Sensing technology is facilitating the transition of drone delivery services from trial phases to regular daily operations.
Updated
January 8, 2026 6:27 PM
A quadcopter drone with package attached. PHOTO: FREEPIK
A new partnership between Hesai Technology, a LiDAR solutions company and Keeta Drone, an urban delivery platform under Meituan, offers a glimpse into how drone delivery is moving from experimentation to real-world scale.
Under the collaboration, Hesai will supply solid-state LiDAR sensors for Keeta’s next-generation delivery drones. The goal is to make everyday drone deliveries more reliable as they move from trials to routine operations. Keeta Drone operates in a challenging space—low-altitude urban airspace. Its drones deliver food, medicine and emergency supplies across cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Dubai. With more than 740,000 deliveries completed across 65 routes, the company has discontinued testing the concept. It is scaling it. For that scale to work, drones must be able to navigate crowded environments filled with buildings, trees, power lines and unpredictable conditions. This is where Hesai’s technology comes in.
Hesai’s solid-state LiDAR is integrated into Keeta's latest long-range delivery drones. LiDAR stands for Light Detection and Ranging. In simple terms, it is a sensing technology that helps machines understand their surroundings by sending out laser pulses and measuring how they bounce back. Unlike GPS, LiDAR does not rely solely on satellites to determine position. Instead, it gives drones a direct sense of their surroundings, helping them spot small but critical obstacles like wires or tree branches.
In a recent demonstration, Keeta Drone completed a nighttime flight using LiDAR-based navigation alone without relying on cameras or satellite positioning. This shows how the technology can support stable operations even when visibility is poor or GPS signals are limited.
The LiDAR system used in these drones is Hesai’s second-generation solid-state model known as FTX. Compared with earlier versions, the sensor offers higher resolution while being smaller and lighter—important considerations for airborne systems where weight and space are limited. The updated design also reduces integration complexity, making it easier to incorporate into commercial drone platforms. Large-scale production of the sensor is expected to begin in 2026.
From Hesai’s perspective, delivery drones are one of several forms robots are expected to take in the coming decades. Industry forecasts suggest robots will increasingly appear in many roles from industrial systems to service applications, with drones becoming a familiar part of urban infrastructure rather than a novelty.
For Keeta Drone, this improves safety and reliability. And for the broader industry, it signals that drone logistics is entering a more mature phase—one defined less by experimentation and more by dependable execution. Taken together, the partnership highlights a practical evolution in drone delivery.
As cities grow more complex, the question is no longer whether drones can fly but whether they can do so reliably, safely and at scale. At its core, this partnership is not about drones or sensors as products. It is about what it takes to make a complex system work quietly in real cities. As drone delivery moves out of pilot zones and into everyday use, reliability matters more than novelty.
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Here’s the story of how a quirky toy transformed into a worldwide phenomenon.
Updated
January 8, 2026 6:35 PM
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Labubu vinyl figure displayed with surprise blind boxes in a store in Guayaquil, Ecuador. PHOTO: ADOBE STOCK
Trends move fast. One moment it's Dubai’s viral “Kunafa” chocolate bar, the next it’s Labubu—a mischievous-looking doll—racks up US$670 million in revenue this year, even outpacing Barbie and Hot Wheels. Celebrities like BLACKPINK’s Lisa and Dua Lipa have been spotted with Labubu dolls—whether as bag charms or in playful social posts.
For those unfamiliar, Labubu is the breakout character from the book series“The Monster” by Hong Kong-born, Belgium-based artist Kasing Lung. Alongside Labubu, the series features other quirky monsters like Zimomo, Mokoko and Tycoco—often grouped together as “Labubus”. These vinyl Labubu figures first entered the collectible scene in 2011 as “Monsters”, produced by Hong Kong-based production house How2Work. In 2019, Lung signed an exclusive licensing deal with Pop Mart, a Beijing-based toy collectible company, which further boosted the recognition and popularity of the franchise.
At first glance, Labubu might seem like just another fad. But the craze shows something deeper: in digital marketing, virality doesn’t happen by accident. It’s the result of timing, relatability and the rway global communities amplify trends.
