Industrial Design · 2025
DJI Battery
Charger / Case
This project emerged from research into battery-powered products, focusing on solutions for usage, disposal, and recycling of batteries. Developed in Berlin, the project addresses the needs of drone operators through an integrated system combining a protective battery case with charging capabilities and a streamlined companion app, making battery management more intuitive and accessible for casual adventurers, nature vloggers, and content creators.
01 — BACKGROUND RESEARCH
The initial research phase consisted of bucketing exercises where we brainstormed "how might we" and "jobs to be done" questions. Through this collaborative process, we discovered the right questions to ask ourselves and our users when it came to batteries. I chose to focus on drones because of their popular usage and my interest in consumer electronics—drones have gained a significant following in recent years due to their camera abilities and affordability, attracting casual adventurers, nature vloggers, and YouTube content creators.
Bucketing exercises and brainstorming sessions
"Give me a way to see the flight time so that I can feel more comfortable about my battery life and can better plan my charging/battery loadout."
Field research and existing product analysis
Analysis of current chargers, carrying cases, and app limitations
Existing DJI charger analysis and charging time comparisons
02 — IDEATION & SKETCHES
I explored three parallel design pathways: a carrying case, a battery charger, and a companion app. For the bag, my first ideation was a satchel-style carrying case designed to carry the drone and all equipment, experimenting with nylon ripstop materials and brass hardware. For the charger, I initially wanted to make a home charger with display screens to provide information on battery health and charging time, along with a notification system. The app exploration focused on simplifying the current DJI interface, which had many menus and didn't provide clear battery health information. I experimented with using Plan, Charge, and Flight as the core menu options.
Early bag and case sketches exploring form, handle, and storage configurations
I abandoned the idea of making a bag that carries everything in favor of a protective case specifically for the batteries themselves. I decided that a protective case for the batteries was more important so that it can be carried without using a whole dedicated bag. The charger direction evolved toward a more portable charging solution rather than a bulky home unit. This shift allowed the case and charger to become an integrated solution.
"The current DJI app has many menus and does not have a clear image of battery health that's easily accessible. The menus leading up to flying can be overwhelming for first time users."
Information architecture mapping key user questions and app screen sketches
Simplified app interface exploration with Plan, Fly, and Charge menu options
03 — CAD DEVELOPMENT
The 3D model was developed in Fusion 360 and Rhino, focusing on precise tolerancing for the battery fit within their protective sleds. Batteries sit inside the case with dedicated sleds where they can lock into place. The silicone lid is latched onto place with a hook mechanism to secure the batteries during transport. In the front of the case, there's dedicated storage space for cables or anything else the user may want to bring with their batteries, maximizing the utility of the compact form factor.
05 — FINAL APP RENDERS
The streamlined app interface features three core menu options (Plan, Charge, and Fly) that places battery health at the forefront. The battery page displays number of cycles, temperature, and capacity, with a "?" error prompt to alert users when batteries need attention. By making the app more streamlined, users have a quicker time from unpacking to launching their drones, and first-time users will especially benefit from the simplified experience.
Final app interface showing simplified menu structure and detailed battery health monitoring
06 — FINAL PRODUCT RENDERS
The final solution integrates a battery charger with display screens providing real-time information about each individual battery without relying on the app, and a protective carrying case that fits in any bag, solving the issue that current charging blocks lack protection. The case includes dedicated battery sleds, a silicone lid with hook latch mechanism, and front storage space for cables.