Inspire
Inspire 2 in flight
General information
Type	Camera drone
National origin	China
Manufacturer	DJI
History
Manufactured	2014–present
Introduction date	November 2014

The DJI Inspire is a series of quadcopter camera drones released by the Chinese technology company DJI.

DJI announced the first model, the Inspire 1, on 13 November 2014.^[1] Built upon lessons learned from the Phantom 2 and Spreading Wings series, the Inspire 1 was designed for professional cinematography and features a Zenmuse X3 gimbal/camera^{[note 1]} with a 12-megapixel 1/2.3" CMOS Sony Exmor sensor capable of shooting 4K video at 30 frames per second (FPS).^[2][3] The arms and landing legs retract upward in flight, allowing the three-axis camera gimbal to rotate 360 degrees without obstruction.^[3] The drone also features an "Optical Flow" system, which uses a downward-facing camera and ultrasonic sensors to navigate indoors, and is powered by four 350 KV Model 3510 motors driving Model 1345 or 1345s propellers.^[2][3][4] Power is provided by a 4500 mAh TB47 battery, though an optional 5700 mAh TB48 battery was also available, giving the drone a maximum flight time of about 18 minutes.^[2] The drone was designed to be future-proof, with the camera being detachable to allow upgrades as DJI camera technology improved.^[3][5] Two such upgrades were announced in September 2015, when DJI released the 16MP Zenmuse X5 and X5R Micro Four Thirds cameras; the latter differing in that it is capable of shooting raw images.^[6] Another upgrade came in November 2015, when DJI swapped the original 350 KV motors for new 420 KV Model 3510H motors with an updated propeller locking system; a change intended to improve performance and controllability while not impacting flight time.^[7]

Several additional versions of the Inspire 1 were also released, including the Inspire 1 Raw and Pro. The Raw and Pro variants are respectively equipped with the Zenmuse X5R and X5 camera/gimbal as standard. Both are also powered by Model 3510H motors driving Model 1345T propellers and have a maximum flight time of about 15 minutes with a standard TB47 battery, increased to about 18 minutes with the optional TB48.^[8][9] The Inspire 1 Pro Black Edition was released in January 2016, replacing the standard white body shell and controller, with matte black versions.^[10][11] The Inspire 1 V2.0 retained the Zenmuse X3 and Model 3510 motors of the original Inspire 1, but uses Model 1345T propellers.^[12]

The Inspire 2 was released alongside the Phantom 4 Pro in November 2016.^[13] The body of the drone is made of a magnesium-aluminum alloy, and features forward, upward, and downward-facing obstacle avoidance sensors.^[13][14] The Inspire 2 is powered by four Model 3512 motors driving 1550T propellers, and features a dual-battery system with two 4280 mAh TB50 batteries. The drone was offered without a camera or with a 20MP 1" CMOS Zenmuse X4S or a 20.8MP 3/4" CMOS Zenmuse X5S camera/gimbal; the latter being capable of raw imaging and having a swappable lens.^{[14][15][16][17]} Flight time with a Zenmuse X4S is 27 minutes, while the X5S reduces it to 25 minutes.^[15][18] The Zenmuse X7 is also compatible with the Inspire 2, though with a reduced flight time of 23 minutes.^[15] In addition to the main camera, the Inspire 2 also has a forward-facing first-person view (FPV) camera allowing the drone to be operated by two individuals; a pilot (using the forward-facing camera) and a main camera operator.^[14] The Inspire 2 ProRes and Inspire 2 L were offered alongside the baseline Inspire 2, differing in that the former has Apple ProRes pre-activated while the latter has both ProRes and CinemaDNG.^[15] DJI announced in January 2022 that the Inspire 2 series would be discontinued the following month in favor of the Inspire 3.^[19]

Announced in April 2023, the Inspire 3 features a more aerodynamic design than its predecessors.^[20][21] The Inspire 3 retains the two-person control capability of the Inspire 2, but features an FPV camera with a night vision sensor and a Zenmuse X9-8K Air primary camera/gimbal with interchangeable lenses capable of shooting 8K CinemaDNG video at 25 FPS or 8K ProRes RAW video at 75 FPS; both requiring a license key to use.^[21][22] The drone features an O3 Pro video transmission system, omnidirectional collision avoidance, GNSS and real-time kinematic (RTK) positioning capabilities with GPS, Galileo, and BeiDou satellites, and is powered by four Model 3511s motors driving either Model 1671 standard propellers or Model 1676 high-altitude propellers.^[21][23][24] Two 4280 mAh TB51 batteries give the Inspire 3 a flight time of about 28 minutes with the landing legs extended or 26 minutes when retracted.^[23]

