A significant milestone in drone logistics was marked around noon on May 14, when a drone successfully landed at an industrial park in the Baohe district of Hefei, Anhui Province. This drone had completed a delivery of coffee from a shopping mall located three kilometers away, and impressively, the coffee remained refreshingly cold upon arrival.

This drone delivery route was inaugurated just two months prior, making it the 80th regular operating drone route in Hefei. Su Ruixia, the deputy general manager of Hefei Songba Feihe Low Altitude Logistics Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of drone manufacturer Antwork Technology, highlighted that since operations commenced in February 2024, the company has established nearly 100 drone routes throughout the city.

The establishment of these routes is not merely for commercial use, as highlighted by the launch of Hefei's first blood delivery drone route just a month after setting up the national operations center in Baohe. This route, along with six others, serves urgent medical needs that include delivering blood, medication, lab samples, and other medical supplies.

Su explained the operational advantages of these drones, stating that they navigate at altitudes of around 100 meters and cover roughly 1 kilometer per minute. This efficiency enables a delivery time reduction by more than half compared to traditional methods, which is especially crucial for emergency medical supplies.

A remarkable demonstration of this efficiency occurred last July, when a woman undergoing surgery at a hospital in Hefei required a large blood supply due to severe bleeding. Remarkably, within two hours, drones managed to make eight round trips, flying a cumulative distance of around 170 kilometers and delivering over 10,000 milliliters of blood.

Since the inception of these delivery routes, there has been a substantial increase in daily medical drone operations, soaring from just two or three flights to over 100. To support this expansion, nearly 100 routes have been opened, complemented by the establishment of about 40 drone hubs across the area.

Behind this growing network of drone deliveries is a dedicated team of operators who monitor each flight. Zhang Yuxin, a 23-year-old drone operator at the national operations center, stated that each operator oversees up to eight drones simultaneously flying in various cities. This team ensures that the 'air expressways' function smoothly and safely, reflecting the integration of cutting-edge technology in urban logistics.

The rapid development of drone delivery services in Hefei not only enhances efficiency but also underscores a strategic move towards modernizing logistics particularly in critical sectors such as healthcare. As the company continues to expand its reach with more routes and hubs, it sets a precedent for future innovations in the drone logistics industry.