BYD and DJI launch vehicle-mounted drone system

BYD, in collaboration with DJI, has unveiled Lingyuan, an innovative vehicle-mounted drone launching system, now available for all BYD vehicles in China. This system, priced at 16,000 yuan (approximately 36,925 ZAR), brings a touch of science fiction to everyday driving.

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A captivating demonstration video, reminiscent of futuristic films, showcases the system in action. With a simple tap on the vehicle’s touchscreen, a concealed compartment on the roof opens, revealing a rising platform and a docked drone. The drone then seamlessly launches, even while the EV is in motion, and autonomously follows the car.

According to reports, the drones can take off and land at speeds up to 25 km/h and automatically return to the vehicle within a two-kilometre range. They can also follow the vehicle at speeds reaching 54 km/h. The integrated hangar simultaneously charges the drone when docked.

The Lingyuan package includes a DJI drone (likely a DJI Air 3S, as seen in the demo), the roof-mounted hangar, and dedicated apps. These apps feature video editing capabilities (potentially DJI’s existing software) and “AI recognition” functionalities. Based on translated text from the demo video, the AI recognition appears to enable “AI Posture recognition,” allowing the drone to capture photos around the vehicle. It remains unclear whether users can install the system independently.

BYD chairman Wang Chuanfu highlighted the collaborative effort with DJI, emphasizing the development of a “fully integrated system from the ground up.” Notably, BYD has also introduced a Bao 8 SUV variant pre-equipped with the Lingyuan system.

This isn’t BYD’s first foray into vehicle-mounted drones. Their luxury brand, Yangwang, previously showcased an off-road U8 SUV with a larger, roof-rail-mounted drone system.

Lingyuan bears a resemblance to DJI’s Dock 3, a drone-in-a-box solution designed for industrial applications. While the Dock 3 also supports drone launches from moving vehicles, its starting price of approximately 389,607 ZAR (excluding installation and including a DJI Matrice 4D drone) is significantly higher than the Lingyuan system. This makes the BYD and DJI collaboration a more accessible entry into the vehicle-mounted drone market for consumers.