The development of various low-altitude activities such as drone delivery and aerial surveying cannot be done safely without the great support of the targeted infrastructure. The core support system is the low-altitude air traffic management system, the charging stations, and the landing platforms. From the three essential perspectives—safety control, energy supply, and takeoff/landing support—they help the low-altitude economy to grow safely:
Without a doubt, the security of low altitude activities is the first priority and the means of air traffic management is the principal infrastructure that can provide such security. Compared to normal civil aviation management, the low-level airspace has a greater number of different types of aircraft (including consumer drones and industrial drones), more options for the flight paths, and much lower flight altitudes. These facts make low-altitude operations very sensitive to the interference caused by the obstructions of buildings and sudden changes of weather and thus they have the highest probability of facing safety hazards such as collisions and the use of the same airspace without permission.
The main role of the system is to combine control capabilities from different dimensions for continuous safety management of low-altitude aircraft.
First, real-time airspace monitoring: Continuously tracking the location, the speed, and the condition of all the aircraft in the considered area;
Second, dynamic route planning: Re-organize the flight routes of the aircraft based on the traffic and the weather changes;
Third, aircraft identification: Correctly identifying the compliant flight machines as well as the non-compliant ones so as to avoid that "unauthorized flights" activities;
Fourth, emergency early warning and response: Apart from giving the warning signs, it also guides the area where the evasion should be that satisfies safety criteria when dangers like route deviation or equipment failure happen.
Such a mechanism is very helpful in securing the role of a safety guarantee in real-world scenarios. It can create safe paths on the basis of delivery locations and current road conditions and simultaneously keep an eye on the movement of the nearby aircraft to stay clear of colliding dangers. It can also be very useful in precisely setting up the operation airspace to avoid cross-interference among the aircrafts of different teams, securing the safety and the order of the low-altitude activities at the source, and thus being the essential prerequisite for the safe development of the low-altitude economy.
As a major component in the effort to overcome the durability problem of low-altitude flying machines and to prevent the occurrence of safety hazards, charging stations are directly responsible for the efficiency and safety of low-altitude activities. In fact, the most cutting-edge low-altitude aircraft (especially drones) are mainly powered by batteries which, as a matter of fact, limit their endurance. If the power supply is not allowed in time, then that would not simply limit the scope of the operation as well as the efficiency, but it may also become the cause of safety hazards such as the sudden cessation of equipment in the air and the resulting crashes will be out of control.
The charging stations take into account the different models of layouts for various altitudes scenarios of activities. For urban drone delivery field: Charging stations are installed in connection with neighborhood delivery spots and logistics centers of business districts in order to create a frictionless "delivery - charging - redelivery" system. For instance, some logistics enterprises deploy intelligent charging stations that utilize automated robotic arms to replace drone batteries or provide fast charging, with a single supply taking up only a few minutes—hence delivery frequency and efficiency are greatly improved;
By aerial surveying taking place in the hinterland: The staff can carry the portable mobile charging stations along with them to the operation site so as to provide continuous power to the drones during long-term surveys. In this way, the interruption of the surveys due to a lack of the drone's endurance is prevented and so is the stranding of the equipment, which, in turn, makes it possible to ensure the smooth and stable progress of the low-altitude activities and at the same time offer energy support for the safe and efficient running of the low-altitude economy.
Landing Platforms: The "Basic Support" for Smooth Connection of Low-Altitude Activities
Landing platforms are the primary infrastructures that can ensure the safety of the phases of low-altitude aircraft takeoff/landing and the connection of the processes of operation as the key carriers for the takeoff and landing of low-altitude aircraft. The safety and efficiency of these low-altitude activities are directly dependent on the design and the layout of the landing platforms. Different low-altitude activities have different requirements for landing platforms, which necessitate targeted support:
In the case of drone delivery scenarios: Besides, they should be endowed with the function of precision positioning (e.g. GPS positioning and visual recognition positioning) so that the drones can be assuredly landed in the small spaces like community rooftops and shopping mall terraces where they can be recognized visually. At the same time, they should be equipped with cargo receiving and temporary storage facilities so as to make it easier for the staff to take the packages in a timely manner and connect to the subsequent delivery processes;
In the case of aerial survey: The platforms are required to have a smooth ground surface and be unoccupied (e.g. by trees and high-voltage lines) so as to be able to provide the aircraft the area for the safe execution of the takeoff/landing. Moreover, some platforms may also involve the function of data transmitting to support the quick data uploading by the drones just after landing, hence the operation efficiency will be improved.
Besides, the landing platform layout's rationality is of paramount importance:
Within the city areas: Their distribution should be on the bases of population density and delivery demand so as to eliminate the risk of collisions that are caused by "takeoff/landing congestion";
Into the field survey areas: The location of the site should be inspected beforehand so as to be certain that the platforms will be able to cover the main area of the operation, hence safety risks and the time that has to be sacrificed because of the path which the aircraft have to follow when going to and coming from the takeoff/landing will be reduced.
The different links of low-altitude activities can be smoothly connected through the comprehensive takeoff/landing support, which is a basic support for the safe development of the low-altitude economy.
FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions
1. When and where will the Expo be held?
The Expo is scheduled to occur from May 13–15, 2026, at Hall C, Xiamen International Conference and Exhibition Center (XICEC), Xiamen, China.
2. What is the exhibition scale?
The event is spread over 40,000 m² and features 350+ companies. It is expected to draw more than 30,000 professional visitors from all over the world.
3. What activities are included?
There will be more than 80 professional forums and events exploring topics such as smart mobility, communication in transportation, safety, and sustainable development.
4. How many countries and regions are involved?
Participants from more than 80 countries and regions will be present, making it a global summit for Intelligent Transportation Innovation.
5. Are there opportunities for cooperation?
Of course. With over 1,000 global partners, the Expo is filled with opportunities for collaborations in business, technology exchanges, and investments.
6. Who can I contact for details?
For more information, you can contact the Organizing Committee via the Contact Us section on the official website.
