DJI is a Chinese company, world leader in the production of recreational, professional and business drones, founded in 2006 by Frank Wang in the city of Shenzhen.
Summary
1 History
2 Presentation
3 products
3.1 Phantom
3.2 Mavic
3.3 Inspire
3.4 Goggles
3.5 Action camera
4 Lobbying activities
4.1 In the United States
4.2 In France
History
The company was founded in 2006 by Frank Wang (Wang Tao, 汪 滔). Born in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, he enrolled in the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology in 2003. He was part of the university team that participated in ABU Robocon, a university robot competition, and won the third prize.
Frank Wang built his first prototypes in his bedroom and sold their components to Chinese universities and energy companies. He used his income to establish himself in the industrial centre of Shenzhen and hired one of his first employees in 2006. The company initially struggled, with a high turnover of employees. The company sold few components during this period. The company received financial support from Wang's family friend, Lu Di, who provided $90,000 and managed the company's finances. In 2009, components from DJI enabled a team to successfully fly a drone around the summit of Everest.
In 2010, Frank Wang hired a high school friend, Swift Xie Jia, to lead the company's marketing. DJI begins to address markets outside of China. In 2011, Wang met Colin Guinn at a trade show. Together they founded DJI North America, a subsidiary specialising in the sale of large-scale drones.
The Phantom model, released in 2010, was a commercial success. It was at the heart of a conflict between Colin Guinn and Frank Wang. In 2010, Wang made a buy-out offer to Guinn, which he refused. At the end of the year, DJI banned all employees in its North American subsidiary from accessing their email accounts and was in the process of shutting down the subsidiary's operations. Colin Guinn sued DJI and the case was settled out of court.
In 2015, the addition of an integrated camera that allows images to be broadcast live is a notable innovation. DJI then becomes the largest consumer drone company in the world. In the same year, the company hosts the first edition of the RoboMaster Robotics Competition, an annual international robot fighting tournament held at the Shenzhen Bay Sports Centre.
In January 2020, the US Department of the Interior announced its intention to immobilise approximately 800 drones on the ground, which it used for wildlife protection and infrastructure surveillance. As of March 2020, DJI controls nearly 77% of the US consumer drone market, and no other company more than 4% .
Presentation
Da Jiang Innovation (DJI), is a specialist in the manufacture of recreational drones equipped with cameras (Gopro for its first models) for aerial photography. The company is the world leader in this business sector for leisure drones.
The 12 main drone series are: DJI Phantom, DJI Inspire and DJI Mavic
It also produces various accessories for its drones such as camera mounts, battery, propeller, etc.
It also produces camera stabilisers (DJI Ronin), smartphone stabilisers (DJI Osmo Mobile) and stabilised cameras (DJI Osmo Pocket; DJI Osmo Action).
Products
Phantom 4 Pro
The manufacturer DJI has developed a series of drones called the Phantom. The Phantom 4 pro V2.0 is DJI's most comprehensive version. It has a camera with a 1 inch 20 megapixel sensor. It has obstacle detection in 5 directions. It can shoot in 4K and 60 frames per second (fps). It is made of titanium and magnesium alloy. The flight time is estimated at 30 minutes. The remote control that comes with the drone has a 5.5-inch 1080p screen. There are many modes integrated into the system: the "Draw" mode allows you to draw a track on the control screen so that the pilot can concentrate on framing the camera. The "Active Track" mode enables the drone to automatically follow a target even if it moves. In "TapFly" mode, you can use the touchscreen to choose a direction for the drone to follow. The "Return-to-Home" mode allows the drone to choose its own return path and return to the start location independently when the joystick and the drone are no longer connected. Gesture" mode allows the user to take a selfie, without remote control, by raising their arms.
Mavic
The Mavic Pro, released in 2016, was the first in the Mavic series. The drone was considered one of the first custom drones on the market, which could record 4K video, with a flight range of 7km and a flight time of 27 minutes. However, in 2017, DJI announced the Mavic Pro Platinum, which came with a longer flight time (30 minutes), thanks to an improved motor and performance, and redesigned propellers, making the Mavic both faster. and more efficient.
