DJI, Lufthansa to co-develop drone tech

Drone maker DJI Technology has agreed to a deal with Germany's Lufthansa Group to jointly develop products that can conduct inspections on giant machines such as jumbo jets and wind turbines.

Wang Fan, vice-president of Shenzhen-based DJI, says the company is open to opportunities in every industry, including aviation.

"We need to review (potential partners') demands and how our technologies can be integrated into their businesses," he said on Jan 28. "DJI's products are suitable for a wide spectrum of industries."

The high-profile linkup over unmanned aerial vehicles comes immediately after an industry report saying demand for commercial drones is likely to soar this year.

Martin Brandenburg, DJI's European marketing director, says the company would work with Lufthansa Consulting on the project, calling the arm of Germany's largest airline "the perfect partner for DJI in joint-market development".

"The feedback from Lufthansa's clients is of great value for the further development of our products," he says. The consulting offshoot provides services and products to the aviation and other related industries worldwide.

DJI says the two companies have already completed a pilot project using DJI drones to inspect rotor blades on wind turbines for an undisclosed client.

The task previously required manual inspection using a steeplejack, an often dangerous and time-consuming method.

Andreas Jahnke, managing director of Lufthansa Consulting, says the cooperation will enable the German firm to provide "one-stop services" using DJI drones and jointly developed software.

"This includes everything from application consulting and drone operation with data analysis, to training and certification of drone pilots at Lufthansa Flight Training, or even the provision of drone insurance solutions through Delvag, Lufthansa's in-house insurer," Jahnke says.

Although commercial drones are widely available, many of Lufhansa's key clients and manufacturers choose not to operate the flying devices on their own because it is not their core business, the company said in a statement, leaving a void for third-party providers such as Lufhansa Consulting to fill.

Other potential uses include thermal-imaging systems being mounted on drones to facilitate inspections of aircraft, power lines, roads, railways and surface pipelines, as well as monitoring of construction sites and crops.

Increasing demand from the entertainment and agricultural industries is expected to boost sales of drones by 84 percent year-on-year in 2016, according to industry consultancy Juniper Research, which predicts annual revenue generated by commercial drones will reach $481 million, up from $261 million last year.

In China, the market is also expected to grow despite regulatory uncertainties, according to Beijing-based research firm Analysys International.

The civilian domestic drone market is expected to be worth 4 billion yuan ($608 million; 558 million euros) this year and is on track to exceed 11 billion yuan by 2018, it says.

More devices will be adapted for professional commercial use such as safety inspections, maintenance and other sectors, although current demand is mainly being driven by private consumers who still view drones as toys.

Contact the writers at gaoyuan@chinadaily.com.cn and wangwen@chinadaily.com.cn