A Tianjin-based technology company is transforming industrial maintenance with China's first fully autonomous drone inspection system, designed to serve the country's extensive energy infrastructure network.
Founded in 2017 by engineers Zhu Shengli and his partner, IKINGTEC developed intelligent drones that combine automated battery and sensor pod replacement with AI-driven navigation and image recognition capabilities. The system represents a significant advancement in China's growing low-altitude economy sector.
"It's not just a drone with four rotors. It also has four extra 'eyes'. We give it a destination or a task, it will fly there on its own," Zhu said.
The company's journey began when the founders identified gaps in industrial drone applications during China's mass entrepreneurship and innovation campaign. After initial field tests with power line maintenance crews across mountainous regions, the company established operations in Tianjin's Binhai New Area, a hub for technological development.
Their breakthrough came in 2019 when they successfully implemented their technology in China's power sector, which maintains over 2 million kilometers of transmission lines. The drones' ability to operate autonomously with multiple optical sensors has since expanded their use to emergency response and smart city management.
"With support from the government in areas such as policy, taxation, and talent, you can see that private enterprises now have the opportunities and resources to expand their markets, enhance their technological capabilities, and reach the global stage," Zhu said.
Now, their team numbers over 500. From the southeastern coast to the deserts of the northwest, their footprints span the land. As the company's technology has gained ground at home, Zhu is now setting his sights on markets abroad.
"Once we stepped out, we noticed that Chinese tech is getting a lot of attention overseas. Right now, we're in solid talks across the Middle East and North Africa. For example, in the Sahara Desert, over 3,000 kilometers of oil pipelines lie unmanaged. Across Europe, power lines may also need drones for inspection and patrol. As the low-altitude economy advances, high technology will serve us all. And 'us' means not just China, but the world," Zhu said.
China's 56 million private enterprises, accounting for over 92 percent of domestic businesses, drive more than 70 percent of the nation's technological advancements.
IKINGTEC's development path exemplifies how these companies are transitioning Chinese manufacturing from quantity to quality, supported by national strategies like the recent inclusion of low-altitude economy development in the government work report.
From guarding energy networks to crossing borders, China's private businesses are writing their own chapters in history. More entrepreneurs like Zhu are taking flight with innovation and bringing "intelligent manufacturing in China" to the world. Their stories are still being written.
Chinese drone startup pioneers autonomous inspection technology
