Drone Wars Part 2: The DJI Menace

The biggest maker of small drones is DJI, and DJI drones have appeared in all sorts of recent conflicts doing all sorts of unmanned aerial jobs. Does that mean that DJI's drones are the best combat platforms, or do they have other weaknesses to consider?
You can watch Episode One of this series over the main T.Rex channel here: • Drone Wars Part 1: Les...
Chapters:
02:44 - DJI Drone Use in Ukraine
04:44 - Why Mavics fill the Skies
07:27 - Signals Intelligence and DJI Aeroscope
11:04 - DJI's Data Harvesting Apps
14:58 - The Secret to DJI's Market Domination
19:25 - What DJI drones are actually Good For

[@Architect_Art_Vandelay]

The fact that this video is not called “Episode 2: Attack of the Drones” is a tragedy

[@isaacbotkintrex]

It seemed a little too obvious. And reminding everybody that DJI used to sell a drone called the Phantom, which is a menace, seemed a little bit too obscure. And not the best way to start episode one.

[@BeeHiverson]

Star Wars is super lame

[@isaacbotkintrex]

@@BeeHiverson You better be talking about recent Star Wars...

[@LongShot357]

I’m here waiting for “Episode 3: The Phantom Menace”

[@davidsirmons]

HAHAHAAA!!! U WIN ALL INTERNETS!!! \o/

[@raspberry86853]

Great video about DGI drones

[@borrago]

DJI

[@raspberry86853]

@@borrago never heard of them

[@ZombiePanda1776]

Yes. lol

[@leviolson]

I love Isaac, but I was looking for this comment specifically :D

[@smportis]

Same. Admittedly it is much faster to say it as a G instead of a J. ... and he says it A LOT. Drinking game.

[@0j0m.......]

I couldn't finish watching, because I could no longer ignore the barrage of rapid fired "DGI".

[@aesthetic8780]

This is all I ever wanted from T.Rex arms. A channel filled with Isaac's content! I'm more interested in everything AROUND shooting. This is my passion. I hope we also see Livestreams from you on T.Rex Labs! After you spend so much time with digital radios, could you jump again in the Analog pool for us? Networking via Analog as example. Using primitive Voice Scrambler for something useful etc. This could be very interesting. Im working on something at the moment, with TYT UV-98 radios. The best Budget Analog radio in my opinion. And I think the Scrambler option is neat. (This doesn't replace real 256 bit encryption)

[@The1Fist]

The most recent documentaries I've seen from the Ukraine side is going back to basics using analog drones that are hand built by the population. Aside from picking up their signal location, there's really no room for spyware

[@user-wc1em7pc2p]

This channel is already knocking it out of the park. Thanks for actually putting out well thought out and valuable content for the (yet to be) prepared citizens.

[@urgaynknowit]

Other than the fact he says the name of the company wrong THE ENTIRE VIDEO lololol

[@someamateur2853]

Nice rundown btw I like the lab/armory/arms model so far. Very.....XCOM

[@isaacbotkintrex]

​@@System_Fighter47KZbin is kind of weird. There are all these names that you're not allowed to use, because they seem to be taken by other people, but there is no evidence of those names being used anywhere...

[@Matthew-bc9mr]

Giving a like for the Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels reference..

[@candyman__87]

I've been flying DJI drones for a few years now and can't agree more. They do it better than anyone else, but I'm constantly looking for an American made competitor with a comparable level of polish without costing an arm and both legs.

[@TheSakufighter]

Avata 2 is my first real drone and it’s amazing.

[@ivaniuk123]

The US has no commercial off the shelf drone that can compete with DJI in terms of range, flight time, signal clarity, and latency and that's incredibly sad. What's even worse is the few US companies that may be able to catch up to DJI have exited the consumer market in favor of government contracts and as a result will probably go out of business by the end of this year giving China full control over the drone market.

[@user-cr4sc1ht9t]

Not just the US. You can guess where I'm from my username and we don't have any either. There isn't like Fujitsu or Toshiba drones that are just slightly worse than DJI, there are NONE. Sony technically makes some, random small company makes some in sheds, that's it. It's weird.

