Chinese company DJI has introduced the Matrice 4 Series drones with a thermal imaging camera, mapping functions, and AI capable of «quickly identifying objects such as vehicles and animals.» DJI believes that such functionality will be suitable for rescuers, law enforcement, and farmers.
Chinese company DJI has introduced the Matrice 4 Series drones with a thermal imaging camera, mapping functions, and AI capable of «quickly identifying objects such as vehicles and animals.» DJI believes that such functionality will be suitable for rescuers, law enforcement, and farmers.
«With the Matrice 4 Series, DJI is ushering in a new era of intelligent aerial operations. By equipping our industry-leading enterprise drones with artificial intelligence, search and rescue teams can save lives faster», — said Christina Zhang, Senior Director of Corporate Strategy at DJI.
According to PetaPixel, the Matrice 4T and 4E will use multiple image sensors. Both drones are equipped with a medium-focus and telephoto camera with 48-megapixel sensors. The medium-focus camera has a 70 mm equivalent f/2.8 lens and a 1/1.3-type CMOS image sensor. The telephoto module has a much longer 168 mm equivalent f/2.8 lens and a 1/1.5-type sensor, which DJI says can capture details from up to 250 meters away. It also has a laser rangefinder that can measure distances up to 1,800 meters.
Designed for tasks such as emergency response, the Matrice 4T also features an infrared thermal imaging camera that produces images with a resolution of up to 1,280 by 1,024 pixels. An auxiliary infrared lamp can illuminate objects up to 100 meters away. It also has a 24 mm wide-angle lens (48-megapixel 1/1.3-type sensor) and an IR cut filter.
The DJI Matrice 4E is designed for surveying, mapping, construction, and inspection where resolution is paramount. It supports high-speed shooting thanks to a 24 mm wide-angle lens, 20-megapixel Micro Four Thirds format image sensor, and a mechanical shutter. It also features Smart 3D Capture, which allows the drone to create rough models and precise mapping routes on a connected remote controller, and allows the operator to measure irregularly shaped buildings. The Matrice 4E can also display routes in virtual space and take photos of waypoints, which «improves surveillance workflows.»
Both new Matrice 4 Series drones can perform surveillance and search using cruise control mode. When paired with the DJI Pilot 2 app, you can visualize on a map where the Matrice 4 drone has already searched, which «makes it easier to plot an efficient and timely route during time-constrained operations.» DJI also provides a drone SDK so users can build tools that suit their needs.
It is noted that both drones are also equipped with a new artificial intelligence-based object detection feature, which allows users to quickly identify objects such as vehicles and animals.
In addition, the 4T and 4E drones will be able to perform better at night thanks to a larger aperture and better low-light performance. They are also equipped with six high-definition fisheye lenses that improve visual positioning in low-light conditions, meaning obstacle avoidance, route changes, and homecoming in the dark are better than before. When visibility is poor due to fog, haze, or humidity, a new electronic blur function can improve image clarity.
The DJI Matrice 4E starts at $4,799, and the 4T starts at $7,299.
DJI also said that they took care of privacy, and therefore American users can no longer synchronize their flight logs with DJI servers.
«Any personal data provided for account registration is further protected with AES-256 encryption. Operators can easily delete any data they have shared through their DJI account or by contacting DJI support. Since 2017, we have regularly submitted our products for verification and certification to third-party companies, including Booz Allen Hamilton, FTI Consulting, and Kivu Consulting,» DJI explained.
Recall that last year DJI filed a lawsuit against the US Department of Defense for being included in the Pentagon’s list, which defines it as a «Chinese military company.» It describes itself as «the largest private seller of consumer and commercial drones.»
In 2022, DJI announced that it was leaving the Ukrainian market simultaneously with the cessation of operations in the Russian Federation. «DJI is conducting an internal reassessment of compliance requirements in various jurisdictions. Pending the ongoing review, DJI will temporarily cease all business activities in Russia and Ukraine,» the Chinese company said.
In 2023, the Chinese company denied the words of Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, who said that «Ukraine buys 60% of all global Mavic production».
In the fall of 2024, the Minister of Strategic Industries of Ukraine, Herman Smetanin, reported that Ukrainian developers had created about 10 models to replace the Chinese DJI Mavic drones, which are often used by the military.
