On October 28, the 2021 World Technology Young Leaders Forum and the MIT Technology Review (TR) "35 Innovators Under 35" Global-Asia Pacific List Release Ceremony opened in Hangzhou Future Science and Technology City. Among the distinguished honorees, Professor Gu Yue Zhou from the Academy of Intelligent Research (AIR) at Tsinghua University was named to the MIT TR 35 Innovators Under 35 Asia Pacific List for 2021. Known as the "brain" behind some of the world's leading consumer drones, Zhou's recognition stems from his significant contributions to the miniaturization of intelligent systems on drones. The forum, which is renowned for addressing breakthroughs and innovations in technology, centered on five key themes: "Changing the Game, Breaking the Mold, and New Horizons," "Sustainable Development Empowered by Technology," "Envisioning the Future World Map," "Transformation from Lab to Industry," and "Youth Leading the Future." These themes were designed to explore the future of emerging technologies and their potential impact on various sectors. Professor Zhou's selection for the MIT TR 35 Innovators Under 35 Asia Pacific List is a testament to his groundbreaking work in the field of drone technology. During his speech at the forum, Zhou emphasized the importance of intelligence in the rapid development of the civilian drone industry. His team has developed a low-cost, onboard autonomous driving system for small drones, featuring an efficient heterogeneous computing architecture and specialized computer vision algorithms. This system has revolutionized drone operation, making it safe and accessible for non-expert users. Moreover, Zhou’s team has established a quality control system based on intelligent manufacturing, digitizing and automating the entire quality control process. This has not only enhanced the manufacturing efficiency but also ensured high standards in the production of drones, facilitating large-scale mass production. The drones developed by Zhou’s team are widely used in various applications, including power line inspections, firefighting, public safety, and media, and are sold in over 100 countries. Zhou began his career in 2012 as a core team member, senior scientist, and senior product manager at DJI, a leading drone manufacturer. Under his leadership, DJI’s technology and product teams have achieved numerous milestones, including the development of computer vision, intelligent manufacturing, entry-level drones, and STEAM education products. One of his notable achievements is the breakthrough in the key technologies of small drone onboard autonomous driving systems, which earned DJI the sole Special Prize for Scientific and Technological Progress in Guangdong Province in 2019. Zhou holds more than 70 patents, 24 of which are U.S. patents, and his innovations have been instrumental in the success of DJI’s entire product line. In 2017, the palm-sized intelligent drone "Spark" (also known as "晓" in Chinese) designed by Zhou’s team was ranked fourth in Time Magazine’s list of the world's top ten tech products, surpassing well-known products like Amazon’s smart speaker and Apple’s smartwatch. "Spark" was also the only Chinese product featured in Time Magazine’s list of the 25 best inventions of the same year. Zhou’s contributions extend beyond technological advancements. He has also been pivotal in the design and manufacturing of intelligent robots, with a cumulative sales volume of nearly 5 million units. His work on the digitalization and intelligence of the manufacturing quality system at DJI has led to the development of flexible manufacturing equipment, flexible sensor calibration equipment, and flexible visual inspection (AOI) equipment. Additionally, he created a fully automated flight parameter testing and self-tuning system and a multi-drone collaborative flight scheduling system, pioneering a new model of manufacturing where intelligent products and devices can work together to make informed decisions. In 2020, Zhou was recognized as a high-level professional leading talent in Shenzhen and joined the Academy of Intelligent Research (AIR) at Tsinghua University in November of the same year. At AIR, he founded the DISCOVER Lab, focusing on research in advanced manufacturing, intelligent robotics, computer vision, and human-machine interaction. His current projects aim to use intelligent algorithms to automatically generate prototype system designs composed of modular structures and analyze their performance through digital simulation. This approach seeks to establish a flexible manufacturing system capable of rapidly responding to the diverse and growing demands of various industries. Zhou envisions a future where intelligent design will play a crucial role in meeting the specific needs of different users. He believes that addressing the long-tail demands of various sectors will enable the widespread adoption of civilian drones and other intelligent robots in everyday life. "The goal is to make it possible for intelligent drones and robots to be fully integrated into our daily lives," Zhou stated, highlighting the mission of his generation of robotics scientists. In conclusion, Professor Gu Yue Zhou’s selection to the MIT TR 35 Innovators Under 35 Asia Pacific List 2021 underscores his significant contributions to the miniaturization and intelligence of drone systems. His work has not only advanced the technology but also improved the manufacturing process, making drones more accessible and versatile. Zhou’s ongoing research at the DISCOVER Lab at Tsinghua University’s AIR is expected to further drive innovation and pave the way for the future of intelligent robotics.