Just saw this from about 3 weeks ago.
By this logic, every company other than maybe clothing and toys is a military company. What’s the alternative here in the states? We don’t have a viable competitor yet and it’ll take a very long time to spin one up.
This has been the case since the 2024 NDAA was passed in late 2023. Autel was lumped in with DJI and seems to be joined at the hip in their future. Which sucks. These are the two best options by a long shot. If Congress does pass a ban, it’ll include both.
@Mason
It will include every drone made in the PRC. I suspect it’s a ploy by Skydio to corner the US market, but that’s just a guess.
Luca said:
@Mason
It will include every drone made in the PRC. I suspect it’s a ploy by Skydio to corner the US market, but that’s just a guess.
It 100% is. Elise Stefanik’s former chief of staff works for Skydio now and she’s been the loudest voice.
@Zhen
Trump Jr. works for and has investments in Unusual Machines. I would imagine he has more than slight influence over the president.
Reagan said:
@Zhen
Trump Jr. works for and has investments in Unusual Machines. I would imagine he has more than slight influence over the president.
Yup!!
Reagan said:
@Zhen
Trump Jr. works for and has investments in Unusual Machines. I would imagine he has more than slight influence over the president.
And I wouldn’t mind so much if these folks would actually put out a viable product. Hell I WANT an American made product!
Luca said:
@Mason
It will include every drone made in the PRC. I suspect it’s a ploy by Skydio to corner the US market, but that’s just a guess.
Corner what market? Skydio doesn’t even really have a share of the consumer drone market. Unless they are about to drop some new sub-250 gram camera drone that I’m unaware of, Skydio might as well be Northrop for as much as it matters to the retail market.
@Dexter
Think about it.
Take out every drone made in China and who’s left?
Luca said:
@Mason
It will include every drone made in the PRC. I suspect it’s a ploy by Skydio to corner the US market, but that’s just a guess.
Corner the market and kill the bulk of civilian drone use in the process, clearing the skies for who knows what.
Luca said:
@Mason
It will include every drone made in the PRC. I suspect it’s a ploy by Skydio to corner the US market, but that’s just a guess.
Does Skydio even want the “Best Buy market”? I’d think they would’ve made a $300 drone if they really wanted to compete
@Mason
I guess the big question for me is will existing product still work? I have relatives in Taiwan that can get me the drones pretty easily but if somehow they’ll be locked, then what’s the point
Zhen said:
@Mason
I guess the big question for me is will existing product still work? I have relatives in Taiwan that can get me the drones pretty easily but if somehow they’ll be locked, then what’s the point
They won’t be “locked.”
@Dexter
That’s good, but I wonder if there’ll be some software issue that’ll prevent a drone from Taiwan from operating in the US.
Yeah, pretty much anything from China, Russia, Iran, Cuba, Venezuela and North Korea. It’s “countries of origin”, not any specific manufacturer. There are definite security concerns, but DJI got headlined because they are the big dog that has to come down for the US to stand a chance at an industry.
@Zhen
Oh wow, lol. A model airplane with a little single-stroke counts as sUAS experience now… I flew airplanes, helicopters and professionally raced RC cars when I was 15 so does that mean I have more than 30 years?
@Taylor
According to Skydio and the Congress you do!
Bunch of tools.
@Taylor
My issue is how friggin shortsighted we are. We’re going to kneecap our own people and companies before we have viable competitors. And Skydio? That’s cute. They couldn’t hack it in the consumer space and from everything I’ve read their commercial products don’t hold a candle to competition either
Edited: and also, if they are sincere about limiting, they’d be targeting phones and laptops from China as well. There isn’t a computer or phone in EARTH that doesn’t have a Nexus to China, and phones are a far bigger threat than drones with their half hour battery life AT BEST. Most of them don’t even transmit on public airwaves like phones so either.
And Cuba, Iran, NK etc are OFAC sanctioned already and don’t import high tech anything anyhow so not really a comparison. China is not sanctioned, none of the proposed ban companies are on an SDN list, etc.
