Chinese Drone Expert Zhang Daibing Suspected of Suicide by Jumping

The U.S. government has suspended the import of certain DJI drones. Pictured is a DJI Mavic 2 Pro, manufactured by the Chinese drone maker, hovering in Miami, Florida, on December 15, 2021. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

[People News] According to a report by Singapore’s Lianhe Zaobao on January 7, Chinese drone expert Zhang Daibing is suspected to have died by suicide due to financial pressures. He was 47 years old. This information has been confirmed by Southern Metropolis Daily, although insiders believe there may be other reasons behind his death.

As reported by Radio Free Asia, Southern Metropolis Daily obtained an obituary stating that Zhang Daibing, former deputy director of the Unmanned Systems Research Institute at the National University of Defense Technology and founder and chairman of Changsha Yunzhihang Technology Co., Ltd., passed away on January 3 in Changsha. His memorial service was held on January 5 at 10:00 AM at the Yangmingshan Funeral Home in Changsha.

The report noted that Zhang’s sudden death came as a shock to his colleagues and friends, as he was not perceived as someone who would shy away from difficulties or challenges. According to them, Zhang had recently been working on new projects, including exploring innovative directions for drone research. In March 2024, Zhang revealed that he was developing a "companion robot for individuals with autism" and needed around 5 million yuan in funding. He welcomed entrepreneurs and investors to contribute to this compassionate cause.

Public records indicate that Zhang Daibing was born in 1977 in Kaizhou District, Chongqing. During the college entrance examinations, he achieved the third-highest score in his county and was admitted to a military academy in China. In 2018, Zhang founded Changsha Yunzhihang Technology Co., Ltd., inventing and developing products such as robotic snakes, the “Youlong” booster, and drones for extinguishing fires in high-rise buildings.