|
Listen to this article
 |
Anzu is offering inspection drones for the U.S. market. Source: Anzu Robotics
While drones from SZ DKI Technology Co. arguably dominate the U.S. market for enterprise drone applications, Anzu Robotics LLC is preparing to serve operators that might be affected by a ban on the Chinese-made systems.
The DJI Matrice and DJI Mavic products both offer a wide range of sensor and payload options suitable for use in applications such as inspection, mapping, surveying, and search and rescue operations. In the past year, DJI has increasingly come under criticism because it is a Chinese state-owned business, and many DJI drones are used to inspect and map critical U.S. infrastructure.
New legislation approved by the House Energy and Commerce Committee on March 20 is part of ongoing efforts by federal and state governments to limit the usage of DJI drones in the U.S. There was unanimous agreement among the committee members, as both Republicans and Democrats supported the proposed restrictions, citing national security concerns.
The bills, the Countering CCP Drones Act and the Foreign Adversary Communications Transparency Act (download PDFs), are now under consideration in the full U.S. House.
“Congress must use every tool at our disposal to stop communist China’s monopolistic control over the [U.S.] drone market,” stated Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-New York), the primary sponsor of the bills cleared by the committee.
However, many industry insiders are skeptical of the proposed DJI drone ban, due in part to the heavy lobbying of U.S.-based uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) manufacturers such as Skydio that would like to displace DJI.
Such companies hope to gain more market share within the U.S. market, as autonomous commercial drone applications grow in popularity. In August, 2023, Skydio ended all sales of its drones to consumers to focus 100% on the enterprise market.
What’s the possible impact of a U.S. ban on DJI drones?
A lot of commercial drone operators, including fire departments and other public-safety groups, have said that the Countering CCP Drones bill would make it illegal for DJI drones to use U.S. communications infrastructure. This isn’t a complete ban, but it would make DJI drones useless in the U.S., especially for any business, state, or local government that might use a DJI drone, they said.
The potential approval of the legislation has sent the commercial drone industry into a panic, especially search-and-rescue teams that have heavily invested in DJI drones for their operations.
Enter Austin, Texas-based Anzu Robotics.
The company recently announced its entrance into the U.S. drone market and the launch of its new Raptor and Raptor T enterprise drones. CEO Randall Warnas is a veteran in the drone industry, having worked at Autel and FLiR Systems earlier in his career.
Warnas said he recognized the potential impact of a DJI ban in the U.S. and saw an opportunity to fill a real need in the industry.
Using his network, Warnas reached a licensing deal with DJI to manufacture the Raptor drones in Malaysia, using the core design and internal chipset of the DJI Mavic 3 platform. He could then import and sell the drones in the U.S. under the Anzu Robotics brand.
The Mavic 3 Enterprise series drones are not the latest generation of drones from DJI — that would be the Mavic 3 Pro — but the platform is proven and liked by many industry professionals today. It is one of the most successful generations of DJI drones to date, according to Warnas.
The Raptor drone and remote controller in their signature green color. | Credit: Anzu Robotics
Aloft software meets country of origin mandate
On the software side, Warnas signed a deal with U.S.-based Aloft AI (formerly Kittyhawk) to provide the flight control software on the controller. The Aloft software source effectively meets the requirements for U.S.-based ownership and control of flight data as defined in the Countering CCP Drones bill. By manufacturing drones in Malaysia, Anzu Robotics meets the requirements for country of origin.
“At Aloft, we recognize that our customers have diverse operational needs which demand that everything they fly must be securely and compliantly integrated into the airspace,” said Jon Hegranes, founder and CEO of Aloft. “Our collaboration with Anzu Robotics on the Raptor series extends our commitment to providing versatile, cutting-edge drone solutions that ensure top-tier security and compliance for all stakeholders.”
