togophonebook Chapter 61 Patents
Chapter 61 Patents
In early November, Tianying's patent lawsuit was once again delivered to Fang Xu's desk.
This time, it's not the same patent for "flight control parameter adjustment method" that was rejected in the first instance. This time, Tianying has changed its approach and is using a broader patent—"electronic speed control system for multi-rotor drones".
Fang Xu spent two days studying the lawsuit documents.
Then he came to find Su Chen.
"President Su, Tianying is here again. This time, their patent angle is even more obscure than last time. The scope of this patent they're using is very broad; if we interpret it literally, it could cover almost all electronic speed control technologies for multi-rotor drones."
Can we win?
"No. But that's not the point. The point is they're trying to waste our time and energy with this lawsuit. If we respond, we'll need to allocate manpower to prepare materials, attend hearings, and wait for the verdict. The whole process could take six months."
Su Chen thought for a moment.
"How is our own patent portfolio?"
Fang Xu opened another document.
"As per your previous request, we have applied for twelve patents in the past three months. These cover Hongyuan Flight Control's core algorithms, adaptive environment compensation methods, inertial navigation fusion algorithms, and the interface protocol of the plant protection SDK, among others. Eight of these have already been approved. The remaining four are under review."
Su Chen nodded.
"Then file a countersuit."
Fang Xu looked at Su Chen.
"What are you countersuing for?"
"The Falcon Industrial Edition flight control system used by Tianying has some parameter adjustment methods that overlap with our patent. Although they use a general solution, the parameter adjustment part is Tianying's own addition. Let our patent lawyers see if they can find an angle to address this."
Fang Xu thought for a moment and nodded.
"I understand. You don't really want to win the case—you want Skyhawk to know that we have teeth too."
"Yes. Patent wars aren't about winning or losing—they're about costs. Tianying has a total revenue of 300 million; it can afford to fight this. But if we countersue, it will also need to allocate resources to defend itself. When both sides are expending resources, the party with the advantage at the product level will have a greater advantage."
"Our advantage lies in our product offerings."
Su Chen nodded.
"So let Skyhawk come. We'll take the attack. At the same time, we'll counter with our own attack. Then we'll continue with our business."
Fang Xu put away the documents and left.
Su Chen sat alone for a while.
Tianying's three-pronged approach—selecting talent, increasing marketing efforts, and waging patent wars—has now all been implemented.
Selecting the right people – failed. The option moat took effect.
Increased marketing efforts—with a three million GG investment, the Falcon Industrial Edition only sold two thousand four in two months. The F3 sold seven thousand one.
The patent war has just begun. But Hongyuan already has its own patent strategy.
Every blow missed its mark.
Su Chen stood up and walked to the window.
He wasn't worried about Skyhawk. Because Skyhawk could only handle peripheral matters. It couldn't solve the real core problems.
The core issue is flight control.
The gap in flight control is widening every day.
In mid-November, Su Chen did something he rarely did—he took the initiative to post a message on his WeChat Moments.
The content is very simple:
"The F3 has been on the market for three months. Cumulative sales have reached 12,000 units. Thank you to every customer, every dealer, and every member of the field sales team."
No marketing rhetoric. No tears of gratitude. Just one number.
Twelve thousand units.
This number was screenshotted and reposted by industry media within half an hour.
Because it carries too much weight.
Twelve thousand units. Against the backdrop of a wave of drone company closures in Shenzhen. Against the backdrop of DJI Mavic Pro redefining industry standards. Against the backdrop of Tianying spending three million yuan on the Falcon Industrial Edition, which only sold a little over three thousand units.
A small factory with just over 300 employees sold 12,000 F3 units in three months.
The number itself is the best response.
This is a response to all those who question whether a small factory with 300 employees can build a platform.
This is a response to everyone who says "a pancake stand doesn't deserve to be called a platform".
This is a response to everyone who believes that "DJI will crush all small factories."
That afternoon, Li Hao published a short article titled "The Meaning of 12,000 Units".
The article states:
Three months ago, many people thought that Hungyuan was bragging when it said it was a "flight control platform company". Some people said that a small factory with 300 people could not make a platform. Some people said that a pancake stand was not worthy of being called a platform.
"The numbers are in now. 12,000 F3s were sold in three months. The agricultural protection SDK has accumulated more than 20 customers. Toyota's exclusive distribution channels in four provinces are now operational. The first overseas SDK customer has been signed. Tianying's Falcon Industrial Edition only sold a little over 3,000 units in the same period."
So let me ask again: Can a small factory with 300 employees build a platform?
"The answer is—if its flight control is good enough, it can not only be a platform, but it can be better than a large company with 3,000 employees. Because the essence of a platform is not scale—but core capabilities."
This article was widely shared.
Lu Weimin did not post on Weibo that evening.
There was none the next day either.
Still nothing on the third day.
No one mentions the term "pancake stand" anymore.
Because the numbers have already said everything.
Su Chen sat in his office, reading Li Hao's article.
He didn't share it. He didn't comment. He didn't like it.
He simply shut down his computer and opened the draft of the three-year plan.
A new line was added next to the "Consumer Grade" column:
[F3's cumulative sales reached 12000 units in three months. The dual-track system of on-the-ground sales and dealerships is operating stably. Leading position in county-level markets.]
A new line was added next to the "Plant Protection Grade" column:
[SDK customers > 20. Exclusive channel operation with Toyota in four provinces. First overseas order signed (AgriWing, 30 sets).]
Next to the "Third Curve" column, he added a sentence after the arrow:
[Industrial inspection → RTK fusion has been validated; visual obstacle avoidance research underway. Team recruitment has begun. Collaboration with Chen Hongyuan's project is possible. Timeline → Launching in Q2 of next year.]
Su Chen closed the document.
He stood up and walked to the window.
In November, the weather in Shenzhen finally cooled down a bit. There were a few more construction cranes outside the window than six months ago. The skyline of Longhua District is gradually getting higher.
One year and nine months ago, he sat in front of this same flat window with only 120 million yuan in cash and a small factory that was about to go bankrupt.
just now:
Consumer-grade – F3 has sold 12,000 units in total, leading the county-level market.
Plant protection-grade SDK has twenty customers, and overseas deployment has already begun.
The team consists of twelve R&D personnel. The stock option moat has taken effect, and Tianying's selection process has failed.
Funding – completely self-sufficient. No Series B funding needed. System safety is guaranteed.
Competition—Tianying's three-pronged approach has all failed. The wave of bankruptcies in Shenzhen continues. Hongyuan not only survives—it's getting stronger.
Su Chen turned around and returned to the table.
There's still a lot to do tomorrow.
The fifth batch of F3 units is ready to be shipped. Four new clients are being contacted for the plant protection SDK. Negotiations are underway for AgriWing's second order. Fang Xu is preparing counterclaim materials. Zhang Lei's team is developing new firmware for the F3.
As for Su Chen himself, he will continue to study visual obstacle avoidance algorithms in the virtual disassembly lab tonight.
The third line is still pending.
But it is no longer a question mark.
It is an arrow.
Pointing to next year.