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An agricultural industry group is fighting to keep DJI as a vendor due to the ease of use of its software. | Credit: DJI
A coalition of agriculture-specific drone operators and service providers has formed to lobby against the proposed Countering CCP Drones Act (H.R.6572) currently working its way through Congress. This bill would ban the sale of drones from Shenzhen Da-Jiang Innovations Sciences and Technologies Co., or DJI, in the U.S.
This coalition consists of Agri Spray Drones, Bestway Ag, Drone Nerds, HSE-UAV, Pegasus Robotics, and Rantizo. It said it intends to represent, protect, and advocate for the interests of the agricultural industry in the use of spray drone technology.
The group warned that if the U.S. government bans Chinese-made drones like those of DJI, commercially available options for high-capacity spray drones would be limited. This could lead to lead to a monopoly situation with only one provider — Hylio. This would reduce innovation, increase prices, and limit options for farmers and service providers
In April, Anzu Robotics, a new U.S.-based drone supplier launched an alternative to the DJI Mavic camera drone. Its strategy is to license and manufacture a clone of the company‘s Mavic outside of China and provide a new software solution for the drones.
This strategy would have circumvented the intent of the Countering CCP Drones Act, but amendments to the bill now include Anzu Robotics’ approach.
Banning DJI could set back the agriculture industry
“The advancement of my bipartisan bills, the Countering CCP Drones Act and the FACT Act, is a win for America’s national security and a win for Americans whose data and critical infrastructure has been collected and monitored by our adversary Communist China,” stated Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.). “Congress must use every tool at our disposal to stop Communist China’s monopolistic control over the drone market and telecommunications infrastructure and build up America’s industrial capacity.”
In response, the industry coalition said that there currently are no affordable and viable alternatives to Chinese-manufactured drones for use in agriculture spraying operations. On a recent call with the group, The Robot Report learned more detail about how important DJI drones are for the industry.
The primary use cases at risk are the application of chemical insecticides, herbicides, and fertilizers using aerial sprayers, said the group members. The use of semi-autonomous and fully autonomous drones has evolved over the past decade. The alternatives to drone-based application of chemicals are ground-based tractors and manned planes (crop dusters).
Across the U.S., local service providers have emerged to provide aerial-based services for farmers.
The drone that sparked the initial growth of this market was the DJI MG1P. The eight-rotor model had a 10L (2.6 gal.) liquid storage capacity and a list price of $15K. The company now sells several models at different price points including the T30L, T40, and AGRAS T50L, with 30, 70, and 75 L (7.9, 18.4, and 19.8 gal.) capacity, respectively.
The group asserted that there is no other agricultural spraying drone with the same capabilities at the same price points. The service providers in the group also said the ease of use and features of DJI’s software are currently unmatched in the industry.
Industry group raises multiple concerns
- Choice and competition: The group said that banning Chinese-made drones would limit commercially available options for high-capacity spray drones. This could stifle innovation and increase costs for farmers and service providers, they said.
- Data security and privacy: The industry is looking to develop standards and solutions, such as Rantizo’s AcreConnect app, to ensure data security and privacy without relying on cloud-based storage with drone manufacturers.
- Regulatory uncertainty: The proposed Countering CCP Drones Act has created uncertainty and concern within the industry about the future availability and use of drones.
- Lack of understanding of industry impact: The coalition members expressed concern that policymakers may not understand the implications of a DJI drone ban on the agricultural industry.
- Opportunities for rural economic development: Drones have created new revenue streams and job opportunities in rural communities, especially for younger generations, said the drone service providers. Maintaining access to affordable and innovative drone technology is seen as critical for sustaining this growth, they said.
The group said its bottom line is preserving choice, competition, and innovation in the drone industry to support the needs of farmers, service providers, and rural economic development.
Representatives on the call included:
- Jeremy Schneiderman, CEO, Drone Nerds
- Bryan Sanders, president, HSE-UAV
- Jeff Dickens, region lead, Upper Southeast, Rantizo
- Jeff Clack, Bestway Ag
- Taylor Moreland, CEO, Agri Spray Drones
- Eric Ringer, vice president of strategy and partnerships, Rantizo
- Jeff Clack, drone division supervisor, Bestway Ag
🤨We need to use American companies only.! Id think it would be a risk to our Nation’s security in many ways in my opinion.! 🤔
If American drone companies want more business maybe they should build better drones and compete. This nonsense is banning the competition through scare tactics designed to frighten the ignorant.
The problem might be the fact that, in China, generally speaking, they can manufacture things for a lot cheaper than in the US (perhaps mainly because they do not pay their laborers much); and so, the industries in the US are harmed by being outcompeted by the Chinese brands.
If not for the reason of ‘cyber-security’, then for the sake of domestic industry, there ought to be at least a VERY high tariff placed on goods imported from other countries. (Perhaps 25% of the products sale price or more) The high prices that would result might allow US companies and businesses to offer lower prices than the Chinese brands, while still being able to make a profit. That might then lead to an increase in the demand for cheaper (hopefully better quality) US-made products.
Buying from US businesses keeps the money circulating in the country (in theory benefiting many), instead of in foreign countries.(Wealthier people might often be bigger spenders, which might benefit many other types of domestic businesses and their laborers and suppliers and so on). Kinda like “keeping the money in the family.”
As someone one the drone industry… are you going to cut us a check for thousands of dollars to replace our assets? Why aren’t we banning iPhone, androids, various GPS systems all manufactured in china or containing parts manufactured in china? Because an American drone company is lobbying this bill because they cant compete with their sub par products. If this ban goes through I guarantee you those of us in the industry will NOT by from the company responsible.