City Aeronautics claims DJI’s high-end drones infringe on their patent for emergency landing technology.
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EVTOL manufacturer Joby Aviation, an Israeli company, has filed a lawsuit against Chinese drone giant DJI, alleging that the latter infringed on its intellectual property by copying technology for safe emergency landing procedures in case of a rotor failure in multi-rotor aircraft.
A patent infringement lawsuit has been filed in the United States this month. United States District Court for the Western District of Texas The lawsuit claims that certain high-end DJI drones sold in the United States failed to meet advertised performance standards and concealed potential safety issues. The DJI Mavic series – including the Mavic, Mavic 300, Mavic 350, and FlyCart 3 – allegedly violate City Aeronautics’ patent for Three-Propeller Emergency Touchdown capabilities.
“City Aeronautics advocates for a robust global patent framework that drives innovation and investment. The company recognizes the importance of mental property laws in facilitating the development and licensing of groundbreaking research across various technical fields, ultimately benefiting individuals, industries, and society at large,” CEO Eran Ron stated in an email statement. “We belief the U.S. The judicial system must uphold its vital and fundamental responsibility in handling our case.
City Aeronautics has accused DJI of directly infringing its patent for “management systems featuring redundant architectures designed to provide continuous yet degraded control during critical flight operations, even in the event of a catastrophic failure of the entire system.”
While DJI authorizes its customers to also violate patent rights by permitting them access to “materials components of infringing methodologies,” which are neither staple articles nor capable of substantial non-infringing utilization?
The complaint further asserts that City Aeronautics has been harmed by DJI’s conduct and will likely continue to incur damages, the extent of which has yet to be determined, exceeding a reasonable royalty.
Joseph Zito, attorney for City Aeronautics, revealed on Monday, October 18, that DJI had yet to respond to the pending lawsuit. Patent infringement disputes of this nature typically resolve without proceeding to trial, as the defendant company often agrees to settle by paying a licensing fee to the corporation filing the lawsuit.
If a swimsuit is resolved through this process, it may take anywhere from four to eight months. If the swimsuit design goes to court, the trial process could potentially drag on for up to two or three years.
Regardless of the situation, Zito doesn’t expect City Aeronautics to aggressively pursue DJI’s US sales. The leveraging of TPEL expertise has yielded substantial returns. “It’s crucial that they’re allowed to learn from their experiences,” he said.
For two decades, City Aeronautics has striven to harness cutting-edge technology and develop a portfolio of innovative products that can drive a new era of urban air mobility. Its flagship offering is the CityHawk, a cutting-edge, compact electric vertical takeoff and landing (EVTOL) vehicle boasting a unique, wingless design and proprietary fully enclosed rotor technology. According to City Aeronautics’ website, founder and current board member Rafael Yoeli conceptualized the CityHawk as a “city-scale aircraft that is protected, eco-friendly, and accessible to all” – matching the corporation’s stated mission.
Yoeli crafted the initial CityHawk prototype within his Tel Aviv condominium, necessitating removal via the window due to its inability to fit through the entrance door. To mitigate the risks associated with operating an aircraft with exposed rotors in an urban environment, he developed the CityHawk as a primary manned automobile that leverages ducted-fan technology.
Since 2006, City Aeronautics has been developing and refining its prototype aerial vehicles, having successfully conducted over 300 profitable test flights to date. The corporation has committed to powering its entire product line with 100% hydrogen energy, making it the most eco-friendly and environmentally sustainable air fleet globally.
A DJI representative declined to comment on the matter, instead offering a statement that said: “We respect intellectual property rights and remain committed to driving innovation.”
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As Editor-in-Chief of DRONELIFE and CEO of JobForDrones, a premier platform connecting experts in the drone industry, Miriam McNabb is a keen enthusiast of the burgeoning drone sector’s growth trajectory and its intricate relationship with evolving regulations. With a remarkable portfolio of over 3,000 articles focused on the industrial drone sector, Miriam has established herself as a renowned authority in the field, delivering keynote speeches globally and commanding recognition for her expertise. With a degree from the University of Chicago, Miriam boasts over two decades of experience in high-tech sales and marketing for innovative technologies.
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