DJI has just announced two new drones making up the Matrice 4 series. The models – the M4E and M4T offer a choice of sensor arrays designed for the surveying and visual inspection markets, as well as public safety and security roles.
A key selling point is (as you might expect these days) "Intelligent Operations with AI". The drone boasts detection of people, vehicles, and boats – no doubt potentially useful in anti-people smuggling operations. There are even custom subject detection modes, as well as FlyTo, POI, Smart Track and Cruise modes.
The M4E features a 4/3 CMOS main camera with F2.8 to F11 and a 24mm EFL, and with a mechanical shutter (as preferred by many mapping operators). The other cameras are a 3x zoom (1/1.3-inch 48MP F2.8 70mm EFL) and 7x zoom (1/1.5 inch 48MP F2.8 168mm EFL).
Other features include a 1800m laser range finder. That's just over a mile in range. There is also 0.5-second timed photography, 5-directional oblique photography, Smart 3D capture (supposed to help with the 3D model creation) and DJI Terra Distortion Correction.
The M4T replaces the 4/3 camera with another 1/1.3-inch sensor for the 24MM EFL, so similar in quality to a more typical drone, but adds a 640 x 512 pixel thermal camera with a 53mm EFL (and a "Super-Resolution" option of 1280 x 1024) and a night illumination light.
Both drones have low light fish eye collision sensors and DJI's Night Scene Mode.
It's clear that these continue the model's heritage as a mapping and professional product – but they seem to actually be a new name for the Mavic 3 Enterprise, based on pricing and design. It does have an RTK module on top though, and a larger payload.
“DJI is ushering in a new era of intelligent aerial operations. In equipping our industry-leading enterprise drones with AI, search and rescue teams can save lives faster,” said Christina Zhang, Senior Director of Corporate Strategy at DJI – though of course in the US many might not be able to purchase the drones for these operations because of legal issues, for which DJI currently has a year's reprieve – depending on a report that might not happen.
They are professional devices and weight in at 1,219g (2.7 pounds), and have now appeared in the DJI Store, for reservation. Prices are $4799 / £3940 / AU$7395 for the M4E and £5910 / $7299 / AU$10,159 for the thermal.
You might also be interested in...
If you're interested in thermal drones, check our review of the Mavic 3T, and our guide to the best thermal imaging cameras in general.
If you're looking for something more practical, check the best beginners drone and best camera drone guides.
