DJI Launches Matrice 350 RTK: A New Generation of Industrial Field Drones

DJI launched the Matrice 350 RTK today, May 18, 2023, a new industrial drone that replaces the Matrice 300 RTK and targets the homeland security, energy, mapping, infrastructure and forestry markets. The new model offers 55 minutes of flight time, the ability to carry up to three payloads simultaneously at a combined weight of 2.7 kilograms, and RTK positioning accuracy of 1 centimeter plus 1ppm.

A major upgrade to DJI's flagship platform

For about three years, the Matrice 300 RTK was the go-to drone for rescue teams, power companies and land surveyors worldwide, thanks to its durability and modularity. Now DJI is replacing it with a model that carries forward the same philosophy, but with improvements that sound like a direct response to complaints field operators have voiced over the years: flight time, weather resistance, and managing multiple payloads at once.

The ability to carry three payloads at once, for example a mapping camera alongside a LiDAR module, lets survey teams accomplish in a single flight what previously required two separate takeoffs. That saves valuable field time, especially on projects with a narrow weather window.

Survey-grade accuracy without ground control points

The drone's built-in RTK system promises accuracy that, at least according to the manufacturer's claims, eliminates the need to deploy ground control points (GCPs) for most mapping missions. That's no small economic consideration for survey companies, since laying out GCPs consumes significant labor hours and field personnel.

• Horizontal accuracy: 1 centimeter plus 1ppm
• Vertical accuracy: 1.5 centimeters plus 1ppm
• Maximum flight time: 55 minutes
• Payload capacity: 2.7 kilograms, up to three sensors simultaneously

Field durability and lower operating costs

DJI upgraded the drone body's ingress protection rating from IP45 to IP55, a change that allows flying in harsher rain and dust conditions without risking damage to internal components. Alongside this, the night navigation camera was improved, which should make rescue and patrol flights easier during dark hours.

Another notable change involves the battery. The new TB65 battery model is rated for roughly double the charge cycles compared to the battery it replaces. In practice, this means lower operating costs per flight, a critical consideration for companies running large drone fleets on a daily basis and looking to reduce total cost of ownership.

Transmission system and smart flight modes for mapping missions

The new transmission system, O3 Enterprise, supports three live 1080p video channels simultaneously, at a maximum range of 20 kilometers. This lets a field crew, an operations commander and a remote party watch different feeds from the same flight at the same time, a capability especially relevant for emergency scenarios where multiple parties need an identical real-time picture of the situation.

The platform comes with autonomous flight modes designed specifically for professional mapping workflows.

• Automated waypoint missions
• Oblique photography and smart oblique photography
• Terrain-follow tracking
• AI-based recheck of previously marked points

The open question is how quickly the mapping and infrastructure market, which already operates a large fleet of Matrice 300 RTK units, will rush to replace equipment that still works fine. The new model's full purchase price has not yet been published, and for many companies the decision will ultimately come down to the cost-benefit ratio of the actual upgrade in the field.