DJI and Microsoft Announce Partnership

About the Partnership

The partnership between DJI and Windows will utilise an SDK from DJI and allow developers to create Windows applications that will interact with DJI’s drone platforms. These applications will enable users to control drones and use their payloads in real-time as well as fly autonomously. DJI and third-party payloads will be able to be controlled for a wide range of different industries without limitations. Users will be able to add on sensors, custom components, and various AI technologies, to suit their requirements. In addition to the announcement of the new SDK, DJI have also chosen Microsoft Azure as their preferred cloud computing partner. Azure are a huge global presence who support 90% of Fortune 500 companies. DJI’s use of Azure’s industry-leading technology will help to gain insights from aerial images and video. This will allow DJI’s drones to be used for extremely niche tasks, meeting the needs of a wider range of industries than ever before. As Azure is cloud-based, development can occur anywhere in the world and be rolled out in minutes on a global level. Microsoft and DJI showed their partnership in action at the Microsoft Build conference using a DJI Mavic Air. The Mavic Air was fitted with an SDK, using Azure to scan pipes and identify any damages. The results were then displayed in real-time in a Windows 10 app, clearly identifying an anomaly on the pipes. This demonstration highlights the huge potential for the partnership to develop business efficiency, saving money and time on tasks. Microsoft-Build-DJI-Drone-Demo-screenshot.png_ Microsoft Build Conference

Microsoft FarmBeats

DJI and Microsoft are currently working together on the Microsoft FarmBeats project, in an attempt to improve global agricultural crop yield. FarmBeats utilises drones, AI and other technology to move farming into a data-driven industry. Data on temperature, light, moisture and more are gathered using a combination of drones and ground sensors, all of which give a valuable insight into farming. The data, along with Windows and Azure technologies, can then be used to create heat maps in real-time to assess crop stress and health, infestations and a variety of issues. This information can then be used to improve the productivity of crops and prevent possible crop damage. The new partnership will likely benefit this industry as well as many more, increasing overall efficiency and productivity. Microsoft-Build-DJI-Drone-Demo-screenshot-1.png_ DJI Matrice 210 RTK at Build

Availability

The DJI SDK for Windows is currently available for attendees of the Microsoft Build conference 2018. This version is in its beta stages, however, reflects the expected final version. A full release is expected to take place in Autumn of this year. We will update our pages once an official release date is announced. Microsoft-Build-DJI-Drone-Demo-screenshot-2.png_ DJI Mavic Air at Build

Summary

The announcement of this partnership is a huge step for DJI and is likely to expand their monopoly of the drone market even further. With up to 700 million global users of Windows 10 being able to access the new SDK, the expansion of DJI’s customer base could have a drastic increase over the coming months. This partnership follows an earlier announcement from DJI in March of their new Payload SDK for the Matrice 200 Series. The Payload SDK opens the series up to third parties as well, showing DJI’s clear confidence in their drone platforms. It will be interesting to see how developers use these SDKs and how they work within a huge range of potential applications such as agriculture, public safety, construction and many more.

To discuss any information from the above post or any DJI or Freefly product, please give one of our team a call on 0191 296 1024 or email us at info@heliguy.com.

Keep checking back to Heliguy’s Insider Blog for more announcements, insights into drones and, of course, the latest news from the drone industry.