Shenzhen-based drone manufacturer FLYPRO Aerospace Tech Co. Ltd. debuted at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas from Jan. 6 to 9, a move that immediately triggers murmurs about the Chinese drone industry.
FLYPRO unveiled during the event its latest product, XEagle, designed for sports enthusiasts and can be controlled by voice and lined to a smartwatch.
The product received positive reviews, which is a plus for FLYPRO considering the annual CES attracts over 3,600 exhibitors from more than 150 countries and regions to display their latest inventions and success technologies, China Daily reported. Therefore, standing out of the crowd is a great achievement for a Chinese company.
Lin Hai, chief executive officer of FLYPRO, said: "The market for drones used in smart sports is huge and untapped. As people become health-conscious and seek physical activity that could also prove entertaining, smart sports like engaging with intelligent drones are expected to see huge opportunities."
China's increasing competence in developing excellent drones was clear during the CES event this year. At the venue, Chinese corporations' booths were everywhere, and exhibition of creative products like XEagle collected widespread attention.
According to China Technology News, China-based DJI, the world's largest drone manufacturer, was not left behind as it launched Phantom 3-4K. The new drone in the company's Phantom 3 series enables 4K, ultra high-definition video shooting.
In addition Guangzhou-based Ehang made an impact by launching the world's first battery-powered, autopilot drone that can carry a passenger. After a two-hour charge, the drone can fly for 23 minutes to its destination pre-set by linking the drone to a mobile app.
About 400 firms in China make drones for civilian purposes. These drones are increasingly becoming popular for fast food delivery, couriers, pesticide spraying on farms, land surveys, police surveillance and traffic management, in accordance to approved regulations.
According to a report by Analysis International, the civil drone market in China is projected to grow 181 percent from 3.95 billion yuan ($600.4 million) this year to 11.09 billion yuan in 2018.
A research manager at market intelligence firm IDC, Jean Xiao, said: "The expected explosion of the civil drone market would be mainly due to demand for consumer-level drones. But in terms of market value, it is still the industrial drones that take the lead."