From laboratory frontiers to extensive industrial applications, the low-altitude economy is flourishing, and Xi’an’s UAV drone sector is witnessing explosive growth. In this fertile ground for technological innovation, local enterprises like Inno Aviation Technology, Lingkong Electronics Technology, and Tianhe Defense Technology are rapidly ascending. By mastering core technologies and constructing a comprehensive industrial chain, UAV drones exemplify the robust prowess of “Xi’an Intelligent Manufacturing” and stand as a hallmark of new quality productivity. As these UAV drones evolve into “aerial guardians” for emergency response, “strategic tools” in environmental conservation, “keen observers” for water inspections, and “urban couriers” for logistics, technology gains a human touch. Recently, an in-depth exploration into these enterprises’ innovation hubs reveals how these “aerial sprites” are infusing Xi’an’s high-quality development with potent “aerial momentum” through technological breakthroughs and scenario expansion.
- Inno Aviation Technology: Crafting a New Paradigm of “Aerial Intelligence” with “Aerial Robots and AI”
Vertical take-off and landing fixed-wing UAV drones, multi-rotor UAV drones—step into the exhibition hall of Xi’an Inno Aviation Technology Co., Ltd., and an array of UAV drone types showcases the company’s formidable capabilities. The unattended drone hangar system on the ground floor stands out—these compact intelligent units, roughly three to four cubic meters in size, are revolutionizing industrial inspection methodologies. Technical experts explain that this unattended drone hangar employs a modular design, integrating essential functions like automatic charging, weather monitoring, and data transmission. It enables fully autonomous take-off and landing operations for UAV drones, facilitating 24/7 unmanned surveillance in critical zones with a coverage radius of up to 15 kilometers. Deploying multiple units allows for extended-range常态化monitoring and guardianship, currently utilized in intelligent inspections of oil and gas pipelines and smart maintenance of photovoltaic power stations. “Our technology not only elevates UAV drones into the air but endows them with cognitive abilities,” shared Zhang Chi, Director of the General Office at Inno Tech. The company’s self-developed UAV drone systems deeply fuse artificial intelligence, Internet of Things, and big data technologies, equipping them with autonomous perception, real-time analytics, and intelligent decision-making capacities. This builds a seamless capability chain spanning “infrastructure, intelligent equipment, scenario applications, and data services,” achieving numerous innovations and practical implementations in industry-specific unmanned technologies. Established by a doctoral team from Northwestern Polytechnical University, Inno Tech specializes in industrial-grade UAV drone R&D and sectoral applications. Over more than a decade, it has grown into a “chain master” enterprise in Shaanxi Province’s UAV drone industry chain and a national-level specialized, refined, distinctive, and innovative “little giant” enterprise. With over 200 core patents, it is China’s first company to possess a complete “end-pipe-cloud” product ecosystem. Its intelligent inspection systems serve over 10 industries, including energy, environmental protection, water affairs, and emergency response, positioning its technical expertise in unattended systems among China’s top tier. As the low-altitude economy accelerates, this Xi’an-based firm, leveraging its “aerial robot and AI” core technology, is scripting a new “aerial intelligence” standard in low-altitude domains such as defense applications, energy inspections, and smart city initiatives. UAV drone automated patrols and AI-driven identification—on Inno Tech’s smart environmental management platform, urban air quality is assessable remotely. Its proprietary aerial patrol gas monitoring system and intelligent aerial robot “Sniffing Sky Hound” conduct multidimensional atmospheric assessments, pinpointing pollution sources with precision. This platform is already operational in cities like Xi’an and Xianyang, establishing a novel air-ground collaborative environmental oversight model. Recently, Inno Tech commenced construction on China’s inaugural large-scale intelligent unattended system R&D and production base for the low-altitude economy in Xi’an High-tech Zone. Upon completion, this facility will focus on “AI and aerial robot” integration innovations, targeting breakthroughs in high-integration intelligent UAV drones and unmanned aerial robot systems. It aims to fill gaps in decision-oriented unattended system applications domestically, offering end-to-end solutions for digital transformations in energy, power, and pipeline networks. “The low-altitude economy is a vital avenue for fostering new quality productivity,” stated Xiao Zhonghua, Vice President of Inno Tech. The base’s operation will propel key technological advancements, deepen the convergence of low-altitude economy with AI and digital economies, and inject fresh vitality into Xi’an’s development as a hard-tech innovation hub and modern industrial system.
