Reference News Network July 31 report: The Spanish website "El País" published on July 29 an article written by journalist Alejandro Pérez titled "The drone brought me chicken wings": In China, you can travel to the future and enjoy "from-the-sky" delivery services. The following is a translation of the report:

When I was invited to visit one of the most futuristic cities in the world, Shenzhen, I never expected that, besides skyscrapers, self-driving cars, and stores filled with tech products, drones delivering meals would also amaze me.

Yes, you read that right: my takeaway was delivered by a drone. No delivery person, no motorcycle, no human contact at all. Just an application, a clear sky, and a short waiting time. This is one of the most amazing service systems I have ever experienced.

This happened in a park in Shenzhen, not far from my hotel. Someone told me there was an advanced drone delivery service in the park, so I went directly there to check it out. The scene I saw looked like it came from a science fiction movie, but this system not only works normally, but many people use it every day.

It starts with an application on your phone. Users first select their meal (for example, chicken wings with ice-cola), then choose the aerial delivery option. The system finds the nearest restaurant that offers this service. The restaurant prepares the food and puts it into a special box designed for drone delivery. This box is highly sealed, durable, and has insulation properties, so the food arrives hot (or chilled if needed).

At the same time, a drone takes off from the service station in the park and flies to the restaurant's pickup point. After loading the meal, the drone returns to the service station in the park.

The drone does not randomly choose a landing spot. It lands on the platform on top of the service station, and then the box is placed into the cabinet below the platform through a hatch. At this moment, the most magical part of the system appears: the user enters the pickup code received on their phone on the touch screen of the cabinet; after verification, the cabinet door opens, and the user can enjoy the "sky-fallen" takeout delicacy.

The entire process from ordering to receiving the takeout takes about 20 minutes. That is, it is roughly the same as the usual delivery time, or even shorter. There is no traffic jam, no delay, and you can see an exciting scene: the drone slowly descends, bringing you fries and burgers.

The precision with which the entire system operates left the deepest impression on me. Drones can fly autonomously using satellite navigation, avoid obstacles, and adjust their flight path in real time. This is complete automation, controlled solely by algorithms.

We are not talking about a demonstration for tourists. During the time I was shooting and observing, within half an hour, I saw three drone deliveries. Like me, these customers were waiting at the service station for their takeout. After getting the food, they opened the packaging and ate it in the park, everything seemed natural, as if it were the most ordinary thing in the world.

This system has been fully integrated into China's digital ecosystem. Payment is made via WeChat Pay or Alipay, no cash or credit card needed, everything can be done with a mobile phone.

Seeing the drone land with my own eyes, then entering the pickup code to get the takeout without any contact with anyone, was unforgettable. I really felt like I was living in 2040 at that moment. And such scenes are already a daily occurrence in Shenzhen.

While people in Spanish cities are still waiting for cyclists to deliver meals in the rain, in Shenzhen, tireless, non-errant drones efficiently complete this task. A silent revolution has arrived. (Translated by Tian Ce)

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7533057537785020982/

Statement: The article represents the views of its author. Please express your opinion by clicking the [Like/Dislike] buttons below.