Want China Times, Xinhua 2014-07-12
Drones for civilian use are proving increasingly popular in China, but a dearth of innovation is hindering domestic producers, experts said at an international drones exhibition that concluded on Friday.
Drones on display at the Fifth UAV China Conference & Exhibition in Beijing, July 10. (Photo/Xinhua) |
Drones for civilian use are proving increasingly popular in China, but a dearth of innovation is hindering domestic producers, experts said at an international drones exhibition that concluded on Friday.
Although
the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) industry is just a few years into its
development, UAVs are now extensively applied in China for civilian purposes,
according to Li Yong, vice president of Wuhan Ewatt Aerospace Technology
Company, which specializes in making drones.
"UAVs
are increasingly used in a variety of fields, including electric power
industries, disaster-relief work, as well as shooting TV programs," Li
said at the fifth UAV China Conference & Exhibition in Beijing.
In the
latest example, remote sensing drones, known for their safety and high efficiency,
were employed to help with rescue efforts following a mudslide in southwestern
China's Yunnan province that left 17 people missing on Wednesday.
The
domestic drone industry lacks the talent and technology needed to innovate, and
instead tends to imitate other countries, said Xu Huaying, a retired official
from the Aviation Industry Corporation of China.
According
to Xu, a UAV market must be fostered in which small private firms compete with
those with state backing, with the competition hopefully driving up standards.
The
government should support the industry by issuing more preferential policies,
encouraging the cultivation of skilled personnel and enhancing international
exchanges, he said. "Only in this way can we truly bring the industry to
the next level."
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