(Yicai) Sept. 26 -- The first cargo drone of Chinese dronemaker DJI Technology has begun operation at Huangshan Resort in China’s eastern Anhui province.

Two cargo drones developed by Shenzhen-based DJI will operate 47 round trips a day carrying supplies to Huangshan Resort on the mountain and garbage from the resort to the valley, Yicai learned from the operator of the resort. The drones have transported 96 tons of materials since they started operations in May, it added.

Mount Huangshan is 1,865 meters tall and has no open roads to the top, so materials have been carried up and down by men on foot. But in recent years, fewer people are willing to do this job, with the average age of such workers exceeding 50 years old. Huangshan Resort tried to use mountain-climbing robots and monorails in the past but eventually opted for drones, as they have a relatively lower cost.

Priced at CNY125,000 (USD17,160), DJI’s first cargo drone, the FlyCart 30, can carry goods up to 30 to 40 kilograms at a time for 16 kilometers. The drone is equipped with satellite maps and can be folded and transported by vehicles in case of emergency. It can fly automatically or can be controlled by a person.

The FlyCart 30 was under trial use in the monotonous areas of Qinghai province, Tibet Autonomous Region, and Sichuan province, according to an executive at DJI. The drone has also been carrying out cargo runs in the ports of Nanjing and Tianjin.

Other Chinese logistics companies, including SF Holding and JD Logistics, have also been exploring the application of cargo drones. Fengyi Technology, a delivery dronemaker owned by SF, launched the ARK 150, a logistics drone that can carry up to 50 kg. The firm is planning to use ARK 150 to bring supplies to hard-to-reach scenic spots, after having explored the possibility to transport fresh food to monotonous areas.

But there are still many challenges for the large-scale application of cargo drones, drone developers told Yicai. They have higher battery demands and flight intensity, are pricier, and need stricter air-management rules.

Editors: Zhang Yushuo, Futura Costaglione