A2Z launches shared BVLOS drone dock network in China for patrols, rescues and deliveries
A2Z Drone Delivery has deployed a multi-use beyond-visual-line-of-sight drone dock network in Anji, China. The system supports urban waterway patrols, water rescue missions and regional retail delivery from the same infrastructure.
The rollout marks the company’s first move into operating drone services rather than supplying hardware alone. Built around A2Z’s AirDock stations and Longtail UAV platform, the network allows one operator to supervise four drones at the same time. The aircraft fly autonomous patrol routes over protected waterways, can dispatch flotation devices during rescue calls, and shift to food and retail delivery when patrol demand is low.
The Anji Bureau of Water Resources is using the system to strengthen oversight of waterways that run through the city. Patrols are aimed at spotting illegal dumping, unauthorized activity and other problems that previously required larger ground teams and vehicles to monitor. Equipped with high-resolution and infrared cameras, the drones send back live video for near real-time inspection of water infrastructure and busy urban corridors.
The drones can also broadcast voice messages through onboard megaphones and illuminate scenes with LED lighting when visibility is poor. A2Z says the shared-network model improves asset use because the same dock infrastructure can support public-sector missions and commercial logistics. That lowers entry costs for local businesses that want drone delivery capacity without building standalone systems.
The network currently includes eight AirDocks covering 37 kilometers of urban waterways. A2Z said autonomous operations have cut inspection times from several days to about 1.5 hours. The deployment is planned to expand in phases across Anji County’s 1,800 square kilometers. If that scale-up succeeds, the project could offer a clear template for how shared drone infrastructure can reduce labor needs, improve emergency response and widen the economics of local delivery services.