[@NeostormXLMAX]

Because china is more capitalist and the usa is ironically more communist with government controls

[@NeostormXLMAX]

@@user-cr4sc1ht9twell thank the plaza accords and us sanctions on japan for punishments of selling to the soviet union back in the 80s that destroyed japans tech industry 😂😂

[@Kaotix_music]

12:55 I personally only use my drone using UAS Tool on ATAK. It does not require I install DJI software. Unless im missing something and the UAS tool plugin is somehow using DJI software in the background I dont know about...

[@nilknoc101]

Does it still require a network connection to communicate between your device and the drone? Or can it operate offline?

[@Kaotix_music]

@@nilknoc101 It can operate 100% offline. Phone doesnt have to be on a network, connected to a TAK server/RTSP Server...none of that. Although my favorite part of ATAK is allowing other users to see what my UAS drone sees in live time so, if youre offline? That obviously wont work. But if you want to use it for just basic drone usage, it still works off the network

[@nilknoc101]

@@Kaotix_music that’s pretty neat. I just obtained a second-hand DJI mini SE and if it’s compatible with that type of setup, that would be much preferred.

[@iankawika]

The FPV community has known for a long time that DJI is an absolute menace. Glad the knowledge is being spread. Keep up the great content! Loving the stuff you're putting out.

[@TVGuru72]

Man - you are good! Spent my whole life in TV news and I’m incredibly impressed with the quality of your work and storytelling!!

[@gkft]

While I feel drone operators should be aware what data is being collected, and where it's going and who's using it, China, communist or not, really isn't the US Citizenry's primary concern IMO. I'd be much more concerned about the US Federal Government's use of Americans' data and what they are using it for and how drone warfare will be used against American people by their Government in the upcoming years.

[@wpherigo1]

They are a surveillance company.

[@europeanmedics7324]

The existance of this channel makes me extremely excited! Thank you Isaac for your work!

[@IndigoWarrior90]

Wow what a well done video and entertaining! You definitely seem to know what you’re talking about. I’m going to check out some more of your videos, thanks!

[@Peltast]

Three videos in and T Rex Labs has quickly become one of my favorite KZbin channels. Keep up the good work bros, God bless.

[@TheLestonolmstead]

DGI or DJI drones. Play on words? Or letters?

[@TheLestonolmstead]

And Tennessee is not near the beach so shout out for taking the time and traveling to shoot an awesome video

[@T.REXLabs]

It's just hard to pronounce the J.

[@billgarand2136]

​@@T.REXLabs🤣

[@dylancleveland]

@@T.REXLabs this is actually true. feels so unnatural lmao

[@TrashPanda2801]

This might end up being my favorite trex channel based on content so far.

[@TheSonOfJohn117]

Same

[@user-wc1em7pc2p]

I would suspect the photos or short video that is sent back to DJI is categorized by proximity to what they view as valuable areas to photograph. Eg If a person is flying in the woods in rural Iowa it's low or no priority but flying in Alexandria VA it is highest priority and more likely to be scrutinized.

[@waylonk2453]

Now that's an intelligent postulation

[@itsreallytom4310]

Where did you get your information that dji drones logs the users flights and photos on their servers?

[@easygroove]

Make an episode about Battle Harden em - how do they do in in the east?

[@michaelnyden8056]

How dare you leave a cliffhanger like that! :)

[@ktrends]

DGEEI drones are the best ❤

[@PowderMill]

The Mavic-3 has been a real game changer for the “lower budget” public safety sector. The volunteer fire departments and rescue squads that are very poorly funded can now purchase an “off the shelf” UAS/drone that does a phenomenal job for the price. Just as soon as our department has “T.Rex” type $$ cash … we’ll be looking at the DJI M30 thermal model. 😉🤣

[@JDee-xk1nu]

Hey I always loved your "tech" videos on the other T Rex channel (especially the ones on radio which are super interesting). I hope this channel becomes just as successful as the other T rex ones, and I really appreciate the information and perspectives you already have on this channel.

[@christopherross3934]

Your delivery is impeccable.

[@2ATacAirWing-qr5ll]

Well done Sir! Excellent video!

[@burntheships]

Patiently waiting for more!

