DJI Dock 4 Matrice 5TD combo

The DJI Dock 4 with Matrice 5TD Combo combines DJI’s first automated battery-swapping Dock with a new multi-sensor enterprise aircraft designed for rapid response, continuous monitoring and complex remote operations. Instead of waiting for an aircraft battery to recharge between missions, Dock 4 can automatically exchange the Matrice 5TD battery in as little as 25 seconds, allowing the aircraft to return to operation significantly faster.

For urgent deployments, the Matrice 5TD can launch as soon as the Dock cover opens and travel at speeds of up to 21 m/s during supported FlyTo tasks. With a maximum stated flight time of up to 59 minutes under DJI’s test conditions, the system is designed to cover larger areas while reducing the time spent on the ground between flights.

The Matrice 5TD combines visible, telephoto, infrared and low-light imaging with laser ranging, onboard AI, LiDAR, mmWave radar and six-directional visual sensing. This allows a single aircraft to support applications ranging from infrastructure and utility inspection through to emergency response, security, situational awareness and recurring site monitoring.

Operations are managed through DJI FlightHub 2, bringing remote aircraft control, automated routes, live video, AI detection, alerts, data analysis and reporting into a single workflow.

Rapid Response and Continuous Operations

• 25-Second Automated Battery Swap: Dock 4 can complete a fully automated battery exchange in as little as 25 seconds under DJI’s stated test conditions, significantly reducing turnaround time between missions.
• Instant Aircraft Deployment: Once a command is issued, the Matrice 5TD can launch as the Dock opens without requiring a pilot to be physically present at the site.
• Up to 21 m/s Rapid Arrival: Supported FlyTo tasks allow the aircraft to travel at speeds of up to 21 m/s, helping it reach an incident or area of interest quickly.
• Up to 59-Minute Flight Time: Extended aircraft endurance allows larger areas to be covered during a single deployment under DJI’s stated test conditions.
• Task Relay: Two aircraft within a project can automatically rotate between operational and standby roles to support more continuous aerial coverage.
• High-Speed Data Transfer: During battery swapping, flight data can be transferred from the aircraft through the Dock’s high-speed Wi-Fi connection at stated average speeds of up to 80 MB/s for supported large files.
• Wide Operating Temperature Range: Dock 4 is designed for operation between -40°C and 50°C, with battery preheating for cold environments and air conditioning for high-temperature conditions.

Matrice 5TD Multi-Sensor Imaging

• Long-Range Telephoto Imaging: A 252 mm equivalent telephoto camera provides 11× telephoto capability for detailed inspection and observation from greater stand-off distances.
• High-Resolution Thermal Imaging: The infrared system provides resolutions up to 1280 × 1024, or up to 2560 × 2048 when operating in UHR mode, supporting detailed thermal inspection and situational awareness.
• Visible and Thermal Fusion: Fusion modes combine visible-light and infrared information within a single view, making it easier to understand both structural detail and heat distribution.
• Full-Colour Night Vision: 4K high-frame-rate night imaging allows colour imagery to be captured in low-light environments, with an NIR auxiliary light also supporting black-and-white night vision.
• 3 km Laser Range Finding: Integrated laser ranging provides distance and PinPoint coordinate information for inspection, emergency response and other applications requiring accurate remote positioning.
• Surveying Capability: Under DJI’s specified test conditions, the Matrice 5TD can achieve aerial-triangulation checkpoint accuracy of up to 10 cm using 12MP wide-angle imagery.
• One Aircraft Across Multiple Tasks: Visual inspection, thermal inspection, nighttime operations, situational awareness and selected aerial survey workflows can be carried out without changing aircraft platforms.

Integrated Obstacle Sensing and Flight Safety

The Matrice 5TD combines three-directional mmWave radar, rotating LiDAR and six-directional visual sensing to provide a more complete understanding of its surroundings during complex operations.

• Integrated Rotating LiDAR: Provides additional obstacle information and supports flight in complex environments.
• Three-Directional mmWave Radar: Works alongside LiDAR and vision sensing to improve obstacle detection around the aircraft.
• Wire-Level Obstacle Sensing: Under DJI’s specified conditions, the sensing system can detect thin obstacles including 11 mm black rubber-insulated wires.
• Six-Directional Low-Light Vision: Six high-resolution low-light fisheye sensors provide full-colour sensing around the aircraft and support operations in reduced-light environments.
• ADS-B and Remote ID Awareness: The aircraft includes ADS-B and RID receiving capability to help warn operators of supported nearby crewed aircraft and compatible RID-enabled DJI drones.
• High-Wind Descent RTH: The aircraft can take off, land and operate in winds of up to 12 m/s and can descend during return-to-home operations when stronger winds are encountered.
• DJI Parachute Support: A compatible top-mounted DJI parachute provides an additional ground-risk mitigation option for applicable operations.

AI-Powered Remote Operations

The Matrice 5TD and DJI FlightHub 2 introduce AI throughout the operational workflow, from live object detection through to automated analysis and reporting after a mission.

