S.F. Express (Hong Kong) Limited (SFHK) and Cyberport have launched a drone route under the government’s Low-altitude Economy Regulatory Sandbox framework.
With guidance from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government’s Working Group on Developing Low-altitude Economy and the provision of takeoff/landing sites by Cyberport, the new route primarily focuses on medical supply delivery scenarios, testing logistics distribution for outlying islands.
SFHK’s drones conduct beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) low-altitude logistics flights over cross-sea routes. SFHK, in collaboration with Phoenix Wings Technology (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of the SF Group, successfully applied to become one of the first pilot projects under the government’s new sandbox.
Cyberport is working closely with the Hong Kong government to explore low-altitude flying application scenarios and has been appointed a venue partner for the sandbox pilot project, providing suitable locations like vertiports and supporting facilities for various pilot projects that have already begun. The Cyberport vertiport is close to a large outdoor space and equipped with charging facilities, an anemometer for measuring both wind direction and wind speed and other auxiliary equipment designed to minimise interference and ensure strong signal reception. In addition, the Hong Kong Observatory will install a new meteorological observing system at Cyberport’s venues for pilot projects to provide real-time weather data. Cyberport’s vertiport can accommodate multiple drones for simultaneous operation and piloting, and it also supports maritime pilot projects to outlying islands.
Cyberport is also collaborating with telecom operators to strengthen drone signal transmission and reception, improving the quality and precision of drone operations. Cyberport is equipped with advanced information technology and communication facilities, including an Artificial Intelligence Supercomputing Centre (AISC) that was launched last year,
SF said it hopes the test results from the sandbox will provide reference and support for future formal drone operations in Hong Kong, promoting Hong Kong as a hub city for the low-altitude economy in the Greater Bay Area.
For more information
Image: Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan (left) inspects the pilot project, involving smart deliveries from Cyberport to St John Hospital at Cheung Chau. (Hong Kong government photo)
