Everyone and the cheer squad finally had to come clean about DJI's political numbers. Given the looming droneageddon, there is no need to keep the 99% (98.6%) market domination a secret anymore. We all knew that the 60%-70% number was totally bogus, and like any other political number, it gets found out and blows up in your face. Just ask AUVSI — Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International what the political numbers did to their credibility. The membership numbers are stagnant.
Anyway, I've been saying it for years, but it's worth repeating. DJI should have just told the truth. Yes, we collect data to make the product and software better ultimately. Instead, they hired fools to go on the attack, including calling the administration "insane." I guess the money was good because people damaged their reputations. DJI is losing billions, and the downstream ecosystem is facing economic ruination.
This is by no means solely DJI's fault. The FAA: "not in my airspace"; the "advocacy" groups, including the AMA; the show promoters; the standards groups; Transportation; ITAR; the DOD and even NASA; the patent office; and Congress just kicked the can down the road while the money rolled, or the chance of rolling in. Same for C-UAS. DJI had too much control of the regulatory process. Sure, they should have had a seat at the table, but US national security, including the airspace, is way too important to leave to a Chinese toy company. Some folks have strong trepidation about CCP influence.
This isn't the first extinction event. The first was the February 13, 2007 FAA policy clarification that put everyone out of business overnight. FAA justification: you shouldn't have gotten into an illegal business. #LOL
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@TheDroneDealer on X