Recently, Fomalhaut Techno Solutions, a Tokyo-based research firm, conducted a teardown analysis of DJI Mavic Air 2 drone, which was launched by DJI in 2020. The teardown results shocked everyone. It showed that nearly 80% of the chips in the drone were from chip companies outside mainland China. This high reliance on foreign chips by DJI, coupled with recent US restrictions, has raised concerns in the Chinese industry.
Specifically, the core rotor support chips and flight control system in the drone are DJI's proprietary patented technology, while the chips responsible for core battery, wireless signal, and noise reduction are from Texas Instruments and Qorvo in the US, and the visual unit module chips responsible for facial perception, gesture recognition, and auxiliary safety landing algorithm are from Movidius, a subsidiary of Intel. The gyroscopic microelectronic chips responsible for drone flight capability are from Invensense and ADI in the US, and the global navigation system module chips are from U-blox in Europe.
However, it is worth noting that most of these chips are produced using 20nm-65nm technology, rather than advanced process chips. If the process requirements are not strict, why are such high-priced chips imported? In addition, with the intensification of Sino-US trade friction, will drone chips face the risk of supply disruption from overseas suppliers? OK, that and more is exactly what we are going to talk about today, let’s get started!