The Raptor does not have geofencing or other unofficial flight restrictions. All airspace information is authoritative and authentic, as Aloft is an UAS Service Supplier (USS) approved by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
This comparison of the Anzu Robotics (left) and DJI Mavic 3 Enterprise (right) drones shows their similarities. | Credit: The Robot Report
Introducing the Anzu Robotics Raptor
Because Anzu’s drones are based on the DJI Mavic 3 Enterprise platform, they are equipped with a 4/3 CMOS sensor 20 MP wide-angle camera with a 56x hybrid zoom camera for 12MP images. Raptor T (for thermal) combines 1/2-inch 48MP and 12MP cameras with a 640×512 high-resolution LWIR thermal imaging payload, also with 56x hybrid zoom capabilities.
Similar to the Mavic 3, the Raptor boasts 45 minutes of flight time, a 9-mile range, and an optional RTK module accessory. Raptor will be backward-compatible with the DJI Intelligent Flight Battery from the DJI Mavic 3 drone.
Raptor is priced at $5,100, while Raptor T will sell for $7,600 in the U.S. This is more expensive than its DJI-badged Mavic cousin, but more competitive than U.S.-made counterparts such as Skydio and BRINC.
Anzu Robotics is targeting enterprise applications with the Raptor, as this is not a consumer platform. The company plans to focus in the coming year on building its its sales and partner distribution channels.
If the proposed legislation is passed and DJI is banned in the U.S., Anzu Robotics said it expects that existing DJI distribution partners would immediately move to it.
The Pilot Institute interviewed Randall Warnas about the company’s strategy and plans for the coming year.
1) 12 mp image, this is considerable less the DJI Mavic series
2) would the Raptor have the Hasselblad camera?
3) when is the final vote expected?
4) has DJi experienced a dramatic decline in sales
I think US drone companies need to step up their game. I am a hobby flyer. I put off going with any DJI drones until Parrot stepped out of the consumer market. There is nothing that comes close to the DJI stuff in quality, range, cameras, or control. It’s not that China has a monopoly over the US drone market -its that the US never stepped up it’s game to compete in the free market. Require DJI to open source it’s software to make sure it isn’t belching our data back to Beijing and may a better drone maker emerge!
I 110% agree. I have the EXO Blackhawk 2 Pro and the EXO Blackhawk 3 Pro as well as the EXO ranger X7 Plus. I tried putting stock into a US-based company first, but I got to be honest with you, they can’t touch DJI. I have about seven DJI drones that I’m trying to get us fix as fast as I can before this ban. I don’t care who knows it I got to set a nuts and I’m flying them. They can come get them if they dare!! So when whoever reads this reads it just know I’m an American and I ain’t going!!
I’ll give you my DJI when you pry (or take) it from my cold, dead hands
I’m wondering what would become of the local hobbest that has invested in the cheaper drones such as the DJI Mini 2. I really couldn’t afford to buy the one I have and no way I could afford to just up and replace it. And now it’s looking like I will have a $600.00 paperweight.
Why do we always have to pay more for less. Does it have a mechanical shutter? Even if it’s the equivalent of the Mavic 3E, the $2k price difference is insane. Talk about taking advantage of a situation
Build one
How will this affect those people that use consumer drones (Mini series, Air series, Mavic 3/3 Pro)?
I wonder how Autel might be affected bot also question the infringement of DJI patents. I’m no longer a China or DJI fan. Autel is much more user friendly IMO (less restricted) however, blatanly copying another’s property seems odd even when China is one of the worst offendors in that regard.
This makes absolutely no sense, and is yet another reason why I’m looking for property in other countries. So would all tech/ Chinese tech be banned in the future? Or just the stuff (big brother) can’t hack and spy on us with?….. this has nothing to do with china. The US government has had a problem with drones from day 1 , and anything else that offers citizens a bit of freedom. There are millions of Chinese nationals here and the DJl drones have been used for years and by the military and multiple federal agencies. If images leaking was the issue, it happened way before DJI was in production. This is about a government being pissed (yet again) because it can’t openly spy on its citizens with ease. Stop selling us slavery and calling it (safety and freedom)…. That trick is old and played out
You can be sure that DJI is “Belching” back the data to Beijing. I have been working in China for the last 15 years, and the use of Tik Toc is giving them everything they need to know.
