The drone industry in China is entering a transformative phase driven by advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), moving beyond traditional remote-controlled mechanisms to develop autonomous systems capable of addressing complex problems. This shift was prominently showcased at the recently concluded ninth Drone World Congress in Shenzhen, where a remarkable 825 enterprises exhibited over 5,000 models of drones.

Central to the innovation on display were "AI+" technologies that are expanding the boundaries of drone applications in various fields such as infrastructure maintenance, heritage conservation, disaster response, and urban management. These advancements highlight the integration of AI into drone capabilities, fundamentally altering their operational roles.

An illustrative example of this evolution was the DJI Matrice 4E, which played a critical role in the restoration of the historic Nankan Grottoes in Sichuan Province. The drone autonomously mapped intricate flight paths around the rugged cliffside terrain, successfully capturing 18 GB of imagery and creating a detailed 3D model in just 90 minutes, showcasing the potential of autonomous operations.

Cui Yu, a solutions engineer at DJI, remarked on the revolutionary nature of this AI-driven workflow, which significantly reduces the need for manual interventions and democratizes access to advanced technological applications. This is made possible by integrated neural processors that enable drones to make real-time decisions during their operations.

In the energy sector, drones equipped with lightweight AI technology are capable of self-deploying, conducting inspections, and autonomously returning for battery recharges. During emergency situations, drones such as those from Autel Robotics are deployed in areas affected by landslides, where they generate real-time 3D models of the terrain, drastically reducing rescue planning time from hours to mere minutes.

Autel's marketing director Liu Guozheng articulated an exciting vision for the future of drone technology, stating that drones will be able to autonomously design patrol routes, identify irregularities, and collaborate with other robotic systems under the concept of "embodied AI," which enhances cross-system operational coordination.

Substantial production growth is evident in Shenzhen, with civilian drone manufacturing seeing a 48.2 percent increase in the first quarter of this year. Innovations from companies like Wisson Robotics combine biomimetic designs with aerial technology, exemplified by drones that can replace river navigation lights or clear debris from solar panels during storms.

Wisson's Cheng Hui highlighted the significance of tactile AI, which enables drones to perform zero-contact operations even in turbulent conditions—capabilities that traditional rigid systems cannot achieve, as these advanced drones can lift weights several times their own mass.

Despite the promising advancements, challenges still remain within the industry. Technical limitations such as battery life, electromagnetic interference affecting navigation, and the lagging regulatory frameworks present barriers to fully realizing the potential of these technologies. Yang Peng, Secretary-General of the Drone World Congress, emphasized the critical importance of safety and the urgent need for robust data privacy measures.