Chinese retail giant JD.com is developing drones capable of carrying heavy loads. The drones should be able to carry packages of up to a thousand kilos. The company says it wants to launch China's largest drone network.
By deploying drones with greater carrying capacity, the retailer can transport goods on a large scale to areas that are difficult to reach. It can also deliver parcels to consumers in rural China or take agricultural produce back to urban areas. With the northern province of Shaanxi, it signed an agreement to set up a drone network. The network will have a radius of 300 kilometres and will feature hundreds of routes. JD.com is also installing several landing bases in the region.
JD.com is further investing in a research and development campus, where it will develop and test unmanned systems.
Logistics arm
JD.com seems to be fully committed to its logistics arm JD Logistics with this. Not long ago, it decided to handle the fulfilment of its orders itself. In April, the retail giant called JD Logistics into being, through which it will also handle logistics for third parties. Companies can outsource storage, transport, delivery and returns processing to JD Logistics.
Editorial LogistiekProfs