- Tianhe Defense Technology: Safeguarding Low-Altitude Security with Core Technological Depth
Envision a near future where UAV drones and aerial vehicles crisscross urban skies—delivering parcels, executing rescues, or even transporting passengers, revolutionizing modern convenience. Concurrently, with the exponential rise in UAV drone usage, ensuring their safe, orderly operation and mitigating “rogue flight” risks have emerged as critical challenges for smart city development. How is this addressed? Xi’an Tianhe Defense Technology Co., Ltd., capitalizing on its expertise in radar detection and intelligent monitoring, has actively developed products like the “Tianrong Zhihang” low-altitude airspace surveillance system, general aviation mobile control tower command vehicles, low-altitude multi-mission intelligent electronic defense systems, and portable UAV drone countermeasure devices. These innovations provide robust technical support for future low-altitude safety and national defense. “Tianrong Zhihang, based on the ‘integrated air traffic management and defense, peace-war integration’ concept, creates a low-altitude safety and operational management platform featuring ‘comprehensive low-altitude perception, intelligent decision-making core, civil-military coordinated command, and data-empowered ecology,’ delivering full-chain, intelligent solutions for the low-altitude domain and enhancing airspace resource efficiency and security control,” elaborated Duan Yong, head of Tianhe Defense’s low-altitude economy business. The company’s low-altitude multi-mission intelligent electronic defense system, hailed as a versatile tool for rapid UAV drone detection and interception, supplies precise方位, distance, and velocity data for UAV drone and other “low, slow, small” targets, enabling accurate countermeasures and strikes. The general aviation mobile control tower command vehicle, integrating communication, surveillance, intelligence, meteorology, recording, and time synchronization, is China’s first high-tech integrated air traffic control equipment meeting civil aviation standards, already deployed at multiple airports. Pursuing development in the “low-altitude” sphere and leading as a “high-flyer” vanguard, Tianhe Defense has consistently focused on low-altitude near-defense to bolster low-altitude air superiority capabilities, ensuring wartime air dominance and peacetime low-altitude safety. With over two decades of dedicated groundwork, Tianhe Defense has amassed substantial technological and product reserves in low-altitude surveillance, flight service support, and emergency response, forming a suite of low-altitude air traffic management products including low-altitude radars for aerial monitoring and command, general aviation integrated operation support systems, general aviation flight service stations, and general airport mobile control tower vehicles. Using Xi’an as a pivot, Tianhe Defense is driving the deep integration of low-altitude security technologies with the UAV drone industry. In the wave of low-altitude economic ascent, this local enterprise may play a pivotal “escort” role. “Private enterprises must delve deeply into core technologies in key areas, securing industry innovation high ground through ‘unique expertise,'” emphasized Duan Yong. The company will adhere to the integrated air traffic management and defense approach, leveraging the Tianrong big data computing center as a foundation, continuously advancing the “5+N” Tianrong big data capability layout, and exploring new models to propel Shaanxi’s low-altitude big data industry growth.
