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This year is the age of AI - will next year be the age of drones?

A flying drone
A flying drone

Drones are no longer just flying robots used for fun, they are becoming a big part of our lives, with imagery companies, delivery companies, agriculture, filmmaking, emergency response, and real estate among many others using drones. As this demand builds, some upcoming drone companies start to take over the drone market, due to the fragile state that DJI (the largest current drone company) is in. Just like the introduction of Chat GPT and other AI systems, a question forms. Will these flying robots change life as we know it?


The DJI uncertainty


DJI has dominated the drone market for years now, with their low prices, their increasingly reliable drones, and their general position and trust in the community. Conflict with the U.S and DJI’s home country, China (the conflict more specifically being the U.S rising tariffs on China and other countries, and some national security concerns with China and DJI), has plunged DJI into a fragile state. The security issues in question include data security, specifically the flight logs of all of the DJI drones. These flight logs are feared to be in danger of being sold to China . According to Reuters, U.S lawmakers have raised concerns that DJI could share data with the Chinese government, although there has never been any evidence of this. They have publicly stated that…


“DJI drones do not share flight logs, photos or videos unless the drone pilot deliberately chooses to do so … They do not automatically send flight data to China or anywhere else.”


Despite these assurances, some skepticism remains


The 2025 deadline


In 2024, legislation was passed by the U.S. under sections in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) stating basically that if DJI does not pass a “formal security audit” by December 23, 2025, DJI’s products will be essentially banned from being sold in the U.S. 


A source, TechRadar says that DJI has warned that “there is a real risk that new DJI drones would be prevented from entering the U.S. market” if the audit is not completed by this deadline. (reported by Yahoo News).


Effects of this ban


This ban would basically destroy DJI’s chances of selling and remaining a company in the U.S. This would mean that any previous owners of DJI drones would still be able to fly their “old” DJI products, but DJI would not be able to sell any more products in the U.S. This also means that if a company or person broke their drone’s propellers or overheated their battery or something, they would virtually have to go on a scavenger hunt to find a replacement. Adding to this, tons of industries would feel these effects, not just hobbyists (people who fly drones for fun). Areas like real estate, construction and many more companies use these drones for pictures, crop monitoring, search and rescue, to name a few. Yet another problem that might occur: The Verge reported that the FCC recently gave itself the power to ban imports of products of any companies that are deemed security risks. This raises the possibility that not only new DJI drones, but even older models, could eventually face restrictions, making the potential ban far bigger than we ever could have imagined.


Skydio, and some different companies that might take over the drone industry.


If DJI’s “hold” on the U.S. market continues to slip, it would be unlikely that a single company will replace it. Instead, these drone companies below are separating into many different areas, each with their own special area of expertise, such as consumer flying, enterprise inspection, delivery, agriculture, and defense among many many more.


Skydio, the longtime competitor of DJI, has recently emerged as the new leading American alternative, due to the company’s origin country, which is the U.S. Skydio is also well known for their advances in “autonomous flight” (this is where AI basically aids in, or just completely flies the drone itself with voice commands) and obstacle avoidance systems. New products from Skydio, like the Skydio X10 and Skydio Dock, have put Skydio in a solid lead in the race to take DJI’s spot.


However, this invention comes at a cost, to say it lightly. 


DJI’s drone dock 2 WITH one of their drones costs around 10,000, while Skydio’s dock costs around $36,000. This massive price gap shows a massive issue: Skydio cannot be a replacement for DJI with these high prices, at least not yet. 


Hubsan drones has been a competitor of DJI with lots of features. They are known for their small drones with lots of technology, offering GPS tracking, FPV (first person viewing) drones, smaller drones for better transportation, automatic return to home settings, and obstacle avoidance, among other things. They also have a lesser price range than Skydio’s high priced drones. Their drones are made for beginners, all the way up to masters of drones. However, Hubsan drones is a Chinese company, meaning it could face a similar fate in the future, assuming DJI gets banned.


Hoverair drones are another competitor of DJI, with their drones showing some new features, such as palm takeoff, an AI tracking system, (for the drone not for you) and a foldable design, among other things. They also are based in China, where they may have some problems in the U.S in the future.


Autel Robotics has also been considered as DJI’s closest competitor. They are best known for their EVO series, and Autel offers drones with high-resolution cameras, strong flight performance, and competitive obstacle avoidance. Autel drones have gained popularity to hobbyists and professionals alike, who want DJI-like performance without the risk of not being able to buy new parts, due to the DJI ban. However, Autel is also a Chinese company, meaning it could face a similar state in the future, limiting its potential in the U.S. market.


Parrot, a French drone manufacturer, has kind of left the regular drone market and has shifted its focus to enterprise and government use. Its drones are lightweight, portable, and designed for inspection, mapping, and public safety. Because Parrot is based in Europe, its products are looked at as more stable in the U.S market, making them more appealing to governments seeking alternatives to Chinese drones.


Yuneec is another older DJI competitor that produces consumer and commercial drones, including the Typhoon series. While Yuneec once posed a serious challenge to DJI, it has struggled to keep up with DJI’s rapid development and overall stance in the U.S. market. Still, it remains a solid company in the drone market, and might very well find a place in the drone market if the market shifts away from DJI.


Sony, through its Airpeak drone line, is also a notable competitor. Sony’s drones are designed primarily for professional filmmakers who want to use high-end Sony cameras in the air. While these Airpeak drones are expensive and not meant for hobbyists or casual users, they show how major electronics companies may enter the drone market selectively, appealing to the military and other large powers rather than competing with DJI’s large range of both the consumer market and commercial market directly.