[@foraslan5801]

Why do so many people on KZbin insist upon calling DJI, "DGI". It happens all the time, even, repeatedly, in this video where the host certainly knows better. I just don't get it. It would be like referring to "IBM", as "IVM". KZbin videos are information media. I would think that any serious delivery of information media would want to, and strive to be, as accurate as is possible.

[@WickdPerfekT]

Thank you for the content

[@JelaniJordan-uc9nt]

Autel is another great drone but, it’s made in China as well. Potensic makes a good one too. FPV drones are the only ones that are good for certain situations that DJI is just now getting into

[@clamum9648]

I'm pretty close to getting a drone cause I think they'd be quite a tool in a SHTF type scenario, for multiple reasons. But I'm definitely not getting a DJI. Agreed they're very nice and polished but I don't consider their prices that good. Plus I just feel better personally vetting the stuff I'm selecting for it, sue me lol. So I'm going to build my own FPV drone. Seems to be quite a reasonable price all told and it allows me to be more familiar with the tech and be better able to understand and repair it. I've put together several ARs, have built my desktop computer for the past 25+ years, and soldered a modchip with tiny little pads into my Wii years ago, and watching a few build videos here on YT it seems quite straight forward for someone who doesn't mind getting their hands dirty, so to speak.

[@hehe-mq2bk]

DJI is the best in the game. Nothing can compete can even close. This is one market/tech that the Chinese got us beat. There was a recent push to create DJI-like companies in the states which will overlap with police/military/civilian use and so far not only have the drone been inferior but they have also been costly. I watch A LOT of Ukraine/Russia war moments and when they are using their drones you cannot mistake their equipment as non other than mostly DJI. The user interface is too familiar and the thermals are too iconic to not notice lol. Even when both Russia and Ukraine are making FPV, non-DJI drones, most of their components are from China.

[@alexhdz512]

Been waiting for part 2 🙌🏼

[@cdgonepotatoes4219]

So my doubts weren't unfounded. I know already DJI drones aren't made secure specifically for the purpose to help law enforcement regulate drone traffic, if it doesn't land or return to you automatically on detecting a geofence it's DJI themselves who provide the countermeasures to overwrite the drone operator's command and acquire the drone to later find out who the digital license plate belongs to. All this time I kept telling myself "those drones must have been modified by DJI in some way to resist EWAR before they sent them their way, maybe they removed a bunch of safeties and changed the type of signal, added encryption"... Apparently not as you're telling me now. It's like performing a troop transport with a Cybertruck.

[@carcandy05]

The ending was such a tease!

[@pa_trickbrandt]

Great idea with this new channel and I'm really excited about this episode

[@fltmed]

DJI can have any video I have of finding deer with my Mavic 3T. 🤣

[@juanoncello86]

Follow up video: non-CCP/server access brands?

[@user-jz4hy8yn6p]

Thanks brother

[@GldenRetriever]

I like my thermal autel. no restrictions like dji has, but still affordable with good specs. Best to get one pre faa ID implementation like the evo2 v2 line.

[@joaquincastellanos3411]

Great content ! A master class, where drone controls, processors and Wireless communication are discussed, would be nice! 🤔

[@Nessie-mf3xg]

Lightbridge seems to be unencrypted, but the newest versions of OcuSync are AES-256 encrypted.

[@leopoldbarnes8655]

Excellent start to the new channel!

[@markmac9515]

Nice view of Looe harbour Cornwall

[@ChrisBurnes]

This is a great series. Keep it up.

[@NeostormXLMAX]

I laughed so hard when he mentioned ukrainians having air superiority 😂😂😂😂

[@David-xs9nv]

I always wondered why one day a few years ago, all these signs appeared on base saying "no drone flying anywhere on base". Makes sense now. Chi-nah.

[@bananadane]

Cannot be overstated. It's not " should not be overstated"

[@MunitionsDudTester]

12:02 any source for this?

[@My_Alchemical_Romance]

Great job!

