DJI and Seagate Team to Provide Data Solutions for Drones

Just like cellphone cameras now run out of storage long before your teen has run out of selfies, as the cameras and endurance of drones get better and better the data storage needs increase.

But the world’s largest drone manufacturer, DJI, has announced a partnership with leading storage solutions company Seagate Technology plc (STX) to deal with the problem.  The companies have engaged in a “strategic partnership to work jointly to solve the data demands of UAV users,” says a press release. “..DJI and Seagate are focusing their efforts to securely and efficiently store, manage, download and share the hundreds of gigabytes of data that can be generated from a single drone mission.”

The partnership makes sense, and could provide some valuable tools for commercial drone operators.  As professional operators, industry, or even dedicated hobbyists rack up flight miles they also rack up data: high resolution video like that produced by the Inspire 2 creates big files. “For example shooting in 5.2K during a 25-minute flight can generate about 120GB of data,” says DJI.  For many applications, the data doesn’t just need to be stored – it needs to be backed up and shared.  A product designed specifically for the needs of drone operators might make the problem significantly easier to deal with.

“DJI is proud to pioneer advances in drone technology, and we are excited to work with Seagate on developing innovative ways to manage the increased data flows generated by our most sophisticated products,” said Michael Perry, Director of Strategic Partnerships for DJI. “Our unparalleled UAV expertise and Seagate’s deep data prowess mean our customers can look forward to smart, efficient and reliable ways to manage their growing drone data storage needs.”

“Seagate is honored to partner with DJI to help UAV users tackle their evolving and unique data needs,” said Tim Bucher, Senior Vice President of Seagate Consumer Solutions. “Seagate is committed to working together with DJI to evolve UAV workflows so users can focus on what matters most – capturing data in flight to bring new and amazing experiences to the world.”

The companies plan to announce their first product collaboration later this year.