DJI Innovations Drones And Gimbals Through The Years

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DJI Innovations is a technology company based in Shenzhen, Guangdong, China. The company was founded in 2006 by Frank Wang and is now the world’s largest maker of civilian drones. DJI’s products are used across a wide range of industries, including agriculture, filmmaking, mapping, inspection, and security.

They have become a leading name in the industry, with product ranges such as the Phantom, Phantom 2, Phantom 3, and Phantom 4. DJI has also made significant contributions to the development of drone technology, such as collision avoidance and 4K video transmission.

Their motto is, “The Future of Possible.” They have offices all around the world and have one of the largest bodies of employees of any such company.

DJI Innovations Product Launches Through The Years

2012

Flame Wheel F330 ARF Kit
Flame Wheel F550 ARF Kit
S800
Zenmuse Z15 Camera Gimbal

The DJI Innovations “Flame Wheel” F330 ARF Kit was a ready-to-fly multi-rotor aircraft designed for aerial photography and videography. The kit included everything you need to get started, including a pre-assembled frame, motors, propellers, and control electronics. The Flame Wheel was powered by four brushless motors that provide ample lift and torque for carrying a GoPro camera payload.

The Flame Wheel may seem archaic by today’s standards but it was very popular when first launched.

2013

Phantom
S800 EVO
A2 Multi-Rotor Flight Controller
DJI Zenmuse Z15-GH3 3-axis Gimbal
Phantom 2 Vision
Zenmuse Z15-5D 3-axis Gimbal
Phantom 2

2013 was a pivotal year for DJI. The Phantom 2 was their latest and most advanced model, building on the success of the original Phantom with a host of new features. It featured a smarter flight control system, as well as a gimbal for a GoPro camera.

The Phantom 2 Vision+ took things even further, adding a gimbal-stabilized HD camera of its own that gave it stability in light winds. It also featured a live video feed that let the drone operator see exactly what the drone’s camera was seeing, making it perfect for aerial photography and videography.

DJI Phantom 1 Controller — DJI Phantom 1

2014

Phantom FC40
S1000
Zenmuse H3-3D for Drones
Phantom 2 Vision+
Zenmuse Z15-BMPCC
Ronin
Zenmuse Z15-GH4 (HD)
S900
Zenmuse Z15-5D III (HD)
S1000+
Inspire 1

DJI Innovations - Inspire drone — Photo by Bertrand Bouchez on Unsplash

The DJI Inspire 1 was released in 2014 and quickly became one of the most popular drones on the market. It featured a 3-axis gimbal for stability and a 4K camera for high-quality video and photos. The Inspire 1 was also easy to fly, thanks to its GPS-based flight control system.

Overall, the DJI Inspire 1 is a great drone for both beginner and experienced drone pilots and became a popular choice for a growing breed of professional aerial photographers. It was also the drone of choice for early adopters among police forces.

2015

3-axis gimbal for Sony A7 cameras
H4-3D gimbal
Phantom 3 (Professional & Advanced)
Ronin-M
DJI Matrice 100
Phantom 3 Standard
Zenmuse X5 & X5R
Osmo
Agras MG-1
Zenmuse XT

The Phantom 3 comes in two options, “Advanced” and “Professional.” These two quadcopters are quite similar except for their cameras and battery charging systems. The DJI Phantom 3 Professional is equipped with a camera that can produce images, both still pictures, and video, in very high definition. It also allows you to live-stream videos to YouTube if you so desire. The camera is rated at 4K, compared to a rating of 1080p for the DJI Phantom Advanced camera.

The DJI Phantom 3 Professional sports a battery that will give more than 20 minutes of flight-and-film time per charge. Its 100-watt charger restores the battery to full current in slightly more than one hour, and the charger lets you charge up the remote control’s battery at the same time. The Phantom 3 Advanced’s charger is only 57 watts, so the charging time is longer.

The rest of the features of the DJI Phantom 3 Advanced and the DJI Phantom 3 Professional are essentially the same except for weight and price. This DJI Phantom 3 review, then, gives information that applies to both drones even though the emphasis is on the DJI Phantom 3 Professional.