• 17 Onboard Object Types: Matrice 5TD can perform real-time onboard AI detection across 17 predefined object types.
• Infrared Hotspot Detection: Thermal information can be analysed to identify potential hotspots during inspection and monitoring operations.
• Third-Party AI Model Support: The aircraft provides support for compatible third-party AI models for more specialised applications.
• Text and Image-Based Detection: Within FlightHub 2’s Virtual Cockpit, users can search for objects using text or reference images, with multimodal AI interpreting the request and identifying relevant objects.
• Automated Alerts and Actions: Detected anomalies can trigger SMS, email or platform alerts as well as actions such as photography, recording, tracking or hovering.
• FlightHub 2 Copilot: Natural-language instructions can assist with aircraft control, flight commands, route creation and scheduled tasks.
• Automated Workflows: External alerts can trigger drone deployments, while recurring workflows can automate data collection, modelling, analysis and reporting.
• AI Change Detection: Current aerial imagery can be compared against historical imagery or models to identify changes and generate reports without requiring frame-by-frame manual review.

Flexible Deployment and Communications

DJI Dock 4 is designed to support remote deployments where reliable communications and flexible installation are essential.

• DJI O4 Ground Station: Dock 4 operates with the DJI O4 Ground Station, which can be positioned separately from the Dock to improve transmission performance and deployment flexibility.
• High-Rise Deployment: The O4 Ground Station can be installed in an elevated position such as a rooftop to improve communications when the Dock needs to be positioned closer to buildings or infrastructure.
• Multi-Station Roaming: The Matrice 5TD can move between multiple compatible O4 Ground Stations to help reduce transmission blind spots across larger or more complex sites.
• Dual 4G Connectivity: Supported communications options include dual 4G modules alongside the dedicated O4 Ground Station transmission architecture.
• Low-Latency Remote Viewing: DJI states drone-to-cloud transmission latency of approximately 160 ms under its test conditions, supporting responsive remote observation.
• Vehicle-Mounted Deployment: Mobile vehicle-mounted Dock 4 deployment is planned for a future firmware release, allowing the aircraft to take off and land at different stationary vehicle locations.
• DJI Enterprise App: Operators can use the DJI Enterprise app for on-site configuration as well as remote task triggering and viewing.

Expanded Payload Capability

The Matrice 5TD supports additional equipment for applications requiring more than its integrated sensor package.

• Up to 450 g Payload Capacity: The aircraft supports an effective additional payload capacity of up to 450 g.
• Three Mounting Positions: Side PSDK interfaces and a top mounting position allow multiple supported accessories to be installed.
• Multiple Accessories Simultaneously: Compatible equipment such as speakers, lighting and a parachute can be combined depending on operational requirements.
• Customisable Warning Light: An integrated warning light supports configurable colours and flash patterns without requiring a separate installation.
• Three E-Port Interfaces: Third-party payloads such as gas detectors and specialised sensors can be integrated for industry-specific applications.
• PSDK V4: DJI’s updated Payload SDK supports MQTT-based communication and control between compatible payloads and the aircraft.

Automated Operations with DJI FlightHub 2

DJI FlightHub 2 provides the central software platform for managing Dock 4 deployments, remote aircraft operations and captured information.

• Virtual Cockpit: Remotely control the aircraft and access low-latency live video without travelling to the deployment location.
• Automated Routes: Create repeatable flight missions for regular inspections, monitoring and data collection.
• Timeline Task Management: Schedule and coordinate recurring aircraft operations across Dock deployments.
• Multi-Channel Livestreaming: Monitor multiple live information feeds from within the operational environment.
• AI Detection and Alerts: Identify relevant objects and anomalies and notify operators when predefined conditions occur.
• Automated Post-Processing: Analyse captured information, compare datasets and produce reports after missions.
• Public Cloud, On-Premises and All-in-One Deployment: FlightHub 2 provides multiple deployment options for organisations with different operational and data-security requirements.
• FlightHub Sync and OpenAPI: Integrate Dock operations and captured information with compatible third-party enterprise platforms.

Data Security and Enterprise Integration

Dock 4 and FlightHub 2 include encryption and access-control measures across data collection, transmission and storage.

• Encrypted Drone-to-Dock Communications: DJI specifies TLS 1.2+ and AES-256 encryption for information transmitted between the aircraft and Dock.
• Encrypted Cloud Transmission: Dock-to-cloud communication uses protocols including HTTPS, WSS and TLS.
• Encrypted Stored Information: Sensitive stored information can be protected using AES-256-CBC encryption.
• Access Controls and Logging: Organisational permissions can be used to restrict access, with activity logging supporting auditing requirements.
• Data Deletion Controls: DJI provides account-, organisation- and device-level options for removing stored information.
• Open Ecosystem: DJI FlightHub 2 OpenAPI, FlightHub Sync, PSDK and third-party payload support allow the system to connect into wider operational platforms and workflows.