As dawn's first light broke through the drifting mist over the Yangtze River near Tongling in Anhui Province, the cargo ship "Yuanyang 2338" lay anchored on the calm waters. Captain Zhao Zhibing opened the "Changjiang Yi" WeChat mini-program, selected his daily provisions of food and drinks, and completed the payment. A few minutes later, a drone lifted off from a logistics base on the shore, hovering above the deck in just two minutes. A cable descended, and the package landed steadily before him.
"This is my first time having a drone deliver supplies! It makes life much easier for us who live on the water," Zhao remarked, his voice filled with surprise. That same day, the Tongling Zhongkai Changjiang Yi Drone Low-Altitude Smart Logistics Base began its trial operations, marking the first such facility in Tongling and the largest low-altitude logistics demonstration base for river operations along the Wan River section, filling the gap in drone delivery to vessels on the Yangtze near Tongling.
"Once a user places an order, we handle the packing and dispatch the drone, typically completing the delivery within half an hour," explained Yin Chenhao, the base's manager. He operates both the business and the drones, controlling the aircraft to drop off packages and return once the rope automatically releases. Low-altitude delivery over water presents significantly greater challenges than on land, with variable winds, heavy humidity, complex electromagnetic environments, and the need to avoid vessels while adhering to airspace regulations.
To address these hurdles, the "Changjiang Yi" digital low-altitude logistics platform integrates seven key modules, including real-time video transmission, meteorological monitoring, and vessel distribution mapping, to coordinate dispatch while offering weather forecasts, communication support, and risk alerts. Yin noted that the base's current first-phase aircraft can handle small daily necessities, emergency supplies, and rescue assistance. Future plans include introducing larger payload drones and expanding into island express delivery and urban emergency response scenarios.