On September 8th, along the Yangtze River in Tongling, the cargo ship Yuanyang 2338 lay anchored on the water. Captain Zhao Zhibing pulled out his phone, opened the "Changjiang Wing" WeChat mini-program, selected cooking oil, cola, and Sprite, then paid and placed his order. Moments later, at the Tongling Zhongkai Changjiang Wing low-altitude smart logistics base on the shore, a drone soared into the sky, flying 900 meters over the river in just two minutes before hovering steadily above the deck of the 2338. A cable slowly descended, and a package landed precisely in front of Zhao. "This is the first time a drone has delivered takeout to me," Zhao said with surprise. "It makes life much easier for us who live on the water." That same day, the Tongling Zhongkai Changjiang Wing drone low-altitude smart logistics base entered trial operation, filling a gap in drone delivery to ships along the Tongling section of the Yangtze and carving out a new path for the city's low-altitude economy.
"Users open the 'Changjiang Wing' WeChat mini-program, place an order like online shopping, and after we pick and pack the goods, the drone delivers them—usually within half an hour," said Yin Chenhao, head of the logistics base, who is also a certified drone pilot. During the interview, his phone rang endlessly with new orders. "Hello, your delivery is here!" After the call, he gripped the control sticks, kept his eyes fixed on the screen, and guided the drone to lower the supply package gently onto the deck. Once the drop was complete, the tether released automatically, and the drone turned around for the return flight.
The Tongling section of the Yangtze offers excellent riverfront conditions, with heavy vessel traffic and anchorages that are perpetually packed with ships. Previously, crew members seeking daily supplies faced a hassle: they either had to painstakingly dock their vessels or rely on small boats to shuttle back and forth. Now, with ships moving on the river and takeout dropping from the sky, this sci-fi image has become a tangible reality. However, this seemingly simple "one-click ordering" process is far from simple behind the scenes. Water-based low-altitude operations are far more challenging than land delivery. Wind conditions on the river change abruptly, humidity is high, and the electromagnetic environment around the shipping lanes is complex. Drones also must constantly avoid other vessels and comply with airspace restrictions, placing high demands on equipment stability and smart dispatch systems.
"Flying drones over water is completely different from on land. Every delivery has to factor in weather and airspace, so we developed our own 'Changjiang Wing' digital low-altitude logistics platform," Yin explained, pointing to the dispatch screen at the base. The platform integrates seven functional modules—real-time video transmission, airport monitoring, ship information distribution, anchorage dynamics, and real-time meteorology—allowing it to coordinate flight plans while providing live weather, communication support, and situational awareness during flights. Alerts go out immediately if any risk arises. The first phase of the base features the DJI FC30 carrier drone, with a rated payload of 30 kilograms, mainly used for small daily necessities, emergency supplies, and rescue support. Yin noted that the base will later introduce larger-payload aircraft and other industry-specific drones.
Yin's goal is to turn the base into a model project integrating water-based low-altitude logistics on the Yangtze, island courier services, and urban emergency response. "In the future, if you go to a river island in the Yangtze for a barbecue, the grill, ingredients, and drinks can all be delivered directly to the island by drone," he said. The base also plans to set up drone express stations to deliver packages to residents on river islands like Laozhou Township and Xuba Township, solving the long-standing problem of island parcel delivery. ■