An air vehicle flies while taking aerial photos in Changchun, Northeast China's Jilin province, May 3, 2013. [Photo/Xinhua]

Model aircraft enthusiast Jia Mingxiao had the idea to develop an unmanned aerial vehicle in 2010 when he heard from TV reports that rescuers had difficulty in finding people trapped by floods in Jilin province.

He cooperated with his four friends, all born in the 1980s, to establish a company and improve the aerial vehicle mainly for emergency relief efforts.

After two years' numerous trials, the vehicle can now undertake GPS-guided flight, automatically make a return voyage, and send back real-time images.

On March 3, the vehicle, carrying drinking water and food, almost reached nine people on a ferry stranded in the Songhua River, but had to abort because of bad weather and its battery running-out.

But the failure only got Jia more determined to make the unmanned aerial vehicle a great help for those in need.

"I believe my dream will come true as we improve the technology," Jia said.