Supermarket takes off: central China opens its first sky supermarket

Supermarket takes off: central China opens its first sky supermarket

超市已进化到天上，中原有了首家空中超市

With the rapid growth of the low-altitude economy and the advancement of aircraft technology, supermarkets have now taken to the skies.

随着低空经济蓬勃发展以及低空飞行器技术逐渐走向成熟，超市都进化到了天上。

The country's first sky supermarket in central China has opened inside the Henan Low-altitude Economy Industrial Park (HLEIP) in Guancheng Hui District, Zhengzhou city, Henan province.

超市新物种出现了。在郑州市管城回族区的河南低空经济产业园内，就藏着中原首家空中超市。

So what exactly is a sky supermarket? Smart shopping carts assist customers throughout their shopping, while drones handle delivery. On August 18, staff at the "Wan Wu Ke Lian Sky Mart" were packing the sorted items into drone delivery boxes, sending them to consumers via a drone logistics system.

空中超市到底是个啥超市？智能购物车全程伴随、无人机配送商品……8月18日，这家名为“万物可联空中超市”的工作人员将分拣好的商品打包装入无人机配送箱，通过无人机物流体系配送至消费者手中。

At first glance, this 8,600-square-meter warehouse-type supermarket looks like any other. But the helipads and drone ground stations outside quickly reveal what sets it apart. "The Sky Mart allows customers to shop both online and in-store, and its standout feature is drone delivery-customers can place orders via mobile phone, have them delivered by drones, and enjoy door-to-door service," said Wu Wenqing, the supermarket's manager.

乍一走进，这个有着8600平方米的仓储型超市似乎与其他超市并无二致。然而，超市外配置的停机坪和无人机微型地面站，又暴露了它的与众不同。“空中超市线上线下均可购物，最大特点就是无人机配送，即手机下单、空中直达、送货上门。”该超市负责人吴文青说。

As a key part of the 400-mu HLEIP, Wan Wu Ke Lian Sky Mart is just one example of the Park's efforts to explore the potential of the low-altitude economy. Currently under construction, the Park is equipped with infrastructure such as drone takeoff and landing zones, low-altitude flight transfer stations, and drone arenas. The Park aims to establish a complete industrial ecosystem covering drone research and development, manufacturing, sales, application services, and competitive training.

作为占地400亩河南低空经济产业园的重要组成部分，万物可联空中超市只是在探索低空经济更多的现实可能性。目前，这个正在建设的产业园，配备无人机起降场、低空飞行接驳场、无人机竞技场等硬件设施，着力引进并形成涵盖无人机整机研发生产、销售代理、应用服务、竞技培训等多个环节的完整产业链。

"Sit at home, and your order arrives from the sky. Drones offer key advantages in low-altitude airspace, such as speed, precision, efficiency, and flexibility, addressing the challenges of traditional logistics like slow deliveries and high labor costs," introduced Huang Yujuan, the operation manager of HLEIP. Currently, the Sky Mart has three approved drone routes, covering a 5-kilometer radius around the supermarket. By partnering with residential communities and local businesses, it delivers goods directly to consumers' doorsteps. Plans are also underway to add 3 more long-distance routes to expand coverage.

“人在家中坐，订单空中降。无人机在低空空域具有快速准确、高效灵活的优势，可解决传统物流配送时效慢、人力成本高等痛点。”河南低空经济产业园运营经理黄玉娟介绍，目前，空中超市已申请开通了3条航线，无人机配送区域覆盖距离超市约5公里的范围，并通过与小区物业、商户等合作，实现商品直送到消费者家中；正在申请增设另外3条远距离航线，争取覆盖更大范围。

The Sky Mart employs four licensed drone pilots, including Cheng Shuai, a millennial. According to Cheng, the logistics drones at the supermarket have a maximum payload capacity of 40 kilograms and a delivery speed of about 10 meters per second. Within the current delivery zone, customers usually receive their orders in under 15 minutes.

空中超市配备了4名专业的无人机飞手，“90后”成帅是其中一位。据他介绍，超市使用的物流无人机最大有效载重为40公斤，配送飞行速度约为10米/秒，按当前配送范围计算，消费者从下单到收货一般不超过15分钟。

"Like a stone dropped into the deep waters of the low-altitude economy, the Sky Mart is an innovation in retail. Its core value lies in overcoming geographical and transportation barriers, reshaping the 'people-goods-market' relationship, and redefining the consumer experience," said Song Xiangqing, president of Henan Commerce Economy Association (HCEA).

“如同投入低空经济深湖中的一颗石子，空中超市是一种零售模式创新，其核心价值在于突破地理与交通限制，重构‘人—货—场’关系，重塑消费体验。”河南省商业经济学会会长宋向清如是评价。

The sky knows no bounds. As drones increasingly enter daily life, the low-altitude economy is opening up a new world of applications and consumer experiences.

天空，没有极限。“飞”进现实，“飞”入生活，低空经济正在解锁更多新应用新场景。（中文来源/河南日报 记者/王延辉 陈浩 编译/洪建园 审校/丁岚 童林）