Unmanned aerial vehicles and unmanned vehicles from JD.com debut at Chayuan, Nan’an. (Photographed by Guo Xu)

CHONGQING (CQNEWS) -- Unmanned delivery express service from JD.com is expected to be available in Chongqing as soon as next month.

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) and unmanned vehicles are used for the unmanned delivery express service from JD.com. The UAVs are used to airdrop the parcels and expresses to delivery stations, where staff sort the parcels, and then the unmanned vehicle will deliver the parcels according to the pre-determined route. When the unmanned vehicle reaches its destination, the system will send the recipient a message, with which the recipient can take the parcel from the vehicle.

According to a person in charge of JD.com Inc., the JD.com UAV can grab about 10 kilograms of cargo, and its battery life is about 50 minutes; it can fly more than 10 kilometers. In addition, JD.com unmanned vehicles can drive itself, plan routes, identify and avoid obstacles as well as identify traffic lights, etc. It mainly serves the “last mile” express delivery service.

“In the future, our distribution plan is that the UAV transports the parcel to the delivery station. There are sorting robots inside the delivery station. The robots sort the parcel and place them on the unmanned vehicle, and the vehicle delivers the parcel to the recipient. Finally, the recipient uses the information sent by the system to take the parcel.” A person in charge said that UAVs and unmanned vehicles from JD.com have been operated on track in more than 20 cities across the country. Procedures are also being processed in Chongqing, and it is expected that the pilot operation will be available at the end of October. By then, Chongqing people can enjoy the delivery service brought by drones and unmanned vehicles. (Translated by Yang Lifu, Fathom Language Limited)