Exploring the Multidimensional Application Scenarios of Drones at the 2025 World Drone Congress

The 2025 World Drone Congress has just concluded, gathering top global enterprises, research institutions, and industry leaders. Drones are being applied across a wide range of fields, covering almost every sector.

Drones are evolving from “tools” to “intelligent ecosystems”

Penetrating All Industries

In the next five years,
With technological breakthroughs and improved policies,
Drones will reshape our lifestyles.
Are you ready?

According to data from the Civil Aviation Administration of China, over 1.875 million drones were registered nationwide in the first half of 2025, a year-on-year increase of 48%. Driven by both market demand and technological advancements, drones are becoming central to the low-altitude economy, and multidimensional application scenarios are reshaping industrial ecosystems through an “aerial revolution.”

Development Trends in Civil Drones

From agricultural protection and logistics delivery to emergency rescue, security, and patrol, the application scenarios of civil drones are expanding at an unprecedented speed.

1. Agricultural Drones Advancing Toward “Full Automation”
In crop monitoring, drones equipped with sensors or cameras can monitor crop growth and detect pests and diseases in real time, assisting farmers in scientific field management. In plant protection, drones can carry pesticide tanks and spraying equipment to apply pesticides, fertilizers, or herbicides precisely, improving efficiency while reducing costs and labor.
Drone spraying ensures more uniform coverage of crops and enhances pest control effectiveness.
AI + precision agriculture enables drones equipped with multispectral sensors to monitor crop health in real time. Combined with AI algorithms, drones can automatically apply fertilizers and pesticides, increasing efficiency tenfold.
Drones can also be used for terrain mapping and land monitoring, providing reliable data for agricultural planning.
The agricultural drone market is expected to exceed USD 20 billion by 2030.

2. Logistics Drones Enter the “Minute-Level Delivery” Era
With many countries relaxing low-altitude flight restrictions, drones are being increasingly used in logistics, especially in remote or hard-to-reach areas. Drone logistics networks will enable fast and accurate delivery of small goods such as parcels and medicines, significantly improving logistics efficiency and reducing labor and vehicle costs.
Industry giants are racing to deploy: Amazon, JD.com, SF Express, and others are rapidly advancing drone delivery, with urban “15-minute delivery” expected by 2025.

3. Emergency Rescue Drones Become “Guardians of Life”
With the support of the drone technology ecosystem, China’s capabilities in disaster prevention, reduction, and relief have been significantly enhanced, enabling more efficient, safer, and smarter disaster management.
In complex terrains such as mountains, forests, and oceans, drones can search for missing persons and provide critical information to assist rescue operations.
Drones can also quickly deliver supplies and establish communication relays, playing a key role in disaster relief.
With rapid response to extreme weather and breakthroughs in swarm technology, multi-drone collaborative operations can achieve large-area search and rescue.

4. Security and Patrol
Drones can be used to patrol borderlines, detect intruders or suspicious activities, and ensure national security.
They can also monitor urban traffic and public safety in real time, providing strong support for city safety management.
Equipped with HD cameras and positioning systems, drones can autonomously patrol power grids, detect safety hazards, and transmit images in real time.
This greatly improves the efficiency and safety of power inspections, reducing injuries and power outages.

5. Environmental Monitoring and Protection
Drones, equipped with onboard sensors and high-definition cameras, can monitor environmental parameters such as air, water quality, and soil in real time, collecting high-resolution images and video data.
They can also locate and monitor pollution sources, providing accurate data to environmental authorities and supporting pollution control efforts.

6. Scientific Research and Education
– Scientific Research: Drones have wide applications in research fields such as atmospheric and ocean exploration, geological surveys, and archaeological excavations, enabling efficient data collection and sample retrieval.
– Aerial Education: In education, drones can be used for aerial teaching, such as geological fieldwork and natural landscape education.
HD images and video captured by drones allow students to intuitively understand natural phenomena and laws.

7. Other Civil Applications
– Sports Events: Drones can be used for live broadcasting and filming of sports events, enhancing the viewing experience.
– Advertising & Promotion: Drones can be used for aerial advertising and event shooting in promotional campaigns.
– Entertainment & Leisure: Drones are widely used in entertainment, such as model aircraft competitions and aerial shows.
– Building Inspection: Drones can inspect buildings, bridges, and other infrastructure, improving work efficiency and safety.
– Aerial Photography & Filmmaking: Drones have a unique advantage in aerial photography, providing aerial images and footage for urban planning, land surveys, disaster assessment, tourism promotion, and the film/TV industry.

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is promoting the development of drone air traffic management systems. With regulatory and technical upgrades progressing in parallel, safety has become a core concern. Anti-collision and countermeasure technologies are advancing rapidly.
Balancing innovation and regulation will remain a long-term issue for the industry.
As companies like EHang and XPeng accelerate the commercialization of passenger drones, cities like Dubai and Shenzhen have already launched pilot programs.
Urban Air Mobility (UAM) is moving from concept to reality, and over the next five years, UAM could give rise to a trillion-yuan market.