Machine won third prize at Shandong Province Science and Technology Commission’s excellent invention competition;
In 1990, the Cerebral Electrotherapy Machine won bronze medal in the 5th National Invention Exhibition.