Newcomer Anzu Robotics introduces cyber-secure Mavic 3 Enterprise clones in the US

In response to the possible ban on sales of DJI drones in the United States, the recently started company Anzu Robotics has introduced two remarkable products. These are drones that are hardware based on the DJI Mavic 3 Enterprise. But the drones are not manufactured in China and are also equipped with American software.

Raptor and Raptor T

The two drones that Anzu Robotics is introducing to the American drone market are the Raptor and Raptor T. Apart from the remarkable color scheme, the drones are a clone of the DJI Mavic 3 Enterprise and Mavic 3 Thermal. Anzu Robotics has entered into a strategic licensing agreement with DJI for the development.

In terms of specifications, Anzu’s drones are entirely based on the DJI Mavic 3 Enterprise platform. The Raptor’s camera includes a 4/3” 20 MP CMOS sensor and a 56x hybrid zoom camera for 12MP images. The Raptor T combines 1/2-inch 48MP and 12MP cameras with a 640×512 high-resolution thermal camera, also with 56x hybrid zoom capabilities. Both drones offer 45 minutes of flight time, a range of up to 13 km, and an optional RTK module.

Not made in China

Because the drones are not made in China and do not run DJI software, the company hopes to meet geopolitical developments and cybersecurity requirements.

An important difference is that the software that controls Anzu drones was developed entirely in the US, through a collaboration with Aloft Technologies, a company known for its collaboration with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the field of traffic management and the B4UFLY app. Aloft processes more than two-thirds of all authorization requests for drone flights in controlled airspace in the US via that app.

To further distance itself from China-related trade and geopolitical tensions, final assembly of Raptor drones is done in Malaysia. The drones are then shipped to Anzu’s headquarters in Austin, Texas, where firmware is installed and quality checks are performed.

Own control app

Instead of DJI’s Pilot app, Raptor drones are powered by the Aloft Air Control app, in accordance with Federal Aviation Administration regulations on the use of airspace. With Aloft as a development partner, pre-flight checklists that ensure safe and legal flights, instant CTR authorization and other essential fleet and pilot management capabilities are already built into the system.

All data captured by the drones is stored locally on the SD card of the drone itself, minimizing the risk of unauthorized access during transmission. In addition, all flight data stored by Aloft is encrypted with AES-256 encryption, a robust security standard that ensures the confidentiality and integrity of the data.

Data protection priority

“These platforms meet the highest standards of quality, reliability and innovation,” said Randall Warnas, CEO of Anzu Robotics. “With our strategic manufacturing and software development partnerships and our commitment to safety, transparency and performance, we are confident our drones will meet the diverse needs of public safety agencies and industries across the country.”

Jon Hegranes, founder and CEO of Aloft Technologies, added that the companies prioritize the integrity and security of customer data above all else. “Powered by Aloft’s advanced software and hosted on our secure, domestic servers, we ensure that every flight captured, every piece of data collected, and every decision made is backed by the highest standards of data protection and privacy, ” says Hegranes.

Prices and availability

The Raptor costs $5,100 while the Raptor T has a price tag of $7,600 in the US. These prices are higher than DJI’s Mavic 3 Enterprise models, but are significantly below those of American alternatives such as those from Skydio and Teal Drones. It is still unclear whether Anzu Robotics has plans to also introduce the drones in Europe.