Meet China's growing fleet of automated delivery drones

Chinese companies are going all-out on unmanned systems for delivery logistics. A fleet of new autonomous cargo drones, robotic trucks, and fast quadcopters are private-sector developments that are making China a future world leader in robotics.



Alibaba, China's largest e-commerce firm, is already making drone deliveries in Shanghai. Through the software of its Ele.me subsidiary, Alibaba's drones grab meals and other packages and fly them between delivery points. Human drivers then shuttle the packages the final distance to the customer. By using aircraft, the delivery service can skip China's crowded roads, cutting total delivery time to 20 minutes for customers in the participating area. Currently, drone delivery is only for the 22.5-square-mile Shanghai Jinshan Industrial Park, but there are plans to expand the program to other cities in coming years.

Alibaba is also planning to start mass production of the world's first solid-state LiDAR delivery robot, which uses a laser-based guidance system to navigate roads without the need for a human. The G Plus, which is a four-wheeled small truck, has a top speed of 10 mph (dropping to 6 mph when sharing the roads and sidewalks with pedestrians and cars). Once it reaches its destination, customers can unlock it using an app or a passcode. Alibaba states that the G Plus can even act as a smart, mobile coffee vendor. A similar vehicle will take to U.S. streets soon to deliver groceries as part of a trial program.

Read more at: https://www.popsci.com/china-drone-deliveries#page-3

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