[@ColinMcEvoy]

not me watching this with 10k in DJI drones sitting behind me 💀

[@antadefector]

I love it, but it's spying on me, but I love it... That kind of troubled thinking. Thanks for the nice video. Best Regards from Serbia

[@thouys9069]

interesting, but a lot of fluff, I feel like that could have been more concise

[@_Art.Vandelay]

Gun culture 6.0 in full swing. Like “the road to homo sapiens” we’re finally getting to the good stuff

[@PowderMill]

It’d be great to have a modification of the Mavic-3 series to use alternative radio spectrum. We have a handful of UHF (460.xxx / 465.xxx) and 800Mhz freq pairs we’d love to use for RC control and video streaming. Aeroscope would likely still

[@avalon7128]

Did that Russian soldier just swat the grenade off of him lol

[@RESISTAGE]

I was surprised at the very begging that USA senate didn't alarm . but now they do? something off.

[@butl4665]

Excellent production guys. Shooting is great but there's a lot more important skills to have.

[@jaymes2343]

You can use atak with uas tool to fly your djis

[@whywherewhat]

Is there a reason he's calling them DGI instead of DJI for the entire video?

[@mikeschneider8574]

Was wondering the same thing lol

[@MapleHillMunitions]

The real question is, is someone making an open source drone with DJI hardware?

[@esofhau]

Thanks for the content

[@MikhaelHausgeist]

I've view first one... Actually waiting for next... And those are on another channel... Not fun. At least I found it.

[@samuelb9875]

my guesses for the next video is either parrot, skydio, or homemade fpv drones

[@moorepower13]

Skydo is out of the game, unfortunately.

[@idanksicard]

Please keep these videos cranking! super duper interested in getting a drone and I'm so glad you guys are doing this. Keep it up!

[@TheOrdep1976]

wow just wow ty

[@mikegriffith2640]

What are your guys' thoughts on the company Exo for drones?

[@jamesnater1]

As an FPV pilot since 2016ish, I’m interested in hearing anything about FPV considering the kamakazi fpv drones being used in Ukraine. Not connected to any network, but can easily be blasted out of the sky on 5.8ghz (video feed), 868-915mhz and 2.4ghz (RC) by any near peer, but harder to do with pointing a beam at them with the speeds and agility FPV drones have.

[@mattmanbrownbro]

Google maps is "mapping my neighborhood", but they don't need my help. I don't think my visual only camera is picking up any more info than is already publicly available.

[@roguecnc788]

Love the channel

[@legacychase3702]

Keep making these ❤

[@sbstoner]

20:56 cough cough: Cyberlux k8 drones with Datron tactical military Communications.

[@gregtay67]

It's Occusync. Lightbridge is outdated.

[@greggullett1272]

Another interesting video

[@skipgue162]

Kinda like Holosun with the ole we'll wait till they work out the bugs approach. Then Ka Pow!

[@purplerays6]

So, what is it? Exo? I've been on the edge of getting one, American made would be awesome!

[@waylonk2453]

That was my thought, that brand seems to be the premier American made quadcopter maker

[@NonyaDamnbusiness]

FYI, a lot of folks have been reporting drone KZbin videos to the FAA since in order to make money from drones you need to be certified by the FAA. As a semi-professional license collector, I've got mine. It was just a minor PITA to register and sit for an exam at an exam site and then wait for the FAA to mail me my license card. And I have to have a certain amount of training hours every year to keep it up-to-date on the FAA's absolute debacle of a licensing website.

[@shelbyolivarez9335]

Ironically, I fly my drone at a place named Chinese Peak in Idaho. 🤷‍♂

[@Ahmaurnamu]

So if the drones send stuff back how about the action cameras? Osmo action, go pro and insta 360? Would be a nice to know thing.

[@T.REXLabs]

That is more up to the app than the device itself. If you download the app, it's talking to someone.

[@Ahmaurnamu]

@@T.REXLabs I see, the app does control the device and the app is on my phone which is connected to the cell service and the internet. Makes sense, thanks.

[@Ist_Geheim]

@@Ahmaurnamu Use an old phone, dedicate it to the drone and to the drone only, download the app and then deactivate the internet-connection on this phone (forever?). That is how I would deal with it. The same goes for your cams, if you're worried about what they "see" and/or what adidtional metadata they send.

[@haxwithaxe]

Will the apps work with the Internet blocked?

[@ahuels67]

1:34 they also make droney drones for droney things

[@nbookie]

Commercially we have never connected our ipads to a dji and any internet connection after the app download. Load the app. Disconnect the service (wifi/lte/BT). No connection to phone home. Fly for years with no requirement to connect any network.

