Manufacturing of drone battery cells is set to begin in 2025 Packet Digital is advancing its goal of supplying U.S.-made drone battery cells, securing a location for its new manufacturing plant in Fargo, North Dakota. The facility, set to begin construction in 2024, aims to start production by the end of 2025. The new 80,000-square-foot […]
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Zipline and Wing Aviation to Pioneer Package Deliveries Using Advanced UTM Technology in Dallas/Fort Worth By DRONELIFE Features Editor Jim Magill The FAA on Tuesday announced its first-ever approval for beyond visual line of sight drone flights by more than one operator flying in the same airspace. Under the new authorizations Zipline International and Wing […]
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In another sign that DJI is seeking to expand its portfolio into all sorts of high-powered tech comes the DJI SDR Transmission.
DJI, the Chinese tech giant once synonymous solely with drones, has been aggressively expanding its product line as of late. Earlier this year, we got two portable power stations called DJI Power 1000 and DJI Power 500, which are useful for practical applications where you might need power on-the-go, such as camping. DJI has capitalized on influencers, with social media-friendly cameras like the DJI Osmo Pocket 3. It’s tapped into serious Hollywood productions with products like the DJI Video Receiver and DJI Transmission.
And this month, DJI announced an expansion into that world of commercial video with the launch of even more advanced SDR technology. DJI in July 2024 launched DJI SDR Transmission. With it comes a theoretically more reliable and efficient solution for filmmakers to monitor and transmit video on set.
The $549 transmission kit (or $309 for just the transmitter) offers 1080p/60fps live feeds with a bitrate of up to 20Mbps and a delay as low as 35 milliseconds. From there, videos can be transmitted up to 3 kilometers (1.8 miles) away.
What’s the point of using DJI SDR Transmission? In short, expect better stability and interference resistance. Here are some key benefits of DJI SDR Transmission:
And what about size and power? Here are some DJI SDR specs:
DJI SDR Transmission is best used among small- and medium-sized film crews. It would be best used in the following use cases:
However, it’s essential to note that this system comes at a premium. For casual users or those on a tight budget, the added cost and complexity might outweigh the benefits. Additionally, while the SDR technology is impressive, it’s not a magic bullet. Interference can still occur, and users should have realistic expectations.
If you primarily shoot in controlled environments with minimal interference, this whole DJI SDR Transmission system might be overkill.
Ready to get your hands on one? Here’s how much it costs:
For what it’s worth, DJI has long targeted professional filmmakers — including those who don’t ever use drones. Its Ronin line of steady-cams has brought that same, silky-smooth, flying aesthetic to footage shot on the ground. Since the Ronin’s success, DJI has broken out into other products that use DJI’s top-tier drone technology, like transmission units.
And now, that includes DJI SDR Transmission.
“Since the beginning, we intended our DJI PRO line to be a comprehensive and reliable ecosystem of drones, cameras, and creator tools for both professional filmmakers in the industry and content creators to aspiring storytellers,” said DJI’s product line manager Paul Pan in a prepared statement. “Our new DJI SDR Transmission delivers the same film and television-level image transmission quality but at a more accessible price point for more upcoming filmmakers.”
But that’s not necessarily the whole story. As concerns about data security and potential bans loom over DJI’s drone operations, particularly in the United States, these product diversifications are increasingly crucial.
After all, proposals like the Countering CCP Drones Act seek to ban DJI drones. In fact, the Countering CCP Drones Act has already passed the House of Representatives in a narrow vote. Though, note that this definitely does not mean it’s law. And in fact, it seems unlikely this version of the Countering CCP Drones Act will actually pass anyway. After all, it must pass the Senate before getting get presidential approval. Other proposals like the Drones First Responders Act would create a 30% tariff on drones made in China. That could go a long way in harming sales of DJI drones — but it wouldn’t do anything to other, non-drone DJI products, like this DJI SDR Transmission.
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A new type of Russian drone is being used in combat in Ukraine, reportedly a multirole long-range type that can undertake attack as well as surveillance missions. Known as the Gerbera, the drone, assumed to be of Russian production, is being seen as a complement to the widely used Iranian-designed Shahed/Geran long-range one-way attack drone. […]
The UAV Navigation-Grupo Oesía and JetCat have collaborated to integrate JetCat’s P300 PRO turbine into UAV Navigation-Grupo Oesía’s VECTOR autopilots. This integration allows the autopilots to seamlessly control one of the most widely used turbines in the market, particularly for target drones, also known as the Unmanned Aerial Targets (UAT) segment. The Spanish autopilot manufacturer […]
Honeywell and Odys Aviation, a developer of advanced hybrid Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) aircraft, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to collaborate on the design of new Ground Control Stations to support the rollout of Odys Aviation’s hybrid VTOL aircraft in the Middle East and Pacific. Under the terms of the MOU, Honeywell […]
In a first for U.S. aviation, the FAA has authorized commercial drone flights without visual observers in the same Dallas-area airspace. The authorizations for Zipline International and Wing Aviation allow them to deliver packages while keeping their drones safely separated using Unmanned Aircraft System Traffic Management (UTM) technology. In this system, the industry manages the […]New Partnership to Strengthen US Southern Border Protection SkySafe, a leading company in drone detection and airspace security, has been awarded a significant contract by Amentum, a global engineering and project management firm. This contract is part of the Department of Defense Information Analysis Center’s (DoD IAC) multiple-award contract (MAC) vehicle. The Department of Homeland […]
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The Commission on the National Defense Strategy has issued their 2024 Report, which calls for increased investment in security innovation and industrial base. The report says that current geopolitical pressures mean that the US faces unprecedented threats – and calls for big changes in defense strategy. From the Executive Summary: The United States confronts the […]
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Mayor John Nichols Calls for Delay on Increased Drone Deliveries Due to Noise Concerns and Zoning Issues By DRONELIFE Features Editor Jim Magill The mayor of College Station, Texas is urging the FAA to slow down an effort by Amazon Prime Air to expand its drone delivery operations in the city. Mayor John Nichols wrote […]
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