So, what can marketers learn from the Labubu phenomenon? Let’s take a closer look.
Labubu’s unconventional aesthetics—a notorious grin, sharp teeth and wide eyes—break the traditional mold of “cute” toys. The social listening report from Meltwater, a media intelligence company reveals that from January to May 2025, mentions of “cute” outnumbered “ugly” nearly five to one. This “ugly-cute” look gave Labubu its identity and helped it stand out in a crowded market.
Marketing lesson: In a world of where everything blends together on endless feeds, uniqueness wins. Standing out with bold, even unconventional design choices can spark curiosity and desire. By leaning into what makes a product different, brands create instant recognition and give people something worth talking about.
Labubu’s surge in popularity is deeply rooted in Pop Mart’s focus on building genuine relationships with its fans. The company encourages user-generated content— unboxings, fan art, influencer stories—that fueled Labubu’s spread online and build brand engagement. Fans weren’t just buying toys; they were becoming part of a community that celebrated each new design.
Marketing lesson: Customers don’t want to feel like faceless buyers. They want to feel seen, heard and part of something bigger. By encouraging engagement and valuing contributions, brands can turn casual customers into loyal advocates who spread the word on their behalf.
While Pop Mart notes Labubu is most popular among women aged 18–30, its audience has broadened beyond that group. The design draws on influences from Nordic mythology and East Asian “kawaii” culture, making it feel both familiar and new to global audiences.
For Millennials and Gen Xers, Labubu also sparks nostalgia for toy crazes like Tickle Me Elmo and Beanie Babies that once lit up childhoods before fading away. Together, these layers of cultural resonance and cross-generational charm give Labubu an unusually broad reach.
Marketing lessons: Relatability is a powerful driver of virality. When a product can connect across generations and cultures, it expands far beyond a niche fan base. Brands that blend familiarity with novelty can build bridges to much larger audiences.
Labubu’s blind box model makes buying feel like a game. The thrill of not knowing which design you’d unwrap made collecting Labubus fun. It also turns buying into an emotional experience rather than a rational choice, fueling the urge to complete entire collections.
Besides, the suspense itself became content—millions watched unboxing videos to share in the excitement. Even BLACKPINK’s Lisa admitted she began with “only three to four” Labubus but soon wanted “a whole box” of the latest collection.
Marketing lesson: Mystery creates excitement, and excitement drives repeat purchases. By adding an element of surprise, brands can make the buying experience feels less like a transaction and more like a story unfolding. That thrill keeps customers coming back and makes the product easy to share online.
Pop Mart releases Labubus in limited drops, often tied to holidays or cultural events. Some editions include ultra-rare “chase” figures—appearing only once in every 144 boxes—creating a strong sense of urgency and fear-of-missing out (FOMO) among buyers. This strategy fuels a booming resale market, where regular figures retailing at US$25 can sell for US$200–US$300, and rare editions have even fetched prices up to US$150,000.
Marketing lessons: Scarcity isn’t just about limiting supply—it’s about building anticipation. By tying releases to events and sprinkling in rare editions, brands keep fans watching for the next drop. This combination of urgency and exclusivity transforms ordinary products into must-have collectibles.
Labubu has expanded its reach through creative brand collaborations. For instance, the Labubu x Coca-Cola series features figures in iconic red-and-white themes, while a Vans Old Skool drop merged streetwear in the clothing brand’s notable checkerboard pattern with collectibles. The One Piece collaboration blended Labubu’s quirky style with beloved anime heroes, appealing to fans of both worlds.
Marketing takeaway: Collaborations breathe fresh life into a brand and open doors to new audiences. Partnering with well-known names adds cultural weight and collectible value, while keeping the brand relevant in different communities. Done right, collaborations turn niche products into mainstream sensations.
Labubu’s phenomenal success is more than a passing craze. It’s proof that bold design, authentic community building, clever scarcity and cultural collaborations can transform a quirky idea into a global movement.
For marketers, the takeaway is simple: don’t just chase trends—create something real and let your community shape the story with you. Be bold, stay authentic and bring your fans along for the ride. That’s how brands move from fleeting hype to lasting cultural icons.