UAV services made available on tap of a button

Residents in Changsha, Hunan province, are now using a WeChat mini-program called "Kongzhong Kuaidi" to book unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) services ranging from aerial photography to emergency rescue, high-rise window cleaning and even to sow seeds.

Launched on Aug 18, it is the country's first mobile internet service platform dedicated to the low-altitude economy, according to Wen Hongcheng, founder of the platform and general manager of Changsha-based Hunan Kongzhong Kuaidi Intelligent Technology Co.

"It has gathered over 500 certified operators, attracted 5,300 registered users, completed more than 500 orders in total, achieved revenue exceeding 2 million yuan ($282,816), and the daily visit volume of the platform has reached 26,000," he said. "The platform has innovatively built a digital service system connecting users with professional drone pilots.

"Pilots register on the platform with qualifications, and users place orders with one click. The system then intelligently matches them with certified operators," Wen said.

The company plans to gradually expand its services across Hunan and aims to enter the national market by the end of the year.

Xindahui Technology Engineering Co, a professional UAV service provider specializing in glass-cleaning UAVs with branches in Guangdong province's Guangzhou and Shenzhen; Changsha, and Wuhan in Hubei province, has been among the first enterprises to join the platform.

"The platform is transparent and efficient. We've already received some orders," said Hu Yi, general manager of Xindahui.

"It significantly shortens the distance between potential customers and us, and reduces marketing costs compared to traditional channels," he said.

Similar to ride-hailing platform Didi, Kongzhong Kuaidi automatically assigns orders, handles payments, and allows users to rate services after each flight.

It also offers pilot training, certification, and drone leasing and sales, building a full chain of talent, equipment and technology.

Established in January in the Changsha High-tech Industrial Development Zone, the company had spent more than a year conducting research on the low-altitude economy across more than 100 cities before its founding.

Wen noted that the company's research team includes a chief scientist from a key State laboratory in Wuhan University, along with core members from leading domestic tech firms.

In terms of hardware, the company has independently developed a high-reliability AIoT (artificial intelligence of things) terminal — "black box" — for UAVs.

According to Wen, Kongzhong Kuaidi is set to build Hunan's first intelligent drone production line to ensure product quality and supply chain independence, further improving operational safety and reliability.

The company's rapid growth is closely tied to the strong industrial advantages of the city and the province.

"Changsha's well-developed industrial chain acts like a powerful magnet, gathering resources efficiently and enabling precise matching among R&D, manufacturing, and market applications," Wen said.

Hunan was approved in September 2020 as the country's first province-wide pilot reform zone for low-altitude airspace management.

Since then, the province has built an industrial ecosystem integrating satellite infrastructure, aerial equipment and ground applications.

In Changsha, drones now deliver packages steadily to customers; in Zhuzhou, Hunan, shared e-bikes equipped with Beidou high-precision positioning allow users to park with centimeter-level accuracy; in Hunan's Yueyang, drones monitor rice growth, nutrient status, and pests, enabling farmers to understand crop conditions via smartphones.

In December 2024, a drone in Zhuzhou's Tianyuan district carried medical specimens from Sanmen town's health center to Zhuzhou Central Hospital 30 kilometers away, marking the launch of Hunan's first "medical consortium drone route".

Statistics show that in 2024, the total output of Hunan's aerospace and Beidou navigation industry reached 121.25 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 17.9 percent.

Companies across the industrial chain are benefiting from broader development opportunities and a better business environment.

Zhu Youfang contributed to this story.