Low-altitude economy in the United States: a new ecosystem for drone commerce

Low altitude economy is a hot topic in the field of civil aviation. In January 2023, Amazon's Prime Air drone completed its first prescription drug delivery in Texas, marking the transition of the US low altitude economy from the experimental phase to large-scale commercial applications.

Two years later, the low altitude economy is experiencing explosive growth in the United States. According to research by McKinsey, a well-known consulting firm, the scale of the low altitude economy in the United States is expected to reach $115 billion by 2030, creating nearly 300000 jobs.

In terms of standard setting, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration of the United States has led the "National Campaign" project and jointly developed an unmanned traffic management system with the Aviation Administration. The "2024-2028 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Systems and Advanced Air Mobility Integration Plan" has been released, providing a clear roadmap for low altitude operations. Currently, over 860000 commercial drones have been approved for registration, an increase of 27% compared to 2022.

The first and foremost commercial transformation of low altitude economy is drone logistics services. At present, the United States is still in a leading position in this field. Wal Mart has carried out drone delivery services in seven states, including Arizona and Florida, and has completed more than 20000 deliveries. There are also drone logistics companies providing medical sample transportation services for the hospital system in North Carolina, reducing the waiting time for laboratory results from hours to minutes.

Precision agriculture is also one of the most mature fields for drone applications. John Deere provides unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) farmland monitoring services to farmers, using multispectral imaging to help detect crop health issues, reducing pesticide use by 30%; In the energy sector, Duke Energy Company uses drones to inspect the power grid, inspecting over 10000 miles of transmission lines annually, reducing traditional work that takes weeks to just a few days; Mobil Corporation uses drones for equipment inspections on oil platforms in the Gulf of Mexico, reducing personnel safety risks; The construction industry is also widely adopting drone technology. The construction group uses drones for terrain mapping and progress monitoring in large-scale infrastructure projects, greatly reducing costs while improving data accuracy; Emergency medical services have become an important application direction for low altitude economy. The Washington State Emergency Management Department has established a drone emergency response network, which can deliver defibrillators, naloxone and other life-saving equipment to emergency sites within 15 minutes; In terms of environmental protection, US authorities use drones to monitor hurricanes and wildfires, and the collected meteorological data has improved accuracy compared to traditional methods. The entertainment industry has also ushered in innovation. Disneyland has obtained special permission to operate drones for night light show performances, creating a new visitor experience.

The United States is accelerating the construction of low altitude economic infrastructure. In 2024, the first standardized vertical takeoff and landing site will be built in Dallas, adopting a modular design that can simultaneously take off and land multiple aircraft models. The communication and navigation facilities are also being upgraded. AT&T is deploying a dedicated 5G network to provide highly reliable communication links for drones. The Aviation Administration has established drone corridors around major cities to optimize airspace utilization efficiency and ensure navigation safety.

The low altitude economy is reshaping the business ecosystem in the United States. The participants include technology startups from Silicon Valley and traditional manufacturing giants, all of whom are investing in this new track. This trillion dollar emerging industry will change the way goods and people move, create new economic growth, and provide new momentum for future economic development.