WORLD’S FIRST LOW ALTITUDE FLYING VEHICLE
China is the leading centre for civilian and recreational drone production, with Chinese companies dominating the global market.
While we may characterize drones as niche playthings of Silicon Valley early-adopters, drones have become mainstream commercial and recreational items. Notable early adopters are search and rescue services, surveying, mining and petroleum operations, agriculture, entertainment, and insurance firms. Indeed the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International predicts that by 2025, drones will have created 100,000 jobs and $82 billion in economic activity.
Shenzhen, not Silicon Valley, dominates drone technology.
In recent years, civilian drones have created a fledgling industry, yet what most people do not know is that China, not the U.S, is cradle of the drone industry. This comes as a surprise to many, especially as drone adoption faces legal and regulatory hurdles in the U.S. Given Washington’s concerns about safety, China’s situation is even more intriguing. One would think that Beijing’s obsession with control, and fears about terrorists, subversives, and activists would hinder domestic drone consumption.
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