Peking University, January 21, 2025: Professor Huang Xun, from the Department of Aerospace Engineering at Peking University, alongside his research team and the State Key Laboratory of Turbulence and Complex Systems, published groundbreaking findings in a Comment paper in Nature on December 19, 2024, titled “The Small-Drone Revolution is Coming” (Vol. 637, 2025), marking a significant breakthrough as the first paper on the low-altitude economy featured in the academically renowned journal.
Why it matters:
Reaching a milestone in 2024, China’s low-altitude economy— drones, electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles (eVTOLs), and general aviation aircraft—is nearing one trillion yuan in value. A key driver in this rapid development is the logistics sector, where drone deliveries not only streamline logistics but can also reduce carbon emissions per kilometer by up to 90%.
While these emerging technologies present endless potential for improving efficiency and reducing emissions, such a rosy picture belies technological and regulatory shortfalls which, if left unaddressed, will lead to unintended consequences harming public well-being.
This research has identified four critical issues that must be addressed for a successful low-altitude economy—namely, safety, security, privacy protection and environmental concern.
An Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) flying over the Great Wall. (Photo courtesy of Meituan)
Key Findings:
Safety: The primary concern within the aerospace discipline is safety, particularly regarding collision risks and the potential impact of drones on ground populations. Currently, there are no standardized protocols for assessing drone collision risks, with other drones, buildings, or pedestrians. Besides, the rapid expansion of drone infrastructure, particularly charging stations, raises concerns about safety protocols, because many of which are located on the rooftops of tall buildings.
Security: The second issue raised in the study pertains to the prevention of malicious drone intrusions into sensitive areas. In 2024, two high-profile incidents highlighted the threat posed by unauthorized drones: one at Tianjin Binhai International Airport in China and another involving a mysterious drone swarm in New Jersey, USA, both of which caused significant social disruption.
Privacy Protection: A third critical issue is privacy protection. Drones and future eVTOLs are equipped with numerous sensors capable of capturing detailed geographic and personal data, raising concerns about privacy violations, particularly for individuals located beneath flight paths.
Environmental Concern: Though drones emit less carbon then conventional civil aircraft, their noise remains as a major obstacle to large-scale integration into our everyday lives. The study has found that the noise radiating from a typical small drone can be as loud as that of a vacuum cleaner. Persistent noise exposure can harm humans’ psychological well-being and avian growth and fitness.
Significance:
Suggestions on Tackling the Four Issues:
Safety: Drone crash tests and bird-strike tests need to be established to evaluate potential severity of incidents of collision and ingestion by civil aircraft engines. Specific fire prevention measures and comprehensive risk assessments also need to be formulated to ensure safe operation of charging stations in dense urban environments.
Security: Current countermeasures against malicious drone intrusion include technologies such as geo-fencing, geo-cage software, and 5G base stations that serve as sensor networks to track low-altitude moving targets. However, the study emphasizes the need to address technological challenges such as sourcing massive computing power and signal-processing capabilities.
Privacy-Friendly Design: It is crucial to incorporate privacy considerations into the design and operation of drones from the outset, in ways that complement existing privacy laws and flight regulations. For example, software and hardware can be designed to automatically delete videos of individuals in non-designated areas or block the collection of sensitive geographic data, thereby safeguarding residents' privacy.
Noise Mitigation: The study emphasizes the necessity that scientists, in collaboration with industry and government, develop low-noise designs and noise-aware air-traffic management systems. One promising direction is the use of generative AI to optimize the routes of drones in urban environments.
Drone delivery over the streets of Shenzhen during the 2024 National Day Festival. (Photo courtesy of Chen Wangqiao, a graduate of the research group and currently a Research Assistant Professor at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.)
The research is a crucial step toward addressing these multifaceted challenges, ensuring that drones and eVTOLs can be safely integrated into the low-altitude economy. As China continues to advance its adoption of unmanned aerial technology, overcoming these issues will be essential for the future of drone-based services and the smart cities of tomorrow.
About the Author and the Research:
Huang Xun is professor in aeronautics and astronautics at Peking University in Beijing and adjunct professor at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. The related research work is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (12432016, 91852201).
Reference: Xun Huang (2025), The small-drone revolution is coming—scientists need to ensure it will be safe. Nature (637), 29-30. doi: https://doi.org/10/1038/d41586-024-04167-7
Written By: An Bingjie
Edited By: Chen Shizhuo
