(Photo provided to Xinhua Daily)

Suzhou's first drone delivery service started regular operations on May 8, providing customers with more convenient and efficient cargo transport solutions.

In this service, a Level 4 self-driving vehicle first transports parcels to a landing pad near the distribution center of SF Express. There, a delivery worker loads the items into the drone’s container. The drone then takes off, ascending to a height of about 120 meters above the ground, and flies to the destination along a designated route.

Transporting by vehicle over a distance of 6.3 kilometers typically takes half an hour, but the drone completes the mission in just seven minutes.

The drone can carry up to 10kg with a container of more than 60,000 cubic centimeters, flying at a speed of 14 meters per second and reaching altitudes of up to 5,000 meters. It can support multiple delivery tasks with landing accuracy within centimeters.

The service is expected to manage 16 flights per day and plans to expand flight routes to include campuses, support agricultural products delivery, and enable rapid intercity delivery.