The first drone delivery service guided by China's Beidou Navigation Satellite System has begun operations in Zhuzhou, Hunan province, offering local residents a glimpse into a futuristic, fast-paced delivery system.
On Tuesday, drones departed from the Zhuzhou "Beidou+drone" low-altitude flying service center to deliver packages to an SF Express center about 4 kilometers away in just a few minutes. The drones flew at an altitude of around 200 meters.
Operated by Phoenix Technology, a subsidiary of SF Express and Zhuzhou Geckor Group, the service aims to significantly reduce delivery times. According to You Yang, sales director at Phoenix Technology, traditional road transportation would take at least 20 minutes. Drones, bypassing traffic and red lights, reduce that time by up to 70 percent.
"Drones are particularly useful for making emergency deliveries, carrying high-value items or reaching remote locations," You said.
Current costs for a single delivery range from 70 to 80 yuan ($9.78 to $11.17). With drones capable of carrying 50 to 100 packages, the service could become profitable, but for now, subsidies from local governments and enterprises help cover costs.
The center operates five routes for delivering medical supplies, everyday goods, agricultural products and emergency equipment, as well as performing waterway inspections. An additional seven routes have been approved for future use.
The drones used in Tuesday's launch are about 2 meters wide, with a maximum payload of 10 kilograms and a flight speed of 50 km per hour. The center also utilizes various other drone models capable of carrying between half a kilogram and 50 kg and flying distances from 10 km to 120 km.
The first company in China to receive a license for drone delivery, Phoenix Technology had opened 215 routes by the end of last year, transporting nearly 3 million packages weighing a total of 15 million metric tons. Drone deliveries are now routine in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, with 300 to 400 flights a day, but they are guided by GPS rather than Beidou.
Zhuzhou, a key hub for Beidou technology and low-altitude economic development, provides an ideal base for advancing homegrown drone delivery services. Tang Zhibin, a local resident, expressed excitement about the new technology and its potential convenience.
Zhou Jin, another onlooker, said he was "blown away" by the sight of the drones.
"They're much larger than the drones I've used for photography and remind me of something from Hollywood sci-fi movies," he said.
While China's drone technology is considered among the world's best, Zhou said more regulation will be necessary to ensure safety as drone usage becomes more widespread.