By outdoor-nature-child.com “Aircraft unlocked, personnel cleared for takeoff. Ready to fly!”
These commands resonate as Li Zuoqiang, a drone pilot from Shenzhen’s Futian District, sits poised at his computer, skillfully maneuvering a sleek, silver Fengyu Ark 40 drone. With just a click on the smart operations platform, this drone, capable of carrying a 10-kilogram payload, ascends effortlessly, making its way to Longhua District in record time.
Li and his team have achieved a remarkable feat, cutting the typical delivery time for a nearly 10-kilometer route from 30 minutes down to just 15. At 29 years old, surrounded by neatly packaged parcels and the open sky, Li has cultivated a true passion for flying. With six years of experience, he is more than just a proficient drone operator; he is also an industry veteran in the courier field.
Since the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security introduced new job classifications in April 2019, including that of drone pilot, Li jumped at the internal opportunity to transition from a ground courier to a drone operator, entering the exciting realm of low-altitude logistics.
“The role of a drone pilot expands the courier network into new frontiers by bridging innovative technology with traditional logistics,” Li shares. However, shifting from ground-based delivery to operating drones presents its own set of challenges.
“To be an effective drone pilot, you really need to be a ‘jack-of-all-trades,’” he explains. “Drones are subject to various factors during flight, so it’s crucial to have a solid grasp of their components and how they function to address any unexpected issues effectively.”
Li underscores the increasing complexity of drone operations today. “It’s much more automated now. Once the flight path is set, the drone can return by itself with just a button press. That said, solid manual skills are still essential. If I encounter an electromagnetic disturbance mid-flight that causes a malfunction, I might need to step in and guide the drone back manually.”
Reflecting on a particularly challenging moment in July 2021 during the peak season for harvesting matsutake mushrooms in western Sichuan, Li recalls the obstacles they faced. They had set up a distribution point and harvesting site, but two main issues loomed: high altitudes and fluctuating temperatures threatened battery performance, and the unpredictable winds often posed risks during flight.
Drawing on his expertise in battery technology, Li and his team devised a warming storage solution in the mountains—effectively creating a “greenhouse” for the drone batteries to ensure optimal performance in cold conditions. With a thorough understanding of drone mechanics, he was equipped to assess flight conditions and quickly decide whether to hover, make an emergency landing, or return when faced with extreme weather.
This expertise revolutionized the delivery process. “Transporting mushrooms from the mountains used to take an entire day,” Li notes. “But now, with drone logistics in place, that journey is reduced to just minutes, making it possible to deliver fresh produce from the farm to consumers within 24 hours. This not only keeps the mushrooms fresh but also significantly boosts local farmers’ incomes. This year, drones alone have transported over 400 tons of mushrooms, creating an efficient aerial delivery system.”
In his six years of flying, Li has logged over 400,000 kilometers, witnessing firsthand the rapid development of low-altitude logistics. The applications of this technology are expanding rapidly, catering to a diverse range of goods from documents and clothing to perishables and jewelry, with capabilities extending for both light and heavy items over varying distances.
“The industry evolves every day, reaffirming my choice to enter this field,” Li feels passionately. By analyzing and testing various flight paths, he and his team successfully established two additional drone distribution points in Baoan District last year, further expanding delivery capabilities. “Our goal is to build a denser network for low-altitude logistics, enabling drones to efficiently and safely manage delivery tasks over a broader range of scenarios.” With a clear vision for the future, Li is excited about the potential of drone logistics on the horizon.