DJI Dock 3: New Drone-In-A-Box Solution For 24/7 Remote Operations

DJI, the global leader in civil drones and creative camera technology, has launched DJI Dock 3, the company’s first “Drone in a Box” solution that supports vehicle mounting, empowering 24/7 remote operations for various environments. Meeting the needs for public safety, emergency response, and infrastructure inspection, DJI Dock 3 comes with the all-new DJI Matrice 4D or DJI Matrice 4TD drone. Expanding on the recently launched DJI Matrice 4 Series, these new enterprise drones offer improved flight and protection performance.

“As the world’s most trusted solution for aerial operations in public safety and infrastructure maintenance, DJI continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible. With DJI Dock 3, we’re proud to deliver innovative and reliable solutions that can flexibly adapt to the needs of operators on the ground.”

– Christina Zhang, Senior Director of Corporate Strategy at DJI

Adaptable to Extreme Environments

Designed for critical operations in extreme conditions, DJI Dock 3 can operate and charge seamlessly in extreme temperatures up to 50°C (122°F) and as low as -30°C (-22°F) when pre-heated. Its design further safeguards its internal system with an exceptional IP56 dust and water-resistant rating. The accompanying Matrice 4D and 4TD come standard with low-noise anti-ice propellers that can quietly maintain a stable flight even in freezing rain and wind as strong as 12 metres per second.

Flexible Deployment, Ultra-Long Transmission

DJI Dock 3 can flexibly support emergency operations and long-distance inspections. Optimised for vehicle-mounted deployments for the first time, it supports horizontal calibration and cloud-based dock location calibrations. For higher efficiency, two docks can be simultaneously deployed on a single vehicle for dual-drone rotations. For fixed-mounted deployments, a new D-RTK 3 Relay Fixed Deployment Version can be added to enhance the dock's anti-interference performance for video transmission and satellite acquisition.

High-Performance DJI Matrice 4D and 4TD

The all-new DJI Matrice 4D and 4TD drones feature IP55-rated dust and water resistance and an extended 54 minutes of forward-flight time and 47 minutes of hovering. Both drones are equipped with a wide-angle camera, a medium tele camera, a tele camera, and a Laser Range Finder. The Night Scene mode offers full-colour night vision, and the 4TD offers additional IR-Cut Filter features for black-and-white night vision.

Matrice 4D is designed for high-precision mapping and detailed surface inspections. It features a 24mm wide camera (4/3 CMOS, f/2.8-f/11, 20MP) with a mechanical shutter, a 70mm medium tele camera (1/1.3-inch CMOS, f/2.8, 48MP), and a 168mm tele camera (1/1.5-inch CMOS, f/2.8, 48MP). When paired with FlightHub 2, operators can use the drone's powerful auto-zoom to quickly track a subject, such as a vehicle or vessel.

Matrice 4TD is equipped with an infrared thermal camera and a new NIR auxiliary light with 100 metres of coverage for public safety, emergency response, and infrastructure inspections. It features the same tele camera and medium tele camera as the Matrice 4D but a smaller 24mm wide camera (1/1.3-inch CMOS, f/1.7, 48MP).

Seamless Airborne Relay

With the DJI RC Plus 2 Enterprise remote controller, the Matrice 4D Series can fly standalone or with an innovative onboard relay function. This setup allows one drone to fly as a relay, extending the operational range of another drone – even without a 4G signal or in obstructed conditions. This ability can be especially critical during search and rescue missions or inspections in areas with difficult terrain or accessibility.

Other New Accessories for Comprehensive Support

Obstacle Sensing Module: For more precise maneuvering in complex environments such as 12mm power grid line wires and intricate substation layouts, an Obstacle Sensing Module can be added to equip the Matrice 4D/4TD with LiDAR and millimetre-wave radar technology.

Gimbal-Following Spotlight: The DJI AL1 SpotLight can illuminate subjects up to 100 metres away. When connected with the gimbal, the spotlight can follow the camera's movements to illuminate the camera's view.

Real-Time Voice Speaker: The DJI AS1 Speaker can broadcast up to 300 metres away, up to 114 decibels at a distance of 1 metre. It supports recorded messages, media imports, and text-to-speech conversion. 

Third-Party Payloads: DJI Enterprise has significantly expanded its product capabilities by enabling the connection of third-party payloads, including parachutes via the aircraft's E-Port, or remotely controlling added payloads via FlightHub 2. It also features an additional port for PSDK payload at the rear.

Intelligent Aerial Operation for Efficient Remote Missions

Pairing DJI Dock 3 with DJI FlightHub 2 can further enhance the intelligence and efficiency of remote operations with automated flight routes. Once a flight route is established via intelligent settings, the drone can automatically detect and capture images or videos of vehicles or vessels, detect infrared temperature anomalies, and send notifications to the operators. A new intelligent change detection feature efficiently provides operators with a periodical analysis of changes in an area – critical for environmental protection and responding to natural disasters. Furthermore, the refreshed interface for the Virtual Cockpit allows operators to adjust the gimbal orientation remotely with the new Mouselook feature, enabling rapid and precise centering of the frame, thus achieving "point and see."

Industry-Leading Data Security and Regulatory Compliance

DJI places the highest priority on data security, and puts customers in control of their data. Users must opt-in to share photos and videos with DJI, and US-based users no longer have the option to sync their flight logs with DJI servers. FlightHub 2 has obtained ISO 27001 and ISO 27701 certifications, issued by the British Standards Institution (BSI), which proves that the design, development, and operational services of DJI FlightHub 2 comply with the information security management standards. Any personal data shared for account registration is further secured with AES-256 encryption. Operators can easily delete any data they have shared through their DJI account or by contacting DJI Support. Since 2017, DJI has regularly submitted their products for third-party security audits and certification, including Booz Allen Hamilton, FTI Consulting, and Kivu Consulting.

DJI's Flight Termination System (FTS) module is a key technical requirement for C6 compliance, providing the Matrice 4D Series an additional level of safety for an organisation's operation on strictly regulated airspace. FTS can be manually triggered to stop the drone's propellers during operation or automatically triggered when the drone breaches the Geocaging boundary, promptly terminating the flight.

This is just a summary of the new features and outcomes you can achieve with the DJI Dock 3 and Matrice 4D series. Improving upon the success of the DJI Dock 2, this new drone-in-a-box solution delivers even greater performance and further enhances the possibilities of remote drone operations in New Zealand. Contact our team today to discuss how this platform can enhance your aerial operations.

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