Inspire 1

Company designation Model T600, also known as the Inspire 1 V1.0.^[2][25] First model with a removable Zenmuse X3 camera/gimbal with a 12MP 1/2.3" CMOS Sony Exmor sensor, 350 KV Model 3510 motors driving Model 1345 or 1345s propellers.^[2][3][4][5] Power is provided by a 4500 mAh TB47 battery or optional 5700 mAh TB48 battery, giving it a flight time of about 18 minutes.^[2] Introduced in November 2014.^[1] Optional 16MP Zenmuse X5 and X5R camera/gimbals were offered starting in September 2015.^[6] 420 KV Model 3510H motors were made standard in November 2015.^[7]

Inspire 1 Raw

Company designation Model T600.^[8] As Inspire 1 but with a Zenmuse X5R camera/gimbal and Model 3510H motors driving Model 1345T propellers as standard. Flight time is about 15 minutes with a standard TB47 battery or about 18 minutes with a TB48.^[8][9]

Inspire 1 Pro

Company designation Model T600.^[9] As Inspire 1 Raw but with a Zenmuse X5 camera/gimbal as standard. Flight time is about 15 minutes with a standard TB47 battery or about 18 minutes with a TB48.^[8][9]

Inspire 1 Pro Black Edition

As Inspire 1 Pro but with a matte black body shell and controller. Introduced in January 2016.^[10][11]

Inspire 1 V2.0

Company designation Model T601.^[26] As early Inspire 1 with Zenmuse X3 camera/gimbal and Model 3510 motors but with Model 1345T propellers.^[12]

Inspire 2

Company designation Model T650A.^[15] Improved model with a magnesium-aluminum alloy structure, a forward-facing FPV camera, Model 3512 motors driving 1550T propellers, and forward, upward, and downward-facing obstacle avoidance sensors.^{[13][14][15][16][17]} Drone could be bought without a primary camera, a 20MP 1" CMOS Zenmuse X4S camera/gimbal, a 20.8MP 3/4" CMOS Zenmuse X5S camera/gimbal, or a Zenmuse X7 camera/gimbal. Dual 4280 mAh TB50 batteries give the drone a flight time between 23 and 28 minutes depending on the camera installed.^[15] Released alongside the Phantom 4 Pro in November 2016.^[13]

Inspire 2 ProRes

Company designation Model T650A. As Inspire 2 but with Apple ProRes pre-activated.^[15]

Inspire 2 L

Company designation Model T650A. As Inspire 2 but with Apple ProRes and CinemaDNG pre-activated.^[15]

Inspire 3

Company designation Model T740.^[23] Improved model with a more aerodynamic design, a night vision FPV camera, a Zenmuse X9-8K Air primary camera/gimbal, an O3 Pro video transmission system, omnidirectional collision avoidance, GNSS and real-time kinematic (RTK) positioning, and Model 3511s motors driving either Model 1671 standard propellers or Model 1676 high-altitude propellers.^{[21][22][23][24]} Dual 4280 mAh TB51 batteries give the drone a flight time of about 28 minutes with the landing legs extended or 26 minutes when retracted.^[23] Released in April 2023.^[20]

 United States

• New York City Police Department introduced the Inspire 1 for training and testing purposes in 2018.^[27]

 Chile

• Chilean Army introduced the Inspire 2 in 2018.^[28]

 Colombia

• Colombian Air Force introduced the Inspire 1 in 2016. Two were still in service as of 2019.^[28]

 France

• French Armed Forces used the Inspire as of 2019.^[28]

 Lithuania

• Lithuanian Land Forces used the Inspire as of 2019.^[28]

 Ukraine

• Azov Regiment introduced the Inspire 1 in 2016.^[29] The Inspire was still in Ukrainian paramilitary service as of 2019.^[28]

Data from ^[23]

General characteristics

• Width: 0.695 m (2 ft 3 in) diagonal, landing gear raised
• Empty weight: 3.995 kg (9 lb) with camera
• Max takeoff weight: 4.310 kg (10 lb)
• Battery: 2 × 4280 mAh 23.1V lithium-ion TB51 Intelligent Flight Battery
• Powerplant: 4 × DJI 3511s brushless motor
• Propellers: 2-bladed DJI 1671 standard propellers or DJI 1676 high-altitude propellers

Performance

• Maximum speed: 94 km/h (58 mph, 51 kn)
• Endurance: ≈28 minutes with landing gear lowered, ≈26 minutes with landing gear raised
• Service ceiling: 3,800 m (12,500 ft) with standard propellers or 7,000 m (23,000 ft) with high-altitude propellers
• Rate of climb: 8 m/s (1,600 ft/min)

Avionics

• Camera:

• 8K Zenmuse X9-8K Air gimballed camera with 35 mm (1.4 in) full-frame CMOS sensor
• 1920×1080 first-person view camera with night vision sensor

• GNSS/RTK compatibility:

• GPS
• Galileo
• BeiDou

• Transmission system: O3 Pro

• History of unmanned aerial vehicles

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

• Intel Falcon 8

Related lists

• List of unmanned aerial vehicles