DJI’s drone-in-a-box can now launch from moving vehicles
DJI has announced the third iteration of its drone-in-a-box solution designed for missions like safely inspecting power lines and emergency response. As with previous versions, the DJI Dock 3 is small enough to be transported in the back of a pickup truck, but it’s the first that allows DJI’s new Matrice 4D and Matrice 4TD drones to be launched from a moving vehicle using an optional gimbal mount accessory.
Although the company hasn’t revealed how much that special mount for mobile launches will cost, the new DJI Dock 3 will be available in two bundles priced for enterprise customers with sizable budgets. It can be purchased with the DJI Matrice 4D drone for $21,059, or with the Matrice 4TD for $23,409. Those prices don’t include installation, deployment services, or optional hardware upgrades and software features.
The new dock carries forward several features from previous versions like a built-in weather station, antennas, surveillance cameras, and an internal backup battery. It still needs access to power and the internet, but can be upgraded with a cellular 4G dongle for remote deployment.
The DJI Dock 3 has an improved IP56 rating for dust and water-resistance and its operational temperature range has been expanded to as hot as 50 degrees Celsius, or as cold as -30 degrees Celsius — although DJI says preheating will be needed when temperatures are that cold.
It can communicate with drones on missions as far as 10 kilometers away, but that range can be extended to up to 25 kilometers for fixed deployments (such as on a highrise building) through the use of relays mounted at elevated locations. But that’s assuming your local jurisdiction allows drones to fly automated routes or be remotely operated at those distances. In the US, the FAA requires drone operators to obtain a Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) waiver for remote operation at extended distances.
The Dock 3 is designed to work with new IP55-rated water and dust-resistant versions of the DJI Matrice 4 Series of drones that launched earlier this year. The Matrice 4D and 4TD both feature ant-ice propeller blades, 47 minute flight times, and a combination of wide-angle, medium tele, and telephoto cameras. The Matrice 4TD has expanded night time capabilities with the addition of an infrared thermal camera and a near-infrared auxiliary light for added illumination.
Correction, February 28th: An earlier version of this article misstated the DJI Dock 3 was an autonomous solution. Automated flight routes need to be programmed by human operators.
DJI has announced the third iteration of its drone-in-a-box solution designed for missions like safely inspecting power lines and emergency response. As with previous versions, the DJI Dock 3 is small enough to be transported in the back of a pickup truck, but it’s the first that allows DJI’s new…
Recent Posts
- Samsung aims to help you make more sense of health data with a new AI-powered assistant
- Is your college laptop struggling? This Intel i5 and 16GB RAM-powered Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5 will get you back up and running for £499.99
- The Light Flip is a minimalist flip phone with a point to prove
- A touchscreen and light make the new X4 Pro the best version of Xteink’s tiny e-readers
- Tesla teases Cybercab with a built-in Starlink V5 antenna
Archives
- July 2026
- June 2026
- May 2026
- April 2026
- March 2026
- February 2026
- January 2026
- December 2025
- November 2025
- October 2025
- September 2025
- August 2025
- July 2025
- June 2025
- May 2025
- April 2025
- March 2025
- February 2025
- January 2025
- December 2024
- November 2024
- October 2024
- September 2024
- August 2024
- July 2024
- June 2024
- May 2024
- April 2024
- March 2024
- February 2024
- January 2024
- December 2023
- November 2023
- October 2023
- September 2023
- August 2023
- July 2023