Meituan has officially launched its first drone delivery route at Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School. The service, which offers speedy deliveries to student dorms in about 10 minutes, marks the second drone delivery route for universities in Taoyuan Subdistrict, Nanshan District.

Over 70% of college students order takeaway food every week, with nearly 50% ordering more than four times a week, according to a survey in 2023.

However, food delivery on campus faces two major challenges: the large number of orders during lunch and dinner rushes, and the intricate internal roads that significantly burden delivery personnel. 

“We hope to use technology to better meet everyone's needs by bringing drone delivery service to universities,” said an executive of Meituan.

The new drone delivery route originates from Yitian Holiday Plaza in Xili Subdistrict, about 1.8 kilometers from the campus. Students and faculty can place orders through the food delivery app and collect them at designated landing areas near their dormitory. 

A drone delivers takeout food to Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School.  File photo

The drones have also undergone noise reduction treatments, minimizing disturbance to the surrounding environment, according to the executive.

"Currently, nearly 100 types of products can be delivered (by drones), including meals, desserts, and juices. We are considering introducing more types of products to better cater to the needs of students and faculty, such as books, daily essentials, and electronics," the Meituan executive added. 

In addition to trying out drone delivery in universities, Shenzhen has also expanded drone services to various sectors in recent years. 

For example, the drone delivery service, which can reduce consumers' waiting time by nearly 70%, has gained popularity in scenic areas. Data indicated an approximate 80% increase in drone delivery orders at Shenzhen Talent Park during the first five days of the Spring Festival holiday, compared to the National Day holiday last year, with drones fulfilling over 80% of takeaway orders for many merchants.

By the end of 2023, Shenzhen boasted over 1,700 drone companies, generating an annual output of 96 billion yuan (US$13.51 billion). The city’s complete drone industrial chain covers production and manufacturing, technology research and development, software development, commercial applications, and talent cultivation.

Meanwhile, fueled by the city's thriving drone industry, innovative applications like drone delivery, air taxis, and low-altitude flight tourism are also gradually entering the daily lives of residents.

Industry insiders view the low-altitude industry as a representative of new productive forces and a key driver for cultivating new growth engines, and its applications in Shenzhen will become more diverse in the future.