From May 21 to 23, 2021, the 5th World UAV Congress & the 6th Shenzhen International UAV Exhibition was grandly held at the Shenzhen Convention and Exhibition Center under the theme of "New Starting Point, New Value". As one of the most influential annual events in the global UAV industry, the exhibition gathered industrial elites and innovative enterprises from more than 60 countries and regions. Through forums, product exhibitions, competitive demonstrations and standard releases, it mapped out a blueprint for the high-quality development of the unmanned systems industry and consolidated Shenzhen’s position as the global capital of UAVs.

The exhibition set a new record in scale, covering an exhibition area of 20,000 square meters. A total of 369 leading domestic and overseas enterprises participated, showcasing over 2,270 sets of equipment including UAVs, unmanned ships, unmanned ground vehicles, underwater submersibles, flying cars and supporting industrial chain products. Nearly 50,000 professional visitors and industrial purchasers attended the event. Top domestic enterprises including DJI Innovations, Autel Robotics, XAG, SF Technology and Aerofugia showcased their latest cutting-edge technologies across consumer aerial photography, agricultural plant protection, trunk logistics, security emergency response, mapping and inspection sectors. In the logistics segment, SF displayed a tilt-rotor logistics UAV with a 100-kilometer flight range and a 5-kilogram payload capable of cross-city parcel delivery between Shenzhen and Zhuhai. Autel Robotics launched its long-endurance tilt-rotor Fish Series UAV with a maximum flight time of 180 minutes, paired with automatic docking stations for all-weather missions such as forest fire prevention and coastal defense patrols. Zhuhai Xuanji Technology attracted crowds with its compact coaxial twin-rotor micro UAV resembling a bamboo dragonfly.

Industry academic exchange stood at the core of the congress. Thirty-three parallel professional forums were hosted, inviting 30 academicians from China and abroad as well as 400 top global experts to share insights on frontier topics including 5G-connected UAVs, low-altitude safety governance, AI intelligent flight control, industry-education integration for unmanned systems and cross-border application regulations. During the event, the organizing committee officially released industrial white papers and group standards such as the *2021 China UAV Industry Development Report* and *Counter-UAV Technical Specifications*, filling regulatory gaps in commercial UAV data links and safety prevention, and establishing standardized development guidelines for the sector. Three major awards including the Global UAV Contribution Award, Dapeng Design Award and Innovative Product Award were presented to recognize pioneering enterprises and industry trailblazers, stimulating innovation across the entire industry.

Spectacular featured performances and competitions became major highlights of the exhibition. HighGreat Innovation staged a large-scale UAV light show that set four Guinness World Records including the largest number of synchronously flying drones and the brightest light source imagery. Thousands of drones formed dynamic aerial displays depicting urban, technological and agricultural scenes, demonstrating China’s leading cluster UAV control technology. Hosting China’s first international UAV Football Challenge, the event integrated aviation technology with mass sports to lower the threshold of UAV popular science. Aerial photography contests, RoboMaster tournaments and innovation entrepreneurship roadshows provided platforms for young tech teams to commercialize research achievements. The concurrent China Intelligent Vehicle Innovation Conference realized integrated exhibition of air, ground and underwater unmanned equipment, expanding the application boundaries of unmanned technology.

The 2021 Shenzhen UAV Exhibition accurately seized post-pandemic industrial opportunities. The practical value of UAVs in material distribution, community patrols, infrared temperature screening and emergency publicity accelerated the industry’s transformation from recreational consumer goods to rigid industrial infrastructure. Market demand surged across agriculture, logistics, security, emergency response and infrastructure sectors, driving the maturation of upstream and downstream industrial chains covering motors, gimbal stabilizers, image transmission and flight control systems, and highlighting the competitive edge of China’s complete UAV supply chain. Serving as a bridge for international cooperation, the congress facilitated frequent negotiations between global industry associations and enterprises, boosting the global expansion of domestic UAV technologies, products and industrial standards.

Although the three-day exhibition concluded successfully, a new era for the unmanned systems industry had just begun. Centered on the theme of "New Starting Point, New Value", the 5th World UAV Congress reviewed decades of technological accumulation in China’s UAV sector and pointed out development directions for the low-altitude economy and smart unmanned applications. Supported by Shenzhen’s robust innovation, manufacturing and market ecosystem, China’s UAV industry continues to break technological barriers, improve regulatory frameworks and tap into civil commercial value, securing global leadership in unmanned technology and heading toward broader industrial prospects.