Drones reducing costs while boosting efficiency

"Drones are not just changing industries, they are changing how we live," she said, highlighting how drones are increasingly becoming a part of daily life, revolutionizing logistics, work environments and even travel.

Li Feng, chairman of Yifei Aviation Technology Co Ltd, a drone maker in North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region, aims to make drones a new standard in the millennia-old practice of animal husbandry.

Founded in 2016, the innovative company has developed two groundbreaking drone applications for husbandry. One of their most notable creations is the "cow face recognition" drone, which can accurately identify individual cows by their faces, allowing farmers to track and monitor their herds with ease.

Another product is the herding speaker drone, which can be remotely controlled to guide straying herds back into designated areas, ensuring they stay on their intended paths.

"We hope our products will help reduce the need for constant human supervision and increase the efficiency in grazing," Li Feng said.

Zigui county of Hubei, renowned as the "hometown of Chinese navel oranges", now boasts a fleet of over 500 drones, which officials have hailed as a key driver of productivity in modern farming.

From pest control to harvesting, these drones have facilitated the full mechanization of agricultural operations. "Achieving mechanized farming in mountainous terrain presents significant challenges, but drone technology is making it possible," said Song Xingjian, an official of the county government.

Looking to the future, business insiders believe that clearer policy planning and continuous technological innovation will further propel the industry's growth, providing a strong foundation for breakthroughs and accelerating expansion into new frontiers.

China's low-altitude economy, comprising both manned and unmanned aerial vehicles, has been gaining momentum, prompting the National Development and Reform Commission to establish a dedicated department in 2024 to support its growth.

The new department is responsible for formulating and organizing the implementation of strategic as well as mid and long-term development plans, providing policy recommendations, and coordinating major issues related to the low-altitude economy. CCID Consulting projects the sector will exceed 1 trillion yuan by 2026.

As artificial intelligence, big data and the internet of things continue to integrate, drone performance is expected to improve, expanding their range of applications and miniaturization. These advances will make drones more compact and lightweight, boosting their potential in military, surveillance and consumer markets, said Guo Meng, an analyst with Zero Power Intelligence Group.

Xinhua