- Postal operator deploys drones, driverless vans and unmanned lockers
- Over 2 million parcels handled as system expands toward scale
The postal operator in Jinhua, a city in Zhejiang Province, is rolling out a multi-layered autonomous delivery network combining drones, driverless vehicles and unmanned pickup stations, as it pushes to scale up logistics automation across the city.
By the end of March, drones had completed more than 1,000 flights carrying over 20,000 kilograms of cargo, while autonomous vehicles delivered more than 2 million parcels and logged over 310,000 kilometers, according to the operator, which is the local unit of China Post, the state postal service provider.
At the transport level, Jinhua Post introduced hydrogen-powered FC100 drones at an agricultural logistics hub in late March, extending range sixfold compared with lithium-powered models and more than doubling payload capacity.
Based on DJI’s industry-grade FC100 model, these drones can operate in temperatures ranging from minus 20 to 50 degrees Celsius with zero emissions.
“Previously, lithium drones needed a battery swap after each trip; now hydrogen drones can keep flying multiple missions in a day,” said pilot Ye Wei.
The network includes one central command hub, eight automated takeoff and landing sites and 12 drone hangars, supported by four drones and 84 autonomous vehicles.
Jinhua currently operates the largest fleet of postal delivery robots in the province, with vehicles running an average of 46 trips daily across 91 loading points and covering more than 1,000 kilometers per day.
The fleet is expected to expand to 200 vehicles in 2026, marking a shift from pilot projects to broader deployment.
To address last-mile pickup, the city has built 12 unmanned stations where users retrieve parcels via access codes or QR scans, triggering automated lockers with voice prompts.
One site, developed in partnership with Zhejiang Normal University, spans 374 square meters and includes 87 smart shelving units with capacity for more than 6,000 packages, allowing students and staff to collect deliveries on campus without leaving.
Daily intake at the stations averages 6,000 parcels, as the system expands from residential neighborhoods to university campuses, replacing staffed counters with self-service access.
By linking aerial, ground and terminal systems, Jinhua is building a fully automated delivery chain.
Plans for 2026 include expanding vehicle fleets, adding drone routes and replicating unmanned stations across more communities and rural areas, as the network moves toward citywide coverage.
