On December 7, ZTO Express' latest released Prometheus 1600A oil-electric logistics UAVcompleted its first cargo flight under severe weather conditions in mountainous area in Xunyang, poverty-stricken county of Shanxi Province.
In the future, ZTO’s UAV will operate normally in Ankang City, Shanxi Province, and gradually realize full coverage in Shanxi Province.
Innovation of oil-electricity mixing technology to break the limit of flight mileage
The flight is the first public flight by ZTO Express after receiving airspace approval from related regulators in Ankang City, Shanxi Province.
Zongxi Town is located in the eastern part of Xunyang Town. In the past, the express delivery of Zhongxi Town needed to be picked up in Xunyang County. There were many difficulties in logistics and transportation. It takes about 80 minutes to drive while it only takes 40 minutes to deliver by unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).
Prometheus 1600A innovatively uses oil-electric hybrid power, uses gasoline as fuel, uses a 2.4 kW fuel generator to power the UAV, converts fuel into electricity, and is equipped with a dual power supply redundant power system. It can provide up to 1.5 hours of full load flight, break the limit of flight mileage and meet the logistics transportation needs of remote and complex terrain areas.
Training of poverty alleviation through science and technology to promote industry’s poverty alleviation
After completing the normal operation of UAV in Xunyang County, ZTO will also give play to the advantages of UAV distribution. While solving the "last kilometer" distribution problem in township areas, it will explore the feasibility of realizing uplink distribution of agricultural products through drones, help special products of Zongxi Town go out.
At the same time, ZTO also organizes local villagers to take part in training on drone operation, equipment maintenance and logistics distribution, and uses science and technology to help poor households to solve employment problem and to make them to provide delivery services to the whole village to help the villagers to get rid of poverty and become rich.
