DJI has released the new DJI Dock 3, its latest drone-in-a-box solution to improve infrastructure inspections and long-range missions. This comes as an upgrade to the DJI Dock 2, which has been finding use cases in large infrastructure setups. Let’s look at what features the Dock 3 offers and how it compares to its predecessors.
Key Features of the DJi Dock 3
Below are the main specs of the DJI Dock 3;
Integrated with the DJI Matrice 4D and 4TD
The DJI Dock 3 supports the DJI Matrice 4D and 4TD, which are similar to the recently released Matrice 4 and Matrice 4T. Both of these drones come with three cameras: wide angle, tele camera, and medium tele camera for advanced imaging and zooming capabilities. They also have a laser range finder for measuring distance from objects to the drone. For night vision, the DJI Matrice 4TD features a NIR Auxiliary Light and a high-resolution Infrared Thermal Camera for detecting objects at night. Both drones also fly for up to 50 minutes for forward flight and 30 to 47 minutes within a radius and fully charge in less than 30 minutes. With at least two drones, you can experience 24/7 continuous flights.
Improved Hardware Protection
The Matrice 4D and 4TD are waterproof, allowing them to fly in adverse weather conditions. The Dock itself is also designed to fly in temperatures ranging from 50 Degrees Celsius (122 Degrees Fahrenheit) to -33 Degrees Celsius (-20 Degrees F.), making it reliable from Summer to Winter.
Vehicle Mounting
Unlike the DJI Dock 2, which is stationary, the DJI Dock 3 can now be mounted on a vehicle, allowing mobile operations. DJI makes it possible to mount two Docks on one vehicle, with flawless simultaneous deployment so the drones don’t crash into each other.
Cloud-based dock calibration
A remote team can assign tasks to the Dock or take control of the drone, keeping the pilots safe in harsh weather conditions.
D-RTK 3 Relay
If you have flown drones in urban areas, you may have experienced interruptions or signal loss due to the tall buildings, cell towers, and other interferences that come with an urban environment. DJI sets out to fix this by providing a D-RTK 3 along with the Dock. You can set it up on an elevated area, allowing it to act as a Relay for video transmission and RTK, allowing the drone to travel further.
Compatibility with DJI RC Plus 2
The Matrice 4D and 4Td are compatible with the RC Plus 2 for manual operations. You can also take off with one drone and hover, then use it as a relay for a second drone, preventing communication loss, especially in areas with several obstacles, rugged landscapes, or when inspecting power lines and cell towers.
Intelligent Features
Below are the intelligent features of the Matrice 4D drones;
- 5-direction oblique capture for 3D model generation.
- Terrain following for rugged landscapes.
- Compatibility with Obstacle Avoidance modules for all-direction obstacle detection and avoidance.
- Automatic detection of heat anomalies through Infrared and automatically generates coordinates of the affected areas.
- Manual designation of No-Fly zones to prevent the drone from flying into restricted areas.
- Automated flight routes.
- Automatic detection and recording of objects like vehicles and boats.
- Automatic Change Detection feature, refining periodical analysis from drone footage.
DJI Dock 3 Vs. DJI Dock 2
While the DJI Dock 2 set a strong foundation for autonomous drone operations, the Dock 3 introduces several notable enhancements:
- Weather Resistance: The Dock 3 features an improved IP56 rating, compared to the Dock 2’s IP55, offering better protection against dust and water. Additionally, the Dock 3 operates on a broader temperature range, from -30°C to 50°C, whereas the Dock 2 is limited to -25°C to 45°C.
- Deployment Flexibility: Unlike the stationary Dock 2, the Dock 3 supports vehicle-mounted deployment, providing greater flexibility for mobile operations.
- Improved Charging Efficiency: The Dock 3 reduces drone charging time to approximately 27 minutes (from 15% to 95%), enhancing operational efficiency. In contrast, the Dock 2 requires about 32 minutes to charge from 20% to 90%.
- Enhanced Drone Compatibility: The Dock 3 integrates with the Matrice 4D and 4TD drones, which offer longer flight times, improved weather resistance, and advanced imaging capabilities compared to the Matrice 3D and 3TD drones compatible with the Dock 2.
Summary
Below is a summary of the DJI Dock 3’s features and how it compares to the Dock 2.
| Feature | DJI Dock 3 (Matrice 4D/4TD) | DJI Dock 2 (Matrice 3D/3TD) |
| Weather Resistance | IP56 (Better protection against dust and water) | IP55 (Slightly lower dust and water resistance) |
| Operating Temperature | -30°C to 50°C (-22°F to 122°F) | -25°C to 45°C (-13°F to 113°F) |
| Deployment Options | Fixed & Vehicle-mounted deployment | Fixed deployment only |
| Drone Compatibility | Matrice 4D, Matrice 4TD | Matrice 3D, Matrice 3TD |
| Charging Time | 15% to 95% in ~27 minutes | 20% to 90% in ~32 minutes |
| Flight Time (Drone Dependent) | Up to 54 minutes | Up to 50 minutes |
| Camera Systems | Matrice 4D: – Wide-Angle: 4/3 CMOS, 20 MP – Medium Tele: 1/1.3-inch CMOS, 48 MP – Tele: 1/1.5-inch CMOS, 48 MP Matrice 4TD: – Wide-Angle: 1/1.3-inch CMOS, 48 MP – Medium Tele: 1/1.3-inch CMOS, 48 MP – Tele: 1/1.5-inch CMOS, 48 MP – Infrared: 640×512, 30 Hz | Matrice 3D: – Wide-Angle: 4/3 CMOS, 20 MP – Tele: 1/2-inch CMOS, 12 MP Matrice 3TD: – Wide-Angle: 1/1.32-inch CMOS, 48 MP – Tele: 1/2-inch CMOS, 12 MP – Infrared: 640×512, 30 Hz |
| Laser Rangefinder | Measures distances up to 1,800 meters | Not available |
| Intelligent Features | – Night Scene Mode with high ISO – Lens defogging on all cameras – Integrated RTK for precise positioning – 6-directional obstacle sensing | – Lens defogging on wide-angle & tele – Integrated RTK for precise positioning – 6-directional obstacle sensing |
| Use Case Flexibility | Security, Inspection, Emergency Response, Industrial Applications | Security, Inspection, Infrastructure Monitoring |
For more about the DJI Dock 3, visit DJI’s website.