I think all these people bitching about buy American made buy American made. Then American companies make them and just like greedy Americans they make one at half the quality and half of features and charge 2,000.00 more. This is why we can never get away from Chinese made. I just wish Americans would make a product as good or better for cheaper. Make it so Americans can buy it at a reasonable price give the screws to China.
All valid points .dji has the market because there better way better. Bullshit you want to exile dji and your not giving use comparable. With all your tech just make a us based app for those who use a dji product !!
I was considering buying Dji drone ii will have to hold off.
are the (, Air series, Mavic 3/3 Pro) have a chance of being banned ?
Is there a place where I could find answers if there going to be banned for sure, ?
Thank you for the information.
Too many stric regulations in the US to make droning worth it for any company to develop especially when theres already a company doing it well. Honestly there’s not much incentive for anyone over here to compete.
Forgot to include that the raptor is $5100. Why pay for 3 drones when you can have 1.
I THINK THE USA SHOULD JUST STEP UP THEIR GAME AND STOP BEATING US THE CONSUMERS IN THE HEAD WITH THEIR BULLSHIT !!! YOU WANT TO GET CHINA OUT THE GAME THEN STEP UP ! AND STEP DOWN WITH YOUR SUPER CHEAP MASTERIALS AND MORE EXPENSIVE PRODUCT!!! USA THINKS ANYTHING IT SELLS HAS TO BE SUPER EXPENSIVE WHEN IN REALITY IT IS SUPER CHEAP!!! everything is the OPPOSITE IN THIS COUNTRY LIKE YOU WANT A SEX CHANGE INSURANCE COVERS THAT but IF YOU NEED TEETH WHICH YOU NEED TO EAT YOU HAVE TO COUGH UP 50k INSURANCE DOES NOT COVER IT! YOUR AT HOME SITTING ON YOUR ASS EATING DORITOS AALLDAY AND GET TO BE 700 pound’s insurance COVERS THAT TOO !
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH IF YOU ARE GOING TO BAN SOMETHING GOOD WELL MAKE SOMETHING BETTER NOT WORST! COMMON SENSE IS LOST!
I use the Mavic 3 Pro Cinema edition. My investment, with additional batteries and accessories is around $6K +/-. I’m a single man production company. The more expensive enterprise options are not within my reach. And the US market, despite the licensing agreement, doesn’t have this niche covered.
Around 11 years ago I got started with the Phantom series drones. When I was ready to upgrade to better tech, I gave Skydio a chance. Their collision avoidance was never nearly as good as their hype but the way-points were helpful. However, the camera and recording specs were quite amateurish. My clients required something better. So in time I switched back to DJI with the Mavic 3 Pro Cinema. The camera, recording options, storage, etc were in a whole different class, by far.
The M3P Cine is just a damned good drive for smaller indie commercial producers. I’m outraged at the thought of having to spend another $6K for some licensed crap that is likely not as good.
I think it’s obvious to everyone who knows anything about drones and their software that a mandatory patch could render the DJI drones perfectly safe from Chinese espionage, if it even exists to begin with. This is a software issue, not a hardware issue.
It should be equally obvious that this isn’t about security at all. This is about Protectionism to help the US drone industry. The article quotes the primary sponsor of the bill, who tips his hand, “Congress must use every tool at our disposal to stop communist China’s monopolistic control over the [U.S.] drone market,” stated Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-New York), the primary sponsor of the bills cleared by the committee. As I said, this isn’t about security, it’s about Congress giving into pressure from US drone manufacturers. I’m old enough to remember when Republicans stood for free trade. Reagan would say, “Free but fair trade.”. China may be Communist, but DJI has competed fairly in the drone industry since it emerged. The US companies have failed to adequately invest in R&D , product development and competitive manufacturing. So, now they just want Congress to block the primary competition under the guise of “Security Concerns.”
You Nailed It. I would be curious to review where the senators are receiving donations to their campaigns. We know all too often they accept big donor money and lobbyists influence and seem to vote in their favor, and not for the good of the people they represent.