News Drone maker DJI facing U.S. FCC ban — the national security risk and part China-state ownership are key issues

[Admin]

The U.S. Congress presented a bipartisan bill that will prevent DJI from selling new drones - effectively banning them in the consumer and commercial space - citing national security and CCP sponsorship reasons.

Drone maker DJI facing U.S. FCC ban — the national security risk and part China-state ownership are key issues : Read more

 

[hotaru251]

so basically now if China has any stock ownership in something tis a security risk?

guess should ban tencent games as could be security risks...

 

[parkerthon]

6 percent? You have got to be kidding me. Just say we’re in a cold war with China and be done with. This pissing match is going to cause so much economic damage globally.

 

[aetherwing]

might as well just ban everything from china at this point🙄

 

[USAFRet]

As a hobbyist drone pilot, I do not have a DJI due to the onerous geofencing in the application.

To fly in my backyard, not only would I have to get permission from the local airport and FAA (known, and OK), but also, permission from the DJI mothership.

Other systems don't have that level of control and data sharing.

 

[arsIgnis]

The next closest non-Chinese consumer drone costs like 5-10x as much as DJI and still isn't as reliable (think like $10k). All the U.S. consumer drone makers checked out of the consumer market and went after military contracts only (and still aren't very reliable lol) due to their basically unlimited budget.

If lawmakers think it will give the U.S. an edge by just banning the competition, they can think again. It won't spur the kind of innovations they think it will on the consumer front. Stuff like drone delivery and military were always doing their own thing, so it won't effect those markets. All a ban on DJI would do is kill off small businesses and innovators.

The better option would be to invest in the U.S. companies to spur on their desire and ability to compete. Encourage chip manufacturing in the U.S. to be more competitive and accessible to those willing to innovate, so we can have affordable flight controllers, etc. Also, looser regulations for small independent businesses with more strict regulations for larger ones (otherwise major corporations just end up with a nice regulatory moat, insulating them against potential startups and innovations).

There needs to be more competition, not less. Accelerate innovation instead of killing it.

 

[USAFRet]

The next closest non-Chinese consumer drone costs like 5-10x as much as DJI and still isn't as reliable (think like $10k). All the U.S. consumer drone makers checked out of the consumer market and went after military contracts only (and still aren't very reliable lol) due to their basically unlimited budget.

Its not just Chinese vs non-Chinese.
Rather, it is DJI vs all the other ones.

My Chinese made quadrotor does not have that same level of interaction and control with homebase, and was only a couple hundred $$.

 

[gioni6210]

Its not just Chinese vs non-Chinese.
Rather, it is DJI vs all the other ones.

My Chinese made quadrotor does not have that same level of interaction and control with homebase, and was only a couple hundred $$.

Can you please tell me what Chinese quadrotor you are talking about. name and link would be great too, as I am a beginner from the US...and poor...so a quadcopter for a few hundred sounds enticing. thanx

 

[USAFRet]

Can you please tell me what Chinese quadrotor you are talking about. name and link would be great too, as I am a beginner from the US...and poor...so a quadcopter for a few hundred sounds enticing. thanx

I have a HolyStone HS720G
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09N37GND2

 

[gioni6210]

I have a HolyStone HS720G
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09N37GND2

thank you sir...you are a scholar and a gentlemen

 

[COLGeek]

thank you sir...you are a scholar and a gentlemen

I have the same make/model and it is quite capable for the cost.

 

[mac_angel]

that's stupid. They are going to stop everything that comes out of China just because it makes Chinese companies money?

 

[USAFRet]

that's stupid. They are going to stop everything that comes out of China just because it makes Chinese companies money?

A little bit of study would show you that "profit" is not the actual issue.

 

[ThomasKinsley]

It's painfully obvious the US is banning whatever Chinese business is popular. If DJI's practices were out of compliance, then they would have been investigated and fined as is customary. Instead they are being summarily banished, much like Huawei and TikTok were. This fits with the broader strategy that the US is pursuing of economic decoupling.

 

[USAFRet]

Thanks to all those who attempted to stay on track.

Closing this, before it goes any further afield.