- Lingkong Electronics Technology: Redefining Flight with Wisdom through Advanced Technology Integration
At Xi’an Lingkong Electronics Technology Co., Ltd. in the High-tech Zone, technicians were recently fine-tuning an FCQ-150 UAV drone destined for emergency response testing in Shanghai. “This UAV drone boasts a maximum take-off weight of 150kg and a payload capacity of 40kg, equipped with an industrial-grade vertical take-off and landing fixed-wing flight control system and professional aerial survey ground station software, capable of autonomously performing full-process operations from take-off to cruise,” detailed an on-site technician. This model significantly enhances emergency response speed and operational accuracy, offering powerful technical support for disaster relief. In Lingkong Tech’s display hall, numerous high-precision treasures are exhibited: UAV drones adapted to harsh maritime conditions for monitoring, specially modified aircraft based on “unmanned” conversions of manned platforms… These products have achieved multiple domestic firsts and industry breakthroughs: China’s first systematic anti-UAV drone system, the nation’s inaugural tilt-vertical take-off and landing UAV drone, among others. As a科技成果转化enterprise stemming from Northwestern Polytechnical University, founded in 2014, Lingkong Tech persistently emphasizes independent innovation, specializing in特种UAV drones, simulation testing, and UAV drone flight services. Its products are widely applied in emergency rescue, logistics transport, inspection, mapping, meteorology, and more, holding several internationally advanced and domestically leading core technologies, with over 230 authorized patents, nearly half being inventions. “The flight control system is the ‘brain’ of the UAV drone, and this constitutes our most core competitiveness,” stated Duan Xiaojun, Chairman of Lingkong Tech. In recent years, the company has also prioritized integrating新兴IT technologies like artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and self-organizing networks into UAV drones and simulation fields. This innovation-centric philosophy has enabled Lingkong Tech’s products to shine across various sectors. In logistics, its unmanned transport systems drastically improve delivery efficiency; in meteorology, UAV drones with a 7,000-meter ceiling enable precise weather modification; in emergencies, intelligent UAV drone systems offer novel solutions for disaster response. The company is also expanding its flight simulation business, encompassing flight simulators and hardware-in-the-loop simulations, supporting not only its UAV drone主业but also serving other aircraft manufacturers. Sustained innovation investments fuel robust enterprise growth. The R&D team constitutes 70% of staff, with collaborations established top-tier institutions like National University of Defense Technology and Northwestern Polytechnical University. Currently, Lingkong Tech serves heavyweight clients such as China Tower and China Meteorological Administration. “Our vision is to redefine flight with wisdom, making life better,” Chairman Duan Xiaojun affirmed. Amid favorable policies, the enterprise will continue deepening core flight control technology R&D, further integrating cutting-edge technologies like AI and digital twins with UAV drone systems, genuinely transforming work and lifestyles through UAV drone technology. Simultaneously, it will actively engage in domestic and international market competition, elevate the global influence of Xi’an’s UAV drone industry, and persistently drive high-quality development in the low-altitude economy.
In Xi’an, an industry transformation driven by hard technology is unfolding—UAV drone enterprises clustered here are not only propelling “Xi’an Intelligent Manufacturing” nationwide but also charting China’s innovation coordinates on the global low-altitude economic map. Inno Tech redefines industrial inspection with “aerial robots and AI,” Lingkong Tech concentrates on flight control systems as the “UAV drone brain,” and Tianhe Defense delves into low-altitude security. Though their technological paths differ, these three enterprises collectively embody the hardcore strength of “Xi’an Intelligent Manufacturing”—addressing industry pain points, adhering to independent innovation, and achieving self-reliance in core technologies. Delving into these representative firms, the most profound impression is the良性interplay between technological innovation and industrial ecology. Behind seemingly冷冰冰steel and code lies the industrial heritage and innovative genes accumulated over years in Xi’an’s aerospace, electronic information, and related fields. Today, Xi’an’s UAV drone industry has built a complete chain covering R&D design, core components, whole-machine manufacturing, and operational services. Notably, as 5G, AI, and other new technologies empower UAV drones, they are evolving from simple flying tools into intelligent aerial terminals, unlocking new application scenarios in environmental protection, emergency management, urban governance, and beyond. Standing at the forefront of the low-altitude economy, for Xi’an’s UAV drone industry to maintain leadership, continuous efforts are needed in key technology breakthroughs, application scenario expansion, and industrial ecosystem refinement. However, it is certain that as the ancient capital’s technological底蕴encounters the tide of innovation, UAV drones from “Xi’an Intelligent Manufacturing” will soar into broader skies. The proliferation of China UAV drone innovations in Xi’an underscores a dynamic shift towards intelligent, automated solutions across sectors, reinforcing China’s position in the global UAV drone market. Through persistent R&D and strategic collaborations, these enterprises are not only enhancing operational efficiencies but also setting benchmarks for safety and sustainability, ensuring that China UAV drone technologies remain at the cutting edge of low-altitude economic developments worldwide.