DJI takes on US drone giant with latest airborne offering
Updated: 2016-09-29 06:58
By Fan Feifei(China Daily USA)
|
|||||||||
DJI Innovation Technology Co, China's largest commercial drone manufacturer, unveiled its foldable and compact drone Mavic Pro on Wednesday, to compete with US action camera manufacturer GoPro Inc's new Karma quadcopter.
Mavic Pro is DJI's first personal drone designed to be taken just about anywhere. Its folding design compresses the entire drone to the size of a water bottle.
It is equipped with a stabilized 4K camera and a visual navigation system, with 27-minute flight time, and can be controlled by a smartphone, according to the company.
The Mavic Pro is also able to avoid obstacles, follow users as they walk around and circle subjects, and fly at a constant height. Users can control the drone completely with just their gestures and take a hands-free selfie. It is priced at $999 with the remote control included.
The $799 Karma launched by GoPro last week features a compact design which can fit in a small backpack. The company also unveiled the action camera Hero 5 and the smaller, cube-shaped Hero5 Session.
GoPro said its Karma drone can operate for 20 minutes, but it lacks the capacity to avoid objects. After DJI's announcement, GoPro shares declined 0.77 percent to $16.79.
The two companies are competing fiercely in the burgeoning consumer drone market. Founded in 2006, DJI has a share of about 70 percent of the world's consumer drone market. In addition to consumer drones, DJI launched its first agricultural drone last year.
GoPro, which was founded by surfers who wanted to record some waves, is in need of a new hit product. The release of its Karma drone was delayed from earlier this year. Both companies are now facing fierce competition from Chinese drone makers, such as EHang Inc and Yuneec International.
"Easy-to-carry and foldable drones represent the future development trend in the consumer drone market. DJI is likely to maintain a dominant position worldwide in technology, marketing and channels, compared with its rivals," said Zhao Ziming, an analyst at internet constancy Analysys in Beijing.
fanfeifei@chinadaily.com.cn
Compact drone Mavic Pro, made by DJI Innovation Technology Co. |
(China Daily USA 09/29/2016 page13)
- Chongqing police crackdown on telecom fraud
- Expert: China needs a safety makeover
- Treasure hunters taken in by rumor of buried jade
- Deepest rail station coming to Badaling Great Wall
- Look down if you dare: world's most vertigo-inducing glass skywalks
- Boy with leukemia overcomes lonely hospital trips, keeps studying
- Chinese and Indian sculptures on display at the Palace Museum in Beijing
- Rescue work at the typhoon-hit provinces
- Wonderland-like sunrise in East China
- Real life 'Transformer' car turns into robot
- Israel's ex-president Peres dies at 93
- New Mao Zedong's portrait graces Tian'anmen
- Clinton, Trump go head to head in high stakes presidential debate
- Miniature replica of Daming Palace shows craftsmanship
Most Viewed
Editor's Picks
Anti-graft campaign targets poverty relief |
Cherry blossom signal arrival of spring |
In pictures: Destroying fake and shoddy products |
China's southernmost city to plant 500,000 trees |
Cavers make rare finds in Guangxi expedition |
Cutting hair for Longtaitou Festival |
Today's Top News
Trump outlines anti-terror plan, proposing extreme vetting for immigrants
Phelps puts spotlight on cupping
US launches airstrikes against IS targets in Libya's Sirte
Ministry slams US-Korean THAAD deployment
Two police officers shot at protest in Dallas
Abe's blame game reveals his policies failing to get results
Ending wildlife trafficking must be policy priority in Asia
Effects of supply-side reform take time to be seen
US Weekly
Geared to go |
The place to be |