CES 2025 Drone Trends: Innovation and Diversification Take Flight

CES 2025 in Las Vegas has officially kicked off, and the drone sector is showing unprecedented variety—from city logistics and emergency rescue to educational entertainment and beyond. Below is an overview of the standout drone innovations and trends at this year’s show, followed by a closer look at seven key drone subcategories that are shaping the industry’s future.

1. The “Air-to-Ground” Revolution: Flying Cars Steal the Spotlight

XPeng Aeroht: Land Aircraft Carrier

One of the biggest attention-grabbers this year comes from China’s XPeng Aeroht. Their Land Aircraft Carrier (LAC) presents a futuristic concept that seamlessly merges electric ground travel with low-altitude aerial flight:

• Six-Wheeled Ground Vehicle: Appearing like a stretched electric RV, it offers extended range and a comfortable ride.
• Detachable Air Module: Stored in a transparent glass hatch at the rear, the air component automatically detaches for electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL), extending arms and rotors once separated.
• Use Cases: Beyond personal commuting, the company highlights applications in medical rescue, highway incidents, and high-rise building evacuations. Notably, the mothership vehicle recharges the flight component, adding a layer of operational flexibility.

XPeng reports over 2,000 pre-orders, mainly from entrepreneurs, CEOs, celebrities, and flight enthusiasts. While still in testing phases, the Land Aircraft Carrier demonstrates a novel approach to merging ground and aerial mobility.

2. Drones Get a Spotlight: From Underground Flights to New Dimensions

2.1 Underground Drones: Sky Flight/Hanseo University

While most drones focus on “how high they can fly,” Sky Flight/Hanseo University is taking drones deep underground. Their underground drone relies on 360° LiDAR for precise navigation and real-time 3D mapping in environments where GPS is unavailable (like mines, tunnels, and disaster sites).

• AI Real-Time Imaging: Beyond obstacle avoidance, it can transmit geological or structural data in real time.
• Hazardous Environments: Minimizes risks for tasks like mining, subway inspection, and disaster rescue missions.

2.2 Bladeless Drone: AIRUS/Hanseo University

Another innovation from Hanseo University addresses two longstanding urban drone challenges: noise and safety. The Bladeless Drone by AIRUS uses a “bladeless propulsion” system that reportedly cuts noise by over 40% while reducing risks associated with exposed propellers.

• Payload & Applications: Capable of carrying up to 10 kg, it’s ideal for last-mile deliveries of perishables, medications, and other sensitive goods.
• AI Flight Management: Integrates real-time route planning and monitoring for safe and precise urban logistics.

2.3 Educational Drone: ALUX Portable Coding Drone & Drone Game Platform

ALUX merges STEM education with eSports through a portable drone and a gamified coding platform:

• Multi-Language Compatibility: Supports Scratch, Entry, and Python, making it accessible to coding beginners and enthusiasts alike.
• Drone eSports: The platform introduces an “arena” concept, enabling drone competitions and immersive gameplay, perfect for tech-savvy students and recreational users looking to learn while having fun.

2.4 Cleaning Drone: Wisson AP3 P3

High-rise window cleaning can be perilous and expensive. Enter Wisson with its AP3 P3 cleaning module, attachable to various industrial drones (such as DJI M300 or M350):

• Soft Robotics Technology: Uses flexible contact surfaces to clean glass exteriors and solar panels.
• Smart Adaptation: AI algorithms maintain stability even when in direct contact with buildings, achieving cleaning rates of up to 800㎡ per hour.

2.5 DJI Flip Unveiled (Rumored)

As a major consumer drone manufacturer, DJI is reportedly readying its DJI Flip for CES 2025:

• Portability & Safety: Rumored to feature a foldable design with increased battery capacity, striking a balance between compact form and extended flight time.
• Possible Successor: Positioned between entry-level and mid-range, it could potentially replace the DJI Neo or certain Mavic models, appealing to both beginner pilots and seasoned pros.

3. Emerging Drone Use Cases and Subcategories

Beyond the headliners at CES 2025, drone technology is maturing rapidly across diverse scenarios. Here are seven drone subcategories worth noting:

1. Heavy Lift Drone

   • Increasing payloads up to 300 kg or more, typically using multi-rotor designs for transporting construction materials, large packages, and more.
   • Trend: Anticipated growth in urban air logistics, construction sites, remote area supply drops, and even large-scale military resupply.
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2. Light Show Drone

   • Thousands of drones orchestrated to create aerial light shows—a spectacle already popular in cities like Dubai and Shanghai.
   • Trend: Expect more demand in tourism, major celebrations, and public festivals, with increasingly sophisticated choreography and interactive elements.

3. Drone Swarm

   • Originating in military and emergency applications, such as the swarms seen in the Russia-Ukraine conflict for surveillance or attacks.
   • Trend: As AI and distributed communication tech advance, swarm drones could play pivotal roles in large-scale scouting, disaster response, and other coordinated operations.

4. Fishing Drone

   • Designed for fishing enthusiasts—capable of casting lines or scouting fish locations.
   • Trend: Growing popularity among recreational fishers, with potential for professional-grade solutions in fisheries survey and ecosystem monitoring.

5. Indoor Drone

   • Drones capable of navigating tunnels, subways, mines, and other enclosed areas, much like the underground drone from Sky Flight/Hanseo University.
   • Trend: Reliance on high-precision visual and LiDAR-based positioning in GPS-denied environments, beneficial for disaster rescue, industrial inspection, and security.

6. Long Range FPV Drone

   • First-Person View drones with extended range, notably seen in military surveillance during modern conflicts.
   • Trend: Advances in communication and battery tech enable longer-distance, low-altitude missions with real-time HD video—also promising for FPV racing and cinematic content creation.

7. Cleaning Drone

   • Already emerging for facade washing and solar panel maintenance, and potentially even large-scale murals or building ads.
   • Trend: As automation and AI converge, cleaning drones will reduce labor and safety risks while creating new possibilities in urban maintenance.

4. Conclusion: Embracing a Diversified, Scenario-Focused Future

CES 2025 clearly shows that drones are evolving from niche gadgets to crucial solutions spanning logistics, emergency rescue, urban management, and entertainment.

• Industry Titans (such as DJI and XPeng) continue to drive hardware innovation.
• New Entrants (like Sky Flight, AIRUS, and ALUX) are thriving within specialized markets.
• Application Scenarios (underground, urban, long-range, heavy-lift, etc.) are multiplying at an unprecedented rate.

The drone sector is poised for a “golden era” of innovation and competition, promising opportunities for consumers, businesses, and government agencies alike. As AI, 5G/6G, and materials science advance, we can expect even more impressive breakthroughs—particularly in large-scale, intelligent, and hybrid ground-air mobility.

The excitement around drones at CES 2025 is just beginning. Keep an eye on new product launches, keynote sessions, and cutting-edge demonstrations to stay on top of this unfolding revolution in flight.