UAVs meet China's needs in aviation

Applications for unmanned aerial vehicles continue to blossom, offering safety, convenience and low cost

Drones - also known as unmanned aerial vehicles, or UAVs - have become popular in China and are almost part of everyday life.

Drones are favored by professionals and ordinary consumers alike because of their advantages in safety, portability and ease of use. In cities, people use drones for aerial photography and entertainment. Some farmers have begun to employ them to sow seeds or spray pesticide.

They are also used in areas such as air patrols, inspecting electrical lines, oil and gas pipes or the investigation of disasters. At present, there are about 600 uses for drones, and China has become a major market.

The wide use of drones in China arises from a handful of factors that make the UAVs superior to manned aircraft. They fit China's situation.

Drones are easy to use, as they have fewer requirements for airspace, compared with manned aircraft. For those, you need build airports, regulate airspace and train pilots, which take time and a lot of capital.

But if you use drones, there are no such problems. China has a large population, and open land is relatively scarce, so it is unlikely that many airports can be built for the use of standard aircraft. Drones, on the other hand, can take off and land vertically and don't need special airports.

Meanwhile, China has strict regulations about airspace, but drones fly at low altitudes and with relative freedom. Moreover, the pilots of manned aircraft require professional training that costs hundreds of thousands of yuan, and there are few qualified training organizations in China right now, so people who have a pilot's license are few. The control of drones are much easier than driving aircraft.

Drones are environmentally friendly. Most are powered by electricity, make little noise and don't bother people, so flying drones in cities and at scenic spots is easily accepted by the public.

It can be dangerous if you fly a regular airplane. After all, the pilot is in the air with the plane. But if you are operating a drone, you don't need to be in the sky personally.

Drones are inexpensive. China has now about 400 companies in the drone industry. DJI, the world's biggest civilian drone manufacturer, offers drones at prices ranging from a few thousand yuan to hundreds of thousands, depending on need and sophistication. So the public has a wide range from which to choose.

Drones have huge potential in the Chinese market. The development of the battery energy storage technology extends flight endurance. If connected to simulators on the ground, drones can give operators on the ground a better experience. UAVs are also becoming smarter, more sensitive and more responsive, thereby enhancing safety. With the technology developing, these small aircraft will find application in more and more areas, especially agriculture and security.

However, although drones fit in well with China and are popular now, they can't carry passengers. As China's low-altitude airspace opens up gradually, and more airports are built, piloted aircraft will also become more convenient. It may be that some drone lovers will begin to take to the air themselves as pilots.

The writer is a senior researcher at the Aviation Development Research Center of China. The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.

(China Daily European Weekly 11/18/2016 page8)