Zenmuse XT vs XT2 - what's new?

This spring, DJI released its new baby, the Zenmuse XT2 camera. Like the first Zenmuse XT, the XT2 comes from a partnership between DJI and FLIR. What exactly makes the XT2 different from the first version of the FLIR TAU 2 thermal imaging camera?

First, the Zenmuse XT is dedicated to the Inspire 1, Matrice 100, 200 and 600 drones. XT2, due to its size, does not have Inspire 1 and Matrice 600 a on its compatibility list: Matrice 200, 210, 210 RTK and 600 Pro.

The second difference is that the XT2 camera, in addition to the thermal imaging sensor, has additional support from an optical sensor-a 4K camera. Fully integrated dual-image system identifies objects in real time and captures thermal and video data during the same flight. Additional features and advanced algorithms allow immediate detection of damage to equipment and buildings etc. by detecting subtle temperature differences.
New features:
TEMP ALARM: instant notifications when the temperature of an object exceeds predetermined parameters.



HEAT TRACK: automatic search for the hottest point in a given area.



TEMP CHECK: real-time temperature measurements of the marked object or area.
FLIR MSX®: a function that takes the contours from the real image and superimposes them on the thermogram; this greatly enhances the detail of the image.


QUICK TRACK: locks the camera on a designated object, making it easier to perform complex raids in difficult conditions.
ISOTHERMS: identifies the temperature range required for a specific mission- useful for agriculture and inspections.



Also new is the IP44 degree of protection against small solids (1 mm in diameter and larger) and water droplets falling from any direction. This eliminates the weather limitations of the first version of the XT.

As with its predecessor, when you purchase the XT2, you must select a lens model. In this case, they are: 9 mm, 13 mm, 19 mm and 25 mm available in two frequencies- 30 Hz and 9 Hz (previously they were 6.8, 7.5, 9, 13 and 19 mm).

The gimbal has been improved on the XT2. In this regard, Zenmuse offers breakthrough precision in the form of control up to ±0.01°, which guarantees high stability even in high winds and intense maneuvers. What's more, the XT2 gimbal has a greater range of control on the X (roll)-it used to be ±45°, now it's up to -90° to +60°.
The Zensmuse XT2 is, relative to the base version, quite a different quality of recorded video footage. The 640 x 512 and 336x 256 resolutions have replaced Ultra HD 3840×2160 29.97p and FHD: 1920×1080 29.97p. Importantly, we're dealing with 8-bit images at MOV and MP4 and 14-bit in TIFF Sequence and SEQ formats.
In summary, the XT2 builds on its predecessor while retaining its functionality. The innovations introduced in the Zenmuse XT2 improve performance, accuracy and safety of use, making it even better for search and rescue missions, firefighting and inspections.