Patent for DJI Mavic 3 leaked?

Patent for DJI Mavic 3 leaked?
(Image credit: DroneDJ)

DJI has been fairly quiet recently, but it appears that the drone giant has been quietly working on the new update to the Mavic 2 behind the scenes. A patent that could potentially be for the DJI Mavic 3 has leaked – and there are some interesting updates that could pique the attention of drone enthusiasts.

Apparently, the DJI Mavic 3 could have a larger camera, an updated battery and some new sensor locations to help with obstacle avoidance. This patent, uploaded to the Chinese patent office, has an application date of 22 January and a publication date of 28 May – although the image attached the patent was only made public recently.

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As reported on by DroneDJ, the camera has a 'boxier design' with 'sharper gimbal arms' than the DJI Mavic 2 has. The camera lens also has a new circular shape, which Drone DJ posits could mean that it'll support ND filters directly, just as the DJI Mavic Air 2 does. 

Meanwhile, the battery seems to have been updated. "Looking at the battery, we can see the usual power button with the battery indicator light forming a ring around it. Looking further back we are able to see four dots which appear to be indicator lights for displaying battery power level. The battery also appears to have new indents on either side of the power button."

It seems we could also see updated sensors on the DJI Mavic 3, in addition to a new camera design and an updated battery. Apparently, the upward-facing obstacle avoidance sensor is positioned to protect the drone from colliding with something above it. DroneDJ also advises that there is also what appears to be a rear sensor in the patent drawings as well.

While this patent is an interesting trove of information, we'll have to wait a little longer for more official details. 

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Louise Carey

With over a decade of photographic experience, Louise arms Digital Camera World with a wealth of knowledge on photographic technique and know-how – something at which she is so adept that she's delivered workshops for the likes of ITV and Sue Ryder. Louise also brings years of experience as both a web and print journalist, having served as features editor for Practical Photography magazine and contributing photography tutorials and camera analysis to titles including Digital Camera Magazine and  Digital Photographer. Louise currently shoots with the Fujifilm X-T200 and the Nikon D800, capturing self-portraits and still life images, and is DCW's ecommerce editor, meaning that she knows good camera, lens and laptop deals when she sees them.