DJI Introduces Mobile SDK Support for Mini SE, Mini 2 & Air 2S Drones

The Android version of the DJI Mobile SDK (MSDK) has now been updated to support some of the drone giant’s latest sub-2kg drones. The iOS version of the update is likely to roll out soon, however, it appears that support for the Mavic 3 has not been included in the newest MSDK update, and there has been no confirmation from DJI with regards to the specific timeline for a potential MSDK update to support the Mavic 3 yet.

This new update now makes it possible for 3rd-party flight planning app developers such as DroneDeploy, Pix4D, Litchi, and Drone Harmony to support the Mini SE, Mini 2 and the Air 2S drones. The MSDK allows the developers to focus on higher-level functions of the aircraft, rather than worrying about low-level avionic functions. With support for 3rd-party applications, users may be able to get more out of their DJI consumer drones and potentially also open them up for further use in various industrial applications. It is now up to the flight app developers to take on the initiative to support these drones, which is a process which can take a few months based on historic trends.

DJI typically reserves flight-planning features for its “Enterprise” drones, but it is worth mentioning that some of DJI’s consumer drones such as the Phantom 4 Pro V2 and the Mavic 2 Pro/Zoom can already be used with 3rd-party flight planning apps, however, you may want to consider that both these drones have been made end-of-life which means that it can be hard to get your hands on a new unit. You may be able to secure these drones on the second-hand market, but you should ensure that you purchase these drones with remote controllers that do not have built-in screens if you intend to use them with flight planning apps. The DJI Phantom 4 Pro+ V2 is supplied with a remote controller that has a built-in screen and the DJI Mavic 2 Pro/Zoom can be paired with a smart controller that has a 5.5” built-in screen. These built-in screen remote controllers typically run a version of Android OS that does not allow for 3rd-party mobile app support, making it challenging to install flight planning apps. If you are interested in using a consumer drone for surveying and mapping, then you should strongly consider the use of ground control points and Phantom 4 Pro V2 for photogrammetry with flight planning software as its camera houses a mechanical shutter that alleviates rolling shutter distortion, making your relative measurements less prone to errors. Alternatively, you may look at using Klau PPK hardware and software with the P4P V2 to eliminate the dependence on ground control points.

All in all, it is great to see DJI open-up their newer consumer drones for use with 3rd-party applications. This is a step forward for the industry as it allows newcomers to the drone world to further explore more avenues of how their flying machines can be made to be more productive for them without necessary having to invest in even more expensive hardware.