2016

Phantom 3 4K
Phantom 4
Osmo RAW
Matrice 600
Zenmuse Z3
Mavic Pro
Zenmuse Z30
Matrice 600 Pro
Inspire 2
Phantom 4 Pro
Zenmuse X4S
Zenmuse X5S

The DJI Mavic Pro is a small yet powerful drone that can fold down to a size that is just slightly larger than a water bottle, making it easy to carry. Additionally, the Mavic Pro is equipped with a 4K camera that can shoot crystal-clear video and 12-megapixel photos. The camera is also able to swivel 90 degrees, allowing you to capture footage from a variety of different angles. Finally, the Mavic Pro is equipped with innovative flight technology that makes it easy to fly, even for beginners.

2017

Matrice 200 Series
Agras MG-1S & MG-1P
Phantom 4 Advanced
Ronin 2
DJI Goggles
Spark
Mavic Pro Platinum
DJI Phantom 4 Pro Obsidian
Zenmuse X7
DJI Wind 4 and DJI Wind 8
DJI Goggles Racing Edition (RE)

2017 saw the release of another version of the Phantom 4, another Mavic Pro, and the DJI Spark, among other products.

The Spark was a small but powerful drone that is perfect for both amateur and professional photography. It featured a 2-axis gimbal camera and could shoot 12-megapixel photos and 1080p HD videos. The drone also had various flight modes and was equipped with Intelligent Flight Safety systems to help prevent accidents.

The DJI Spark has since been withdrawn and replaced by the DJI Mavic Pro.

2018

Osmo Mobile 2
Ronin-S
Tello (DJI, Ryze Tech, and Intel collaboration)
Mavic Air
Zenmuse XT2
Phantom 4 Pro V2.0 Edition
Mavic 2 Pro
Mavic 2 Zoom
Phantom 4 RTK
Mavic 2 Enterprise
Osmo Pocket

The DJI Mavic 2 Pro was a high-end drone that offered several features not found on other models up to this point. One of the most notable was its 4K camera, which could capture stunning video and photos. The Mavic 2 Pro also had a variety of flight modes, allowing it to be flown in more challenging environments. Additionally, its “obstacle avoidance” system helped to prevent collisions.

2019

DJI Smart Controller
Matrice 200 Series V2
Osmo Action
RoboMaster S1
Ronin-SC
DJI Digital FPV Ecosystem
Osmo Mobile 3
Agras T16
P4 Multispectral
Mavic Mini
Zenmuse XT S
Mavic Air 2

DJI doesn’t just make drones. Their product range includes a wide selection of camera gimbals for both consumers and professionals.

The DJI Osmo Mobile 3 is a gimbal designed for use with smartphones. It offers several features that make it ideal for those who want to capture smooth, steady video footage. The Osmo Mobile 3 is lightweight and easy to set up, making it perfect for on-the-go use. It also features an intelligent tracking system that keeps the camera pointed at the subject, even if they move around.

In addition, the Osmo Mobile 3 offers up to 15 hours of battery life, making it ideal for long days of shooting. Whether you’re a professional videographer or just someone who wants to capture smoother video footage, the DJI Osmo Mobile 3 is a great option.

2020

Matrice 300 RTK
Zenmuse H20 Series
DJI OM 4
DJI Zenmuse L1
DJI Zenmuse P1
DJI RS 2 (part of the Ronin series)
DJI RSC 2 (part of the Ronin series)
DJI Pocket 2
DJI Mini 2
AGRAS T20
Mavic 2 Enterprise Advanced

The DJI Mavic 2 Enterprise Advanced is a high-end drone designed for commercial and industrial applications. It features a powerful camera with a 1-inch sensor, as well as a host of advanced features including obstacle avoidance, dual GPS/GLONASS support, and DJI’s flight autonomy system.

The Mavic 2 Enterprise Advanced also comes with a 640 × 512 px thermal camera and omnidirectional obstacle sensing.

2021

DJI FPV
DJI Air 2S
DJI OM 5
Ronin 4D with Zenmuse X9-8K and Zenmuse X9-6K Combos
DJI Action 2
DJI Mavic 3

2021 saw the release of the most recent Mavic with the DJI Mavic 3. The integrated Swedish brand Hasselblad 20-megapixel camera was designed specifically for this drone. The camera is the main selling point of this drone but it would be nothing without its additional flight features, including advanced RTH (return to home) and obstacle avoidance sensors.