[@peachstatedefense9615]

Autel drones are pretty legit and don't have any restrictions. And they dont collect data that we know of lol great video tho I can't wait for more

[@TheBamidd]

Does LITCHI still connect and transmit back to DJI just as their factory app does? I prefer the LITCHI interface myself regardless

[@RESISTAGE]

that's a very good point .

[@isaacbotkintrex]

Finally.

[@virtualhermit]

I hope this video helps with the problem of Chinese drones in the US. But I don't have much hope... I work in an industry that absolutely should not be using DJI drones but they do. Vast amounts of money is being spent trying to secure this industry and yet they ignore this particular vector. But in reality DJI is just the canary in the coal mine for all tech built in China. I recall a huge story years ago about amazon finding undocumented chips on their server boards that were talking to china... How many people can actually read a schematic or run down all the tiny chips and know if they are actually what is printed on them.

[@withoutfurtheradoforever]

DGI?

[@davidsirmons]

.....dee-JAY-eye.

[@Sammenluola]

I'd love to see T.RexLab testing a mesh of flying nodes, supporting small group off-grid comms in a risky environment. Is it feasible, which commercial drones would be good for the purpose etc? Any technical challenges? The problem related to this issue for me particularily, is that I live in Finland and my bugout location / off the grid cabin / base of unconventional ops is situated only 10 km (6,2 miles) from the Russian border. We are talking deep forest, small lakes, swamps, and lots of hills. So if, let's say two or three years from now (as military and academics have estimated to be possible), Russia attacks the Baltic states and the Suwalki Gap, and simultaneously crosses the border to Finland in an effort to confuse our Nato forces and to protect their Murmansk nuclear subs or something... could a Meshtastic-based encrypted solution be a thing for my prepper group? The situation would involve 1) Russia occasionally using their significant EW capabilities jamming GPS and some other frequencies along our eastern border, 2) our own citizen/reservist small units watching over local sections of the wilderness border area, and 3) Russia using regular or special ops small units in the region. The last point would results from the fact that the region I'm talking about has only couple of roads across the border, and all the rest is deep forest, small lakes, swamps etc. Use of mechanized tactical battle groups would simply not be possible for the enemy. So I'm picturing small flying Meshtastic nodes relaying data, and those nodes perhaps even independently following our guys as they move from one valley to the next. Airborne mesh-nodes at the individual level! Taactical value might be there. Drones + mesh = ? Anyway, I might be totally wrong here, but it sounds kind of promising. What am I thinking wrong? What have I missed? I would appreciate any feedback not just from the Lab, but from other viewers as well. And a whole video about the proposition would be awesome! (And if you guys have done one already, oh god, please let me know.)

[@borrago]

For what it's worth: When I'm going into the forest on the other side of the mountain to scout properties or go hunting, i bring a drone with a meshtastic node attached to it. There have been times when I can't get any signal. When this happens I will hang the drone high enough to connect to one of the nodes in my circle of trust, check in, and give them my current grid, should I disappear. Granted; this is not a currently contested area, but it has, never the less, been invaluable for safety and situational awareness. I started doing it after I had to strap my fortrex to the drone one time so i could hang it above the canopy and figure out my grid.

[@Sammenluola]

@@borrago Thanks for your input! This reinforces my idea to move forward with this, at least for now.

[@gareonconley1956]

16:30 this is like saying to the cccp: hey bros before you enter my phone illegaly, why dont you just sit down on my couch already.

[@hitman4499]

No chicom ever called me deplorable

[@garrymacantanaiste575]

Russia, Russia, Russia!!!! China, China, China!!! Rusia, Russia, Russia!!! China, China, China!!! You, Yanks, really make me laugh. Thanks for the informative video. It is amazing to see how much potential, these Drones have.

[@NeostormXLMAX]

Its also funny when he mentioned ukraine having air dominance against russia

[@ronlabe5487]

​@@NeostormXLMAXDo you have an argument?

[@justanotherguy312]

4:36 dammnnnn

[@ReginaHickman-mw7cw]

Oooohhh yeah JJDMONEY

[@Kylecombes4]

Any open source drone apps?

[@prcotango]

Where is part one?

[@andrewhenley2161]

I have never seen someone confuse J and G so much in such a short period of time.