DJI’s Matrice 5T targets searches in darkness and severe weather

The thermal sensor has four times the pixel count of typical 640-by-512 sensors, according to DJI. An Ultra-High Resolution mode increases output to 2,560 by 2,048 pixels. The wide camera can capture color in light as low as 0.01 lux, while a telephoto camera offers monochrome night vision and up to 176x hybrid zoom; DJI says it can read license plates from 400 meters. A separate 50-megapixel medium telephoto camera is intended for close-up inspection from 10 meters.

For flight in darkness, the Matrice 5T combines low-light fisheye sensors with LiDAR and millimeter-wave radar. Its top-mounted LiDAR can detect overhead lines up to 32 meters away at night, while radar is designed to work through fog, heavy rain and blowing dust. DJI says the drone can combine visual and radar data to map areas where GPS reception is weak, including river canyons and spaces between tall buildings.

Onboard AI can scan thermal and standard video feeds for more than 20 categories, including people, vehicles and boats. Responders using DJI FlightHub 2 can enter text prompts or upload reference images in the DJI Pilot 2 app to search patrol zones and flag targets. The aircraft offers up to 59 minutes of flight time, an IP55 rating and an operating temperature range of minus 20 to 50 degrees Celsius. Its O4 Enterprise transmission system has a stated range of up to 40 kilometers, with cellular dongles and multi-drone relay modes as additional links.

For surveying, DJI says the drone can turn 200 photos into 2.5D models or local point clouds in eight minutes using DJI Terra, without ground control points. It can also create 3D models during flight to plan inspection routes. The company says photo and video sharing requires opt-in permission, and U.S. operators no longer sync flight logs to company servers. The system uses AES-256 encryption and has ISO 27001 and ISO 27701 certifications. A Flight Termination System module can cut propeller power on demand or activate if the drone crosses a preset geofence. The Matrice 5T is available through authorized DJI Enterprise dealers.