AIR Unveils Pioneering Innovations to Boost Shandong's Low-Altitude Economy

The Aerospace Information Research Institute（AIR）of the Chinese Academy of Sciences unveiled four pioneering technological achievements in Jinan, the captical of Shandong Province, China on April 19, 2025. These breakthroughs aim to accelerate Shandong's development in the rapidly evolving low-altitude economy—a sector set to transform industries such as drone logistics, emergency response, and urban air mobility through safe and efficient use of airspace below 3000 meters. 

Central to the innovations is the Low-Altitude Technology Development Roadmap, outlining strategies for next-gen air mobility. It tackles challenges like optimizing drone energy use, coordinating traffic in crowded skies, and balancing safety with efficiency. The plan proposes a four-layer infrastructure: real-time monitoring, robust air-ground communications, AI-driven decision platforms, and scalable applications (e.g., delivery drones). Key research focuses include environmental sensing, swarm coordination, and ultra-secure systems, aiming to enable drones to operate as seamlessly as highway vehicles.

Complementing this vision are newly developed Smart Low-Altitude Devices, a suite of communication, navigation, and monitoring hardware and software that automate flight operations. These innovations, including edge-computing terminals and cloud-based control systems, will bolster Jinan and Shandong Province’s ambition to become a national hub for low-altitude tech manufacturing. By standardizing flight protocols and enhancing safety, these devices pave the way for large-scale commercial drone deployments.

Another milestone is the Digital Earth-Based Airspace Management Platform. Built on a 3D virtual earth model, the platform integrates flight planning, airspace zoning, collision prediction, and real-time supervision. By aggregating data across Shandong's economic zones, it offers a unified, AI-powered solution for managing urban air traffic—a critical capability as cities prepare for denser drone operations.

To validate these technologies, the Jinan Low-Altitude Equipment Testing Hub will serve as a state-of-the-art facility for certifying safety and setting national standards. Equipped with satellite, aerial, and ground-based testing systems, the hub aims to position Jinan as China's leading innovation and certification center for smart air mobility. This infrastructure will support rigorous trials of new aircraft designs, communication protocols, and traffic management tools.