Ningbo launches low-altitude smart community with drone deliveries

Ningbo, Zhejiang province, has taken a leap into the future of urban logistics with the launch of the province's first low-altitude economy smart community.

Ningbo, as a low-altitude airspace reform pilot and general aviation demonstration zone, is actively fostering a low-altitude ecosystem, recognizing that getting drones airborne is crucial for growth.

The project, a collaboration between Ningbo Yixin Smart Technology, a local technology company, and a real estate company, showcased a drone delivering coffee from a mall to a residential community in Jiangbei district in minutes on Aug 28, marking the opening of the city's first "mall-to-community" drone route.

The drone, designed for stability and precision even in adverse weather, performed the task effortlessly. This breakthrough showcases the potential of drones to revolutionize urban services, with plans to expand beyond logistics into a range of intelligent community services.

Yixin, a tech innovator in low-altitude transport infrastructure, has invested heavily in R&D, building a robust unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) production system. Its subsidiary, Feiba Logistics, holds Ningbo’s first UAV Logistics Operation License issued by the Civil Aviation Administration of China. Currently operating 20 routes across the city, covering bustling business districts and tourist attractions, the company aims to expand its flight zones and introduce over 50 new routes this year.

The company's drone delivery WeChat mini-program is set to launch soon, broadening access to this futuristic service.