DJI Inspire
Professional quadcopter camera drone series by DJI.
The DJI Inspire is a series of quadcopter camera drones from the Chinese company DJI. The first model, the Inspire 1, was announced on 13 November 2014. It was built on experience from the Phantom 2 and Spreading Wings lines, targeting professional cinematography. It uses a Zenmuse X3 gimbal and camera with a 12-megapixel 1/2.3-inch CMOS Sony Exmor sensor that records 4K video at 30 frames per second. The arms and landing legs retract upward during flight, letting the three-axis gimbal rotate 360 degrees without obstruction. An Optical Flow system uses a downward camera and ultrasonic sensors for indoor navigation. Power comes from four 350 KV Model 3510 motors driving Model 1345 or 1345s propellers, with a 4500 mAh TB47 battery (or optional 5700 mAh TB48) providing about 18 minutes of flight time. The camera is detachable for upgrades. In September 2015, DJI released the 16MP Zenmuse X5 and X5R Micro Four Thirds cameras, the latter capable of raw images. In November 2015, the motors were swapped to 420 KV Model 3510H units with an updated propeller locking system to improve performance and controllability without affecting flight time.
Several variants followed. The Inspire 1 Raw and Pro come standard with the Zenmuse X5R and X5 cameras respectively, both using Model 3510H motors and Model 1345T propellers, with flight times of about 15 minutes on a TB47 battery or 18 minutes on a TB48. The Inspire 1 Pro Black Edition, released in January 2016, has a matte black body and controller. The Inspire 1 V2.0 keeps the Zenmuse X3 and Model 3510 motors but uses Model 1345T propellers.
The Inspire 2 launched alongside the Phantom 4 Pro in November 2016. Its body is made of magnesium-aluminum alloy and includes forward, upward, and downward obstacle avoidance sensors. It uses four Model 3512 motors driving 1550T propellers, with a dual-battery system of two 4280 mAh TB50 batteries. It can be bought without a camera, or with a 20MP 1-inch CMOS Zenmuse X4S, or a 20.8MP 3/4-inch CMOS Zenmuse X5S (which supports raw imaging and interchangeable lenses). Flight time is 27 minutes with the X4S, 25 minutes with the X5S, and 23 minutes with the compatible Zenmuse X7. A forward-facing first-person view camera allows two-person operation: a pilot using the FPV feed and a separate camera operator.
Quick Facts
- Aircraft Type
- Camera drone
- National Origin
- China
- Manufacturer
- DJI
- Construction Date
- 2014–present
- Introduction
- November 2014
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
DJI announced the first model, the Inspire 1, on 13 November 2014. Built upon lessons learned from the Phantom 2 and Spreading Wings series, the Inspire 1 featured a removable Zenmuse X3 gimbal/camera with a 12-megapixel 1/2.3" CMOS Sony Exmor sensor capable of shooting 4K video at 30 frames per second. Its arms and landing legs retracted upward in flight, allowing the three-axis camera gimbal to rotate 360 degrees without obstruction. The drone also included an Optical Flow system for indoor navigation. Power was provided by a 4500 mAh TB47 battery, with an optional 5700 mAh TB48 battery, giving a maximum flight time of about 18 minutes. The Inspire 1 was designed to be future-proof, with a detachable camera to allow upgrades. In September 2015, DJI released the 16MP Zenmuse X5 and X5R Micro Four Thirds cameras; the latter capable of shooting raw images. In November 2015, DJI swapped the original 350 KV motors for new 420 KV Model 3510H motors with an updated propeller locking system.
The Inspire 2 was released alongside the Phantom 4 Pro in November 2016. Its body was made of a magnesium-aluminum alloy, and it featured forward, upward, and downward-facing obstacle avoidance sensors. The Inspire 2 was powered by four Model 3512 motors driving 1550T propellers, with a dual-battery system using two 4280 mAh TB50 batteries. It could be operated by two individuals: a pilot using a forward-facing FPV camera and a main camera operator. The Inspire 2 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 capable of raw imaging and having a swappable lens. The Zenmuse X7 was also compatible. Flight time ranged from 23 to 28 minutes depending on the camera. DJI announced in January 2022 that the Inspire 2 series would be discontinued the following month in favor of the Inspire 3.
Announced in April 2023, the Inspire 3 featured a more aerodynamic design than its predecessors. It retained two-person control capability and included 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. The drone featured an O3 Pro video transmission system, omnidirectional collision avoidance, and GNSS and real-time kinematic (RTK) positioning with GPS, Galileo, and BeiDou satellites. It was powered by four Model 3511s motors driving either Model 1671 standard propellers or Model 1676 high-altitude propellers. Two 4280 mAh TB51 batteries gave a flight time of about 28 minutes with the landing legs extended or 26 minutes when retracted.
Reader's Guide
The DJI Inspire series represents a significant step in professional aerial cinematography, offering modular camera systems and advanced flight features across three generations. The Inspire 1 introduced the concept of a future-proof, upgradeable camera platform with retractable landing gear for unobstructed 360-degree gimbal rotation. Its successors, the Inspire 2 and Inspire 3, built on this foundation with improved materials, obstacle avoidance, dual-operator control, and higher-resolution imaging capabilities. The series saw adoption by government and military operators, including the New York City Police Department (Inspire 1 for training and testing in 2018), the Chilean Army (Inspire 2 in 2018), the Colombian Air Force (Inspire 1 in 2016, with two still in service as of 2019), the French Armed Forces (as of 2019), the Lithuanian Land Forces (as of 2019), and the Azov Regiment (Inspire 1 in 2016, still in Ukrainian paramilitary service as of 2019). The Inspire 3, released in April 2023, further advanced the line with 8K recording, night vision, and RTK positioning, cementing the series as a tool for high-end professional use.
Did You Know?
- The Inspire 1's arms and landing legs retract upward in flight to allow the camera gimbal to rotate 360 degrees without obstruction.
- The Inspire 2 features a forward-facing FPV camera enabling two-person operation: a pilot and a main camera operator.
- The Inspire 2 was discontinued in February 2022 in favor of the Inspire 3.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the DJI Inspire?
The DJI Inspire is a line of professional quadcopter camera drones produced by the Chinese company DJI. The original Inspire 1 was unveiled on 13 November 2014, drawing on design lessons from DJI's earlier Phantom 2 and Spreading Wings platforms to serve working cinematographers.
What camera and video specs does the Inspire 1 carry?
It mounts a Zenmuse X3 three-axis gimbal housing a 12-megapixel Sony Exmor CMOS sensor on a 1/2.3-inch format. That sensor captures 4K-resolution video at up to 30 frames per second.
What makes the Inspire's retractable arms special?
During flight the landing legs and arms fold upward out of the way, which frees the three-axis gimbal to swivel a full 360 degrees with nothing blocking its range of motion. This design was a key differentiator for aerial cinematography work at the time.
How long can each Inspire model stay airborne?
The Inspire 1 manages roughly 18 minutes of flight time, the Inspire 2 stretches to 23–28 minutes depending on the attached camera, and the Inspire 3 delivers about 28 minutes with its legs extended or 26 minutes with them retracted.
When did the latest Inspire model arrive and what does it shoot with?
The Inspire 3 hit the market in April 2023. It pairs with the Zenmuse X9-8K Air gimbal camera, pushing the series into 8K recording territory for high-end film and broadcast work.
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