#Shanghai #Drone Industry #WorldSkills

WorldSkills Competition Introduces New Drone Event in Shanghai

The 48th edition of the WorldSkills Competition kicked off in Shanghai on September 22nd, uniting young professionals from various fields to demonstrate and compete in their skills. A significant highlight this year is the introduction of the Unmanned Aerial Systems event, reflecting the rapid expansion of the drone industry and the increasing demand for multi-skilled workers in this sector.

Competition Overview

In this groundbreaking event, participants must assemble a drone comprising over 200 components, program its flight-control system, and ensure it can fly autonomously, all within an 18-hour limit. This challenging task necessitates an intricate blend of mechanical assembly, electronics, computer programming, and artificial intelligence capabilities.

According to industry experts, the demand for skilled workers in China’s drone sector continues to grow exponentially. By 2025, the output value of the country's civilian drone industry soared to 176.1 billion yuan, registering a growth rate of approximately 20% from the previous year. Notably, industrial drones now represent over 70% of the total market share.

Real-World Applications

In Shanghai, drones are revolutionizing various sectors, particularly in infrastructure maintenance. State Grid Shanghai Municipal Electric Power Company utilizes around 100 drones daily for power transmission line inspections, replacing the need for workers to perform risky climbs. He Bing, a specialist engineer at the company, elaborated on the efficiency brought about by drone usage: “Before, a person had to climb the tower. Maybe one hour. Now, in 10 minutes, we can use the drone to inspect the tower.”

Moreover, the technology is seeping into entertainment and international markets. Companies like Shanghai's Aoying Tech have orchestrated drone light shows involving over 14,000 drones, while Vertaxi employs industrial drones for tasks like oil-pipeline inspections in various global locations.

Demand for Skilled Workers

Amid this technological evolution, there is a surging demand for a new class of skilled workers. Estimates from professionals within the industry indicate a deficit of over one million personnel in China’s drone sector, spanning roles such as hardware engineers, research and development specialists, drone operators, and testing engineers. Vocational institutions are quick to respond; for instance, Shanghai Business and Information College plans to initiate a program focused on drone assembly, tuning, and maintenance, aiming to cultivate talent to meet the industry's urgent needs.

Students like Chen Yixuan are already engaged in comprehensive drone training that extends far beyond merely flying aircraft. Their coursework covers assembly, soldering, programming, and autonomous flight algorithms: “The first module is assembly. The second is test flight. The third is coding — making it fly on its own,