This month, politicians south of the border made headway on the CCP Drones Act, a bill banning the sale of new DJI drones in the United States. Their concerns stem from the Chinese company’s presumed ties to the Chinese Communist Party, and from the heightened risk of data leaks.
The potential fallout for Canadian DJI enthusiasts remains to be seen. However, one interesting development has already resulted from the impending ban. Anzu Robotics has introduced its new Raptor drones.
This new product incorporates the best of DJI’s innovative technology, acquired through a licensing deal. Anzu Robotics manufactures the product in Malaysia and assembles it in the U.S. Furthermore, it uses software from Aloft Technologies out of New York.
So, how does the new kid on the block stack up against one of the most innovative drone names in the industry? Let’s find out.
Overview of Anzu Raptor
Recognizable by its distinct green colouring, the Anzu Raptor offers an array of features. Consequently, it looks like a promising new option in the U.S. and Canadian markets.
Much like DJI’s ever-popular Mavic 3E model, the Anzu Raptor is a compact drone for commercial applications. These include mapping, search and rescue missions, photogrammetry, and aerial surveying.
The line comes in Raptor and Raptor T models, and the latter includes a thermal camera. In addition, both offer dependable wind resistance up to 26 miles per hour.
Anzu designed the Raptors as a response to the perceived security risk of Chinese-manufactured DJI products. Therefore, Raptors store all collected data on servers based in the U.S.
Another critical difference between the Anzu Robotics product and all other DJI drones is geofencing. Specifically, geofencing does not limit the Raptor’s flight parameters.
Key Features of Anzu Raptor
Outside of the operating systems, the new enterprise drones from Anzu Robotics are essentially re-engineered replicas of the DJI Mavic 3 Enterprise and Mavic 3 Thermal models.
Flight Performance
Compare the flight time of the Anzu Raptor to other drones in its class. Immediately, its exceptional advantage becomes apparent.
Many drones on the market deliver flight times of around 20-30 minutes. By comparison, the Anzu Raptor promises 45 minutes, which mirrors the DJI Mavic 3 Enterprise Series. Consequently, pilots can cover larger areas, complete more complex missions, and capture the data they need with less worry.
Pilots also spend less time waiting for batteries to charge and more time in the air. In turn, they maximize the value of their investment and finish work on schedule.
Camera Quality
One reason the DJI Mavic drones proved so popular was camera quality. Moreover, the company’s majority stake in the renowned Hasselblad brand solidified its reputation.
In terms of camera specs, the brands are nearly identical.
- The Anzu Raptor features a 20-megapixel wide camera with a 4/3-inch CMOS sensor and a mechanical shutter to reduce blurry images.
- The Raptor T includes a high-resolution 640 x 512 LWIR long-wave infrared thermal imaging camera (48 megapixels) for detecting heat signatures in various colour palettes for inspection purposes.
- Large 3.3 μm pixels and the Smart Low-Light Photo technology offer significantly improved performance in dim conditions.
- Each Anzu Raptor features a 3-axis gimbal (-90° to +35°), which permits a wide range of motion at high speeds.
- Raptors feature a 56x Max Hybrid zoom lens (1-7x optical zoom).
- The remote’s split-screen zoom capabilities enable comparison views with a greater sense of control. The Raptor T offers 28X side-by-side zoom capabilities.
- The Anzu Raptor supports a transmission range of 15 km and video quality up to 1080p 360fps.
By all reports, if you already know the capabilities of those DJI models, the image quality from Anzu will not disappoint.
Battery Life
The Anzu Raptor uses a 15.4V, 5000mAh battery for up to 45 minutes of flying time with a 9-mile range. That is on par with the Mavic 3E specs. In addition, charging is fast and convenient at roughly an hour and 10 minutes per battery, which helps commercial work on location.
Customers will likely want the optional Anzu Raptor Battery Charging Hub (100W). Specifically, it charges up to three batteries in consecutive sequence.
Obstacle Avoidance
Those familiar with the Mavic 3E series likely appreciated its omnidirectional obstacle avoidance system and proximity alarms.
The Raptor offers the same through its infrared sensing and vision systems. As a result, you can monitor and inspect complex environments, both indoors and outside.
Despite the lack of geofencing, the Raptor’s software alerts users to other aircraft nearby. As a result, you can enjoy speeds up to 75.6 kph with greater confidence.
Portability
Enterprise customers prioritize portability and traveling convenience.
Compare the compact appearance of the DJI Mavic 3E and the Anzu Robotics Raptor. Indeed, it’s difficult to tell them apart.
Anzu Raptor Specs
Size
Folded: 3.8 x 3.6 x 8.7″ / 96.3 x 90.3 x 221.0 mm
Unfolded: 11.1 x 4.2 x 13.7″ / 283.0 x 107.7 x 347.5 mm
Weight
2.0 lb / 920 g (With Propellers)
2.3 lb / 1050 g (Maximum for Takeoff)
DJI Mavic 3E Specs
Size
Folded (without propellers): 96.3×90.3×221 mm
Unfolded (without propellers): 283×107.7×347.5× mm
Weight(with propellers, without accessories)
DJI Mavic 3E: 915 g
DJI Mavic 3T: 920 g
Other Comparisons with DJI Mavic
Cost-Effectiveness
In Canada, retailer DrDrone listed the DJI Mavic 3E at $4,489.00 and the DJI Mavic 3T at $6,879.00. Meanwhile, on the Drone Dynamics website, the Anzu Raptor retails for $6,970.00 and the Anzu Raptor T for $10,520.00 Canadian.
Again, these are enterprise products designed for commercial applications. DJI first released the Mavic 3E and 3T in 2022, whereas the Anzu Raptor launched in April 2024.
Although the Anzu Raptor costs more, it still undercuts other enterprise brands.
For many buyers, especially south of the border, the additional spend buys full compliance with U.S. agencies. Furthermore, it buys worry-free protection of company data and privacy.
Customization Option
Both companies cater to the professional sector, so customers can customize drone functionality and remote control options. Specifically, they offer a variety of accessories, including:
- Integration with its RTK (Real-Time Kinematic) module permits advanced satellite tracking, which improves accuracy during mapping and surveying work.
- An optional loudspeaker helps relay information, benefiting everyone from security firms and law enforcement officers to search and rescue teams.
Following DJI’s lead, Anzu Robotics equipped its aircraft with a PSDK port. Consequently, industry-specific third-party payloads can broaden each unit’s capabilities.
Community Support
Thanks to DJI’s widespread popularity over the years, a great deal of online support and downloads exist for its product lines.
Texas-based Anzu Robotics has partnered with New York drone software developer Aloft. Together, they will likely focus on building customer confidence by integrating the Raptor drones into established ecosystems.
If regulators eventually ban DJI products completely, Anzu Robotics should be well-positioned to meet its customers’ operational needs.
Anzu Raptor Emerges As a Promising Alternative
It will be interesting to see how Anzu Robotics continues to capitalize on the DJI situation. Subsequently, the company may refine what it has already delivered with the Raptor series.
From high-resolution camera systems to lengthy flight time, the company has created a promising alternative for commercial drone operators in the U.S. Only time will tell whether Canadians adopt it too.
Do you have questions about operating your DJI product within the province? If so, Coastal Drone is happy to advise. Reach out with your questions or concerns.
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