Mavic Air
The DJI Mavic Air, presented on 23 January 2018, is the first of a new range of Mavic, halfway between the Spark and the Mavic Pro. It is capable of recording videos in 4K at 30 frames per second and photos in 12 megapixels. The Mavic Air has 3-axis stabilisation and a 25mm lens. It also has a SmartCapture function, a three-way obstacle detection system (front, rear and bottom) and a maximum flight time of 21 minutes.
Mavic 2
DJI announced the Mavic 2 Pro and the Mavic 2 Zoom16 in August 2018. Both drones consisted of 10 obstacle avoidance sensors from all sides and a maximum flight time of 31 minutes. Both drones could also record 4K videos at 30 FPS. The Mavic 2 Zoom has a 2x optical zoom and also features a 12 megapixel camera. The Mavic 2 Pro has a Hasselblad camera and the Hyper Timelapse feature.
Mavic Mini
DJI announced the Mavic Mini on 30 October 2019 as a replacement for the now discontinued DJI Spark, positioning it as a camera drone for beginners. The camera is on a three-axis gimbal suspension and has a 12 MP sensor that can shoot 2.7K video at 30 FPS. The Mavic Mini shares similar design features with the Mavic Pro and Mavic 2 series, although notable for its portability and small overall size.
Mavic Air 2
Announced and released on 28 April 2020, it is the replacement for the first generation Mavic Air. It has many improvements, such as a new camera that can take photos in 48 MP and shoot in 4K at 60 fps. The Mavic Air 2 has a slightly larger structure and 140 grams more than the old model. The drone can fly for 34 minutes and has a range of 10 kilometres. Usable with the "DJI Fly" application, it is equipped with a new massive radio control but more powerful in battery.
DJI Inspire 2
The Inspire series is intended for imaging professionals. The most comprehensive model is the DJI Inspire 2. It is made of an alloy of magnesium and aluminium, yet remains robust. It accelerates from 0 km/h to 80 km/h in 4 seconds and has a top speed of 108 km/h. It is possible to replace the original sensor: the Zenmuse X4S (a one-inch sensor with a dynamic range of 11.6 stops and a focal length of 24 mm.) with the Zenmuse X5S.17 The DJI Inspire 2 has the capacity to carry 2 batteries in flight, giving it a flight autonomy of 22 minutes18. The Inspire 1 and 2 are compatible with Elistair tether stations thanks to Air Modules for unlimited flights.
FPV goggles
DJI has announced the release of its immersion headset scheduled for 20 May 2017. It can be used with DJI's next generation drones, Phantom 4, Mavic Pro and Inspire 2. The headset is equipped with OcuSync technology that enables wireless connection to the Mavic Pro. Additionally, two headsets can be connected to the same Mavic Pro. The FPV (First Person View) headset has a gyroscope and an accelerometer that allows the pilot to control the cardanic suspension with head movements. A surface of the helmet can be felt to allow the pilot to enter a pilot mode or change the settings of the device. The DJI Goggles has two 5-inch screens and Full HD definition. The autonomy of the headset is 6 hours. The display when flying close-up is 1080p at 30 fps and 720p at 60 fps when flying far away. The flight wing mode integrated in the helmet simulates the flight paths of an aircraft. To make piloting easier, this pilot mode gives the user access to a prediction of the drone's trajectory20,21.
Action camera
DJI has announced the release of its action camera called DJI Osmo Action. Announced on 15 May 201922, this camera is more competitive than the Gopro and therefore includes both 4K UHD and HDR. It will be available for sale from 22 May 2019.
Lobbying activities
In America
According to the Center for Responsive Politics, DJI's lobbying costs in the United States in 2019 were $680,000.
In France
DJI declares to the High Authority for the Transparency of Public Life that it carries out lobbying activities in France for an amount not exceeding €200,000 in 2018.