DJI Matrice 5T Drone

DJI Matrice 5T – a thermal drone for rescue, inspection and mapping

DJI Matrice 5T combines 1280 × 1024 thermal imaging, three visible-light cameras and a laser rangefinder in a foldable platform for professional applications. It supports searches for people, power infrastructure inspections, area monitoring and data collection for maps and models. One drone lets you combine these tasks within the same mission.

Up to 59 minutes of flight time, an IP55-rated enclosure and an obstacle sensing system using LiDAR, mmWave radar and vision sensors support operations in challenging environments. Onboard AI helps detect objects, while automation reduces the number of tasks you need to carry out manually.

1280 × 1024 thermal camera – easier assessment of heat sources

A native resolution of 1280 × 1024 provides four times as many pixels as the Matrice 4T thermal camera. Greater image detail helps distinguish silhouettes during searches and examine components showing abnormal heating. The camera operates at 30 Hz and offers digital zoom up to 32×.

Fusion mode combines thermal imagery with details from the visible-light camera, making it easier to match a temperature reading to a specific part of an object. You can also use Picture-in-Picture, adjust the blend of the two images with the C4 dial and enhance outlines. The thermal camera focuses from 10 m to infinity.

AI-assisted thermal analysis

Thermal image analysis algorithms detect people, vehicles and vessels. They help direct the operator’s attention to relevant objects when searching large areas or locating people who need assistance. Support for third-party algorithms also allows analysis to be adapted to specialist inspections and the detection of unusual heat sources.

Temperature calibration in High Gain mode is also available to help maintain measurement accuracy over time. Calibration should be performed under professional guidance, as an incorrect procedure may reduce the accuracy of readings.

Wide-angle camera – observation and mapping data

The wide-angle camera features a 1/0.98-inch CMOS sensor and an equivalent focal length of 23.5 mm, allowing you to capture more of the area in a single frame. The manufacturer specifies colour imaging at light levels as low as 0.01 lux, which is useful for observations at dawn and nighttime searches.

Support for JPEG and RAW and photo intervals starting at 0.5 s make it easier to collect material for further processing. Time synchronisation improves the assignment of position and orientation data to images, while DJI Terra supports rolling shutter calibration. Matrice 5T can therefore collect mapping data during inspections as well.

Two telephoto cameras – inspect details without flying close

The medium telephoto camera uses a 1/1.28-inch CMOS sensor and an equivalent focal length of 70 mm. It helps you examine details on bridges and power infrastructure. The manufacturer’s materials demonstrate the observation of small components and cracks from more than 10 m away, supporting inspection without bringing the drone close to the part of the structure being examined.

For longer-range observation, the telephoto camera offers a 1/1.5-inch CMOS sensor, 50 MP resolution and a 252 mm equivalent focal length. Hybrid zoom up to 176× lets you examine a selected area more closely. The manufacturer demonstrates licence plate reading from 400 m as an example of the system’s capabilities.

Night mode and NIR illumination for observation after dark

In Night Scene mode, you can rely on automatic image settings or adjust them manually. All three visible-light cameras support colour night vision, while the telephoto camera also offers a monochrome view. Improved noise reduction and greater NPU processing power support nighttime recording in 4K.

The NIR auxiliary light with a range of up to 100 m supports monochrome observation with the telephoto camera at zoom levels of 11× and above. It does not emit visible light, helping reduce disturbance to wildlife. Two night mode levels – Low: 20 fps and High: 5 fps – let you adapt imaging to the available light.

Laser rangefinder – from observation to a marked location

Once you spot an object, you can measure the distance and mark its position to share a specific location with your team. The laser rangefinder reaches up to 3000 m at normal incidence; for measurements at an angle, the manufacturer specifies up to 1200 m.

Line and polygon drawing tools help measure distances and areas, for example when assessing a fire front. Markers and measurements can be shared, improving the flow of information between the operator and personnel in the field.

LiDAR, mmWave radar and a colour view of the surroundings

The obstacle sensing system combines 360° scanning LiDAR, mmWave radar facing forward, upward and downward, and omnidirectional vision sensors. These technologies complement one another during daytime and nighttime operations. The manufacturer specifies wire detection at 32 m, while mmWave radar also supports detection in rain, fog and dust.

Flight Assist View provides a colour view of the space around the drone. Split-screen layouts let you monitor both the details of the inspected object and the aircraft’s surroundings. You can choose from up to 11 view layouts, combining camera feeds, thermal imaging, the map and the assist view.

IP55 protection and operation from −20°C to 50°C

DJI Matrice 5T has a sealed, multi-compartment enclosure with an IP55 protection rating and an operating temperature range of −20°C to 50°C. This allows inspections and field operations to be planned in conditions that place greater demands on equipment.

Built-in ADS-B and RID receivers provide alerts about nearby aircraft. The presentation describes the detection of crewed aircraft and nearby DJI drones, helping the operator assess the airspace around the mission area.