Enterprise and Industrial Drone Companies


Beyond consumer drones, many companies focus almost entirely on enterprise and industrial applications.


Percepto specializes in autonomous “drone-in-a-box” systems used for industrial inspection, security, and monitoring. These systems allow drones to operate without human pilots on site, making them very ideal for power plants, refineries, and large infrastructure projects. Percepto competes more with Skydio’s Dock than with any of DJI’s consumer products.


Skyfish builds drones specifically for infrastructure inspection, such as bridges, wind turbines, and power lines. Its systems are based on precision data collection rather than photography or recreational flying. This is targeting a larger industry trend toward task-specific drones rather than general purpose drones.


Delair, a French company, focuses on fixed wing drones designed for long-range missions in agriculture, mining, and construction. Fixed wing drones are different from quadcopters because they offer longer flight times and greater coverage, making them ideal for surveying large areas. Delair’s specialization in this area shows how some companies are passing the consumer market entirely just to focus on specialized professional needs.


Terra Drone Corporation, based in Japan, is one of the world’s largest providers of industrial drone services rather than hardware alone. The company offers inspection, surveying, and mapping solutions globally, often combining drones with analytics software. This service-based model could become more common as drones are made to collect data and put that information into a database more.


Logistics-Focused Companies


Wingcopter, a German company, builds long-range delivery drones capable of carrying medical supplies and commercial packages. Wingcopter has been involved in humanitarian missions and logistics trials, particularly in remote or hard to reach areas. Its drones are made for reliability and endurance rather than regular buyers, who would use the drones for hobby or small bits of commercial use.


Zipline, operates one of the world’s most successful drone delivery networks. The company focuses on medical deliveries, such as blood and vaccines, in multiple countries. Zipline shows that the future of drones may be shifting over to specific needs, as much as drones for all needs.


Defense and Government-Oriented Drone Makers


AeroVironment is a U.S. defense contractor best known for tactical and long-endurance drones used by the military. While not directly competing with DJI in the consumer market, AeroVironment stays in the game from government funding and strict compliance requirements, making it solidly positioned in a security-focused drone landscape.


Quantum-Systems, a German company, produces VTOL (vertical takeoff and landing) drones used for reconnaissance and mapping. These drones combine the benefits of fixed-wing endurance with multirotor flexibility, reflecting ongoing innovation in drone design.


Teal Drones, a U.S.-based manufacturer, has gained attention for producing small, NDAA-compliant drones aimed at government users. Backed by defense funding, Teal focuses on secure supply chains and domestic manufacturing, aligning closely with U.S. policy priorities.


Amazon and the Push for Drone Delivery


Another major company trying to shape the drone future is Amazon. For years, Amazon has been developing its Prime Air drone delivery program, shooting to deliver small packages within minutes. However, some barriers have slowed their progress.


The biggest challenge is BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) flight. The current FAA laws require pilots to maintain “visual contact” with their drones, or it makes pilots have to keep their drone within their sight, which makes drone deliveries impractical, as pilots would have to be stationed everywhere for the drone deliveries to be able to work. For drone delivery to work, BVLOS approval must become more widespread.


Recent FAA waivers and pilot programs suggest some progress might be being made. If BVLOS flights become common, drone delivery could finally become reality, changing logistics, retail, and urban infrastructure.


VLOS restrictions


Most current consumer drones operate under VLOS rules. Enterprise drones (or commercial drones), however, heavily rely on BVLOS waivers. If the FAA changes or drops these restrictions, drones could very well be everywhere, with delivery drones and medical drones only being the tip of the iceberg. This alone could very well lead us into the “age of drones.”


Conclusion: Is this year going to be the Age of Drones?


Drones are following a path similar to AI: very fast development with serious challenges. While DJI’s potential ban creates a sense of uncertainty, it also opens the door for more companies to take its spot.


If next year is not fully the age of drones, it may be the beginning of it. With autonomous docks, delivery systems, BVLOS, enterprise inspections, and AI-powered navigation, drones are evolving from flying cameras into intelligent, autonomous systems.


Much like AI, drones are no longer just tools, they are becoming vital technology. And whether these drones are led by American, European, or global companies, their presence in daily life is only going to grow.



Sources


Companies that I talked about


AeroVironment. www.avinc.com, 

Army Recognition, www.armyrecognition.com,

DroneFlightCalc, www.droneflightcalc.com,

Parrot, www.parrot.com, 

Percepto, www.percepto.com, 

Quantum-Systems, www.quantum-systems.com, 

Skyfish, www.skyfish.ai, 

Sony Electronics, www.sony.com/airpeak, 

Teal Drones, www.tealdrones.com


 


News, blogs about companies, FAA rules, and links to some products I talked about



Reuters. “U.S. Lawmakers Raise Security Concerns Over DJI Drones.” Reuters, www.reuters.com 


TechRadar. “DJI Warns U.S. Ban Possible if Security Audit Is Not Completed.” TechRadar, www.techradar.com 


The Verge. “FCC Expands Authority to Block Imports from Security-Risk Companies.” The Verge, www.theverge.com.


Wikipedia contributors. Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autel_Robotics,


Yahoo News. “DJI Drones Face Possible U.S. Market Ban.” Yahoo News, www.news.yahoo.com.


Federal Aviation Administration. Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Regulations. FAA, www.faa.gov/uas 


Federal Aviation Administration. Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) Waivers and Operations. FAA, www.faa.gov

Written by Poudre Press


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