Drones driving growth in Beijing's villages

Local residents among beneficiaries, innovators in booming new business as Chinese government recognizes profession

Drone operation has become a new source of income for Wu Haining, a 26-year-old villager in Beijing's northwest Yanqing district at the foot of the Great Wall. Drones are widely used in aerial shooting, mapping as well as power line inspections in China.

Yanqing has become one of the first regions in Beijing to promote the use of drones to help solve the area's rural labor shortage.

Working with Beijing Lantian Feiyang Science and Technology Limited Co, which provides drone pilot training courses, the Yanqing human resources bureau arranged two training sessions for villagers in June and July. By the end of the training session, Wu had outperformed his neighbors in exams and topped the class.

Now, as a drone pilot and coach, he works for the Beijing Lantian Feiyang, and has trained more than 50 drone operators so far.

"The operation of professional unmanned aerial vehicles requires good eyesight and good hand-eye coordination with precise control," said the graduate of a vocational school in Beijing who previously earned about 6, 000 yuan ($841) per month in rural tourism.

Wu, the only child of his parents, said he mastered the skills of controlling drones quickly because it was similar to playing video games with a remote control.

His family, which includes generations of farmers, was also excited about the new industry.

Yang Nuo, CEO of Beijing Lantian Feiyang Science and Technology Limited Co, said each drone can carry 16 kilograms of pesticides and cover 300 acres of cornfields in a day. At least 60 people would be needed per day to perform the same task.

"In the future, the demand for drones will continue to rise because it's cheaper than hiring people," Yang said. "Our company is focusing on upgrading the design of drones and making an efficient flight plan for each farmland."
Market demand

In April, the drone pilot was listed by the Chinese government as one of the 13 new professions.

As China's economy shifts from a high-speed growth stage to high-quality development period, new demands have been put on the workers' scientific cultural qualities as well as their abilities, according to a statement posted on the website of the Ministry of Human Resources on April 3.

As high-tech industries become a new growth point for China's economy, the country needs more highly skilled workers like Wu.

China has a huge potential in the drone market. A report by iResearch Consulting Group in 2016 showed that as the world's largest manufacturer of commercial drones, China's UAV industry is predicted to be worth 75 billion yuan ($10. 53 billion) by 2025.

The capital's first UAV town is also scheduled to be established in Yanqing soon, a move by the district government to use the UAV in a wide range of fields.

Located in Zhongguancun Yanqing Science Park, the town will cover an area of 150 acres. It will conduct research and development, besides testing and application of drones.

During the ongoing International Horticultural Exhibition in Yanqing district, drones were deployed for multiple patrols along a major river in the expo park.
Drones can fly at a maximum height of 200 meters and a speed of 100 kilometers per hour. A panoramic view of the entire park can be seen within 30 kilometers, according to the district.

"Through optical zooming of 30 times, specific points and people can be easily located. Drones can resist up to level 7 wind force and have a battery life of 1.5 hours," said Shi Shengqing, deputy director of Beijing Yuandu Internet Technology Limited Co.

"Even during high winds and snowy days, drones can be deployed for inspections," he said.

Future potential

Some 74 kilometers northwest of downtown Beijing, Yanqing is where the expo is being held and where several Winter Olympic events, including Alpine skiing, bobsled, skeleton and luge, will take place in 2022.

Yang Juan, director of the training office for Expo 2019 and 2022 Winter Olympics under the district human resources bureau, said five training classes involving 109 people had been held in Yanqing so far. All trainees have successfully obtained their drone pilot certificates.

"The development of the drone industry in Yanqing focuses on the transformation of core technological achievements originating from industrial and military UAV fields," said Jing Tiejun, deputy director of the Zhongguancun Yanqing Science Park management committee.

"It's also important to integrate 5G technologies and artificial intelligence for the future use of drones and build Yanqing as a front line of scientific creative base in Beijing," he said.

By 2022, revenues from the drone industry in Yanqing will reach 10 billion yuan, Jing said.

However, the district still faces some challenges.

As a suburban area in northwest Beijing, Yanqing has mostly relied on agriculture and tourism industries to support its economy, said Zhang Ruifeng, deputy director of Yanqing district economy and information technology bureau.

"However, as two big world-class events are being held here, we are also looking at new frontiers to find more development opportunities," he said.
The drone industry, even in its initial stages, will be a booming new industry for the district, which will also benefit the district's agricultural production and scientific development, Zhang added.