Up to 59 minutes of flight – more time to complete the task

The maximum stated flight time is 59 minutes, with up to 54 minutes of hovering. Compared with Matrice 4T, this provides up to 10 extra minutes of flight, which you can use for observation, additional images or inspection of another section of infrastructure.

The drone reaches speeds of up to 23 m/s, ascends at up to 10 m/s and descends at up to 8 m/s. The revised propeller design improves propulsion efficiency and reduces noise. These figures are maximum specifications stated by the manufacturer.

Battery and 515 W charging hub – organise successive flights more efficiently

The intelligent battery stores 215.2 Wh of energy and features self-heating in low temperatures. The 515 W charging hub uses active cooling and charges three batteries sequentially. The manufacturer specifies 30 minutes to charge from 10% to 95%.

Standard mode charges the battery to 100%, while Standby mode charges it to 95%. Using three batteries allows you to rotate them between the drone and the hub; according to the presentation, this enables continuous operations in typical conditions. Matrice 5T does not support hot-swapping batteries while powered on.

4G connectivity and DJI RC Plus 3 Enterprise controller

Matrice 5T has two built-in 4G connectivity modules that automatically select the better network connection. Smart frequency switching supports transmission in areas affected by interference, including among tall buildings. The controller also has a built-in 4G module; a Nano-SIM card is required to use this connectivity.

DJI RC Plus 3 Enterprise features a 7.44-inch display with a resolution of 1920 × 1440 and brightness of 2000 nits. The 4T4R High-Gain Smart Array antenna system supports connection stability. The controller has an IP54 protection rating, while HDMI, microSD and Nano-SIM connections help integrate it into the operator’s workstation.

Signal relay in terrain with obstacles

Relay modes let you use an additional drone to forward the signal where terrain makes a direct connection difficult. Configurations support one or two relay hops, with up to three drones and two controllers.

You can control the relay drone and the work drone from a single controller or divide the tasks between operators. According to the manufacturer’s FAQ, relay functionality does not support other models at the launch of Matrice 5T; support is planned for a later update.

More than 20 object types detected by AI

Onboard visible-light image analysis covers more than 20 object types, including people, vehicles, vessels, animals, smoke and fire. The system also recognises clothing colours. This helps you find objects relevant to the observation task more quickly.

Parallel analysis of visible-light and thermal imagery lets you compare information from both sources on a split screen. 10 TOPS of onboard computing power and support for third-party algorithms allow custom AI solutions to be developed for specific tasks.

Automated power line inspection and modelling in the field

During power infrastructure inspections, the top-mounted LiDAR detects and tracks conductors and ground wires. This enables automatic sideways flight along a line and reduces the workload of manually piloting the drone while searching for damage or foreign objects.

The modelling function creates point clouds and 2.5D models locally. The manufacturer gives an example of producing a map from 200 photos in 8 minutes after image capture. Flight routes and area missions are supported, and each reconstruction should contain fewer than 400 photos.

Takeoff and landing on vessels

Matrice 5T supports takeoff from vessels and automatic landing on deck markers. This allows patrols and inspections to be carried out without returning the boat to a shore base every time.

The manufacturer recommends using this function at vessel speeds below 10 knots and wind speeds below 5 m/s. A 3 × 3 m area and the same standard landing marker used for DJI Matrice 400 should be provided on deck.

DJI Pilot 2 – tools tailored to your team’s procedures

Support for custom DJI Pilot 2 plugins lets the application be extended with tools for inspection, security, mapping and public safety operations. Developers can use ready-made interface elements such as widgets, dialog boxes, map annotations, AR components, a route library and checklists.

Integration through MSDK provides access to video streaming, multimedia, route management and a virtual joystick, among other functions. This makes it easier to connect specialist software with the drone’s capabilities and the team’s workflow.

DJI Care Enterprise Plus – one year of service coverage

According to the supplied materials, DJI Matrice 5T includes a complimentary one-year DJI Care Enterprise Plus plan starting at activation. Within the allocated coverage limit, the service covers repairs for damage, including water damage, and shipping to and from the service centre.

If the drone is lost during flight, the Flyaway programme offers a replacement for a fee. Coverage can be renewed up to the fifth year, with renewals for years four and five subject to additional DJI review. Renewal conditions depend on factors including spare parts availability and the equipment support period.

Included equipment and optional accessories

The equipment list includes the drone, DJI RC Plus 3 Enterprise controller, charging hub, three pairs of propellers, charger with power cable, USB-C to USB-C cable, gimbal protector and carrying case. The presentation lists the battery as sold separately.

The optional DJI AS2 speaker rated at 35 W broadcasts messages over distances of up to 400 m, including live announcements and text-to-speech. The DJI AL2 spotlight rated at 60 W offers spotlight and floodlight modes; in floodlight mode, the manufacturer specifies an illuminated area of up to 1500 m² from a height of 100 m. Both accessories can be installed at the same time. Optional anti-icing propellers are also available.

Frequently asked questions – DJI Matrice 5T