Earlier this month, DJI filed a trademark in China for ‘DJI Romo‘ with hints pointing to what could be the company’s first robot vacuum.
Just four months after DJI filed a trademark for Avinox, the company is back with a new trademark in a move to expand out of the drone business.
DJI Romo vacuum
The trademark request for DJI Romo was filed on December 1st, 2023, under international classification 7, which covers everything from machines to incubators for eggs and automatic vending machines. Out of the extensive list, DJI has listed the following types of goods for Romo:
- Industrial robots
- Steam mops (steam cleaning appliances)
- Accessories for vacuum cleaners for spraying perfumes and disinfectants
- Brushes for vacuum cleaners
- Cleaning equipment
- Vacuum cleaners
- Vacuum cleaner bags
- Cordless sweepers
- Cordless electric sweepers
- Electric cleaning machinery and devices
Based on this it is safe to suggest that DJI is either planning to explore robot vacuum cleaners in the future or already has prototype units it is wanting to hit the market with.
From the goods classification we can tell that it will be a vacuum and mop robot vacuum like those that are already on the market. We are yet to see any other references to Romo across DJI, so now it’s just a waiting game.
Why a DJI Romo vacuum?
Pressure
DJI has dealt with scrutiny, mainly from the United States over it allegedly sending data from drones back to servers in China, allowing the government access potentially confidential data captured in the US. For this reason, some are trying to get DJI drone banned for use by first responders and government agencies. Autel Robotics is now also being targeted.
DJI could potentially see this issue getting bad enough that it is forced out of the US market, which would mean a lot of lost income. This move could be a strategic move from DJI to expand its offerings from drones into other devices that are drones.
Larger customer base
Another theory is that DJI being so big, with a wide range of drones on the market, that is has found it has hit the cealing of consumer drones and is struggling to find growth at a rate it has previously done.
Now that DJI essentially owns the consumer, and enterprise, drone market it is now venturing out into other product lines to grow and generate even more revenue. It has already begun doing this with DJI Automotive and its recently launched DJI Power battery stations.
