Guided by technological innovation, driven by scenario applications, and focused on strengthening, supplementing, and extending chains Frequent major actions have led to the rapid development of Zigong's low altitude economy
Recently, the 2024 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Industry Development Conference and the commissioning ceremony of Chengfei Zigong Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Industry Base were held in Zigong. The Chengfei Zigong Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Industry Base project was officially delivered, with a total investment of 10 billion yuan. After commissioning, it can produce 200 unmanned aerial vehicles annually.
On March 5th, the investment signing event for the Valante eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft) intelligent manufacturing base project was held; On April 9th, the low altitude logistics and smart medical "low altitude lifeline" of Zigong city was opened; On April 29th, the first large-scale multi drone cross provincial logistics scene in China was piloted in Zigong.
Multiple major events are densely stacked, outlining the soaring posture of Zigong's low altitude economy. Seizing the significant opportunity of strong support from the state and Sichuan for the development of low altitude economy, Zigong is leading with technological innovation, driven by scenario applications, and focusing on strengthening and extending the supply chain, expanding and strengthening the drone and aviation industry clusters, and seizing the new track of low altitude economy.
Continuously improving the industrial chain map
We are one of the earliest enterprises to settle in Zigong Aviation Industry Park, mainly producing, researching and manufacturing modern medium and large unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) bodies, "Han Tong, General Manager of Zigong Yuli UAV Manufacturing Co., Ltd., told reporters on May 8th.
Zigong Yuli is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Xi'an Yuli Aviation Technology Co., Ltd. The project has a total investment of 30 million yuan and was officially put into operation in June 2022. Currently, it can assemble 15-20 drones annually with an annual output value of 35 million yuan. When it comes to the choice of landing in Zigong, Han Tong said that firstly, it is led by the "chain owner" enterprise to provide industrial support for Chengdu Aircraft Industry (Group) Co., Ltd. and AVIC UAV; Secondly, it is because we are optimistic about the industrial map of the park.
Under the drive of Chengfei Zigong UAV Base, 15 supporting enterprises have landed, realizing the full industry chain cycle. The relevant person in charge of Zigong Aviation Industry Park Management Committee introduced that during the 14th Five Year Plan period, the base can drive supporting enterprises to achieve an annual output value of more than 10 billion yuan, while promoting the coordinated development of diversified services, science and technology innovation, culture and tourism industries.
At present, Zigong Aviation Industry Park has gathered more than 60 key enterprises and colleges such as Aviation Industry Chengfei, AVIC UAV, Tengdun Sci Tech Innovation, Volant, and China Civil Aviation Flight Academy, forming a preliminary development pattern of the entire industry chain including UAV and general aircraft manufacturing, composite material body manufacturing, aviation standard parts manufacturing, additive manufacturing and non-metallic parts, flight education, maintenance training, and aviation service support.
We are still actively expanding our industrial chain, "said Zhu Qi, Director of the Investment Promotion Bureau of Gongjing District, Zigong City. In April, the investment promotion team visited more than 10 enterprises in Beijing, Xi'an, Hangzhou, Changsha and other places, focusing on attracting projects in the fields of drone manufacturing, anti drone, and operation services. This year, we strive to attract 10 projects.
Accelerate the layout of new scenarios and formats
Recently, a blood sample sent from the central blood station in Zigong was transported by a drone to the Third People's Hospital of Zigong City. The distance between the two places is 5.7 kilometers, and it takes about 20 minutes by car, while this flight only takes 8 minutes. Yu Yanbing, the Zigong City Manager of Hangzhou Xunyi Network Technology Co., Ltd., revealed that the RA3 model unmanned aerial vehicle that completed this "flash delivery" was specifically developed for logistics scenarios in densely populated urban areas. It has the ability to fly autonomously throughout the entire process and synchronize with cloud information and instructions in real time. The maximum one-way range in the city is 15 kilometers.
Focusing on the expansion of "new scenarios" and "new formats" in the low altitude economy, Zigong has set up 25 urban low altitude logistics routes led by technological innovation, taking the lead in achieving the first low altitude transportation route for medical supplies in the province. We have established 8 types of businesses including emergency rescue, industrial and agricultural operations, and meteorology.
The application scenarios are constantly expanding. Aiming for the future of flying to work, Volant has developed the VE25 electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft (eVTOL). The first "Zigong made" eVTOL will be produced this year, and it is expected that 10-20 of them will be put into commercial operation by 2026. Pilot operations will be carried out in low altitude sightseeing, urban travel and other application scenarios throughout Sichuan.
The cross provincial route of Sichuan Chongqing freight unmanned aerial vehicles is also gradually being realized. Tengdun Sci Tech, which has only been established for 8 years, has currently developed the world's first large fixed wing unmanned aerial vehicle with dual, three, and four engines - the Double tailed Scorpion series and its derivative models. On April 29th, the country's first large-scale multi engine unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) conducted a trial flight in a cross provincial logistics scenario, with the Double tailed Scorpion D UAV shuttling between Zigong in Sichuan and Yongchuan in Chongqing. This is currently the first "cross provincial combination" in China's low altitude economic development. Professor Li Hui from the School of Aeronautics and Astronautics at the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China believes that Zigong can use this opportunity to consider building the "Inner Self Suitable Lu" low altitude flight corridor in southern Sichuan, establishing an open and shared provincial-level low altitude flight laboratory, and verifying aircraft, communication monitoring, ground equipment, etc. in mature scenarios.
Enhance the 'siphon' power of the industry
The project is progressing rapidly, and ground tests and the first batch of test flights have been completed in less than half a year. "On May 8th, Huang Xiaofei, co-founder and senior vice president of Volant, gave an example that the test flight required the installation of a runoff device. The relevant departments in Gongjing District coordinated with the Port Connect Company and the airport, and it was resolved in a month.
The accelerated progress of the project is attributed to the continuous optimization of the industrial ecology in Zigong. As early as 2020, Zigong Aviation Industry Park was approved as one of the first civil unmanned aerial vehicle test zones in China, with test tasks involving final assembly testing, flight testing, and airworthiness certification. Last September, Zigong established a 5 billion yuan industrial guidance fund to broaden the attraction methods for opening up a new low altitude economy. The landing of the Volant eVTOL project in Zigong is a new breakthrough in the combination of industrial capital and market.
Innovate the "industry+project+talent" attraction model. Gongjing District has established industry university research cooperation relationships with more than 10 universities and institutes, including Chengdu Aircraft Design and Research Institute of Aviation Industry and Beihang University. They have jointly built "joint laboratories" and "unmanned aerial vehicle industry colleges", promoted the establishment of 4 academician expert workstations, and introduced more than 20 school local cooperation projects.
Build a "digital" information service platform for the industrial chain. Zigong is promoting the construction of the first national mobile 5G connected drone industry application testing and demonstration base; Establish an information collection and processing system to improve the quality and efficiency of data processing during drone flight testing.
Last year, the scale of the drone and aviation industry cluster exceeded 10 billion yuan, with an increase of over 20%. This year, in addition to the Chengfei Zigong drone industry base, Tengdun Phase II will also be put into operation, and Zigong's low altitude economy is accelerating its' takeoff ', "said the person in charge of Zigong Aviation Industry Park.
