Smart Drones Pave Way for New Opportunities in Rushan, Shandong

WEIHAI, China, Apr. 13, 2026 /Xinhua-AsiaNet/–

Recently, at an intelligent drone inspection site in the Shandong Rushan Economic Development Zone, a drone took off from its hangar and began its autonomous flight along a pre-set route. Forested valleys, back alleys, riverbanks, and other areas difficult for manual inspection were brought into full view through its high-definition “eagle-eye” system. After 20 minutes, the drone returned to its charging station, seamlessly docked with the system, and transmitted the flight report to the backend, completing a fully autonomous, intervention-free operation.

While traditional drone inspections are efficient, they still rely on manual control, resulting in higher labor costs and slower emergency responses. To address this challenge, Shandong Zhongji Zhijia Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd., located in the Rushan Economic Development Zone, is committed to breaking new ground in the “low-altitude economy” sector. 

Its intelligent unmanned system integrates automatic takeoff, route navigation, autonomous docking, battery charging and swapping, and AI-powered anomaly detection. The shift from “human control” to “smart control” has significantly boosted productivity in low-altitude operations, positioning this innovative product as a best-selling product. Currently, the automated drone hangars are operational at 32 sites in Rushan, Shandong and have been deployed in other provinces such as Jilin, equipping urban management with “eyes in the sky.” 

In addition to being more intelligent, these drones are also more powerful. Before the Spring Festival, Zhongji Zhijia’s “Hercules” – a 200-kilogram heavy-lift drone – was deployed in the mountainous regions of Xinfeng County, Ganzhou City, Jiangxi Province. There, it served as an “aerial porter,” transporting heavy crates of navel oranges down the mountains, alleviating transportation challenges for local farmers.

Heavy-lift drones remain a niche category in the market, primarily used in mountain transport and forest fire prevention. Based on customer-specific needs, the company customizes the research, development, and production of these heavy-lift drones.

By deepening its expertise in intelligent drone equipment and establishing a full industry chain, the company provides specialized drone application solutions across various sectors. Currently, agricultural drones for plant protection are in high demand in Southeast Asia, performing effectively in countries such as Thailand and Indonesia and steadily expanding into global markets.

Source: Information Office of Rushan Municipal People’s Government