DJI Unveils New Addition to Its Flagship Enterprise Commercial Series—the Matrice 350 RTK
BY Zacc Dukowitz
23 May 2023DJI is on a tear this year.
For a company that’s always launching new drones, DJI has outdone itself this year. In addition to the Inspire 3 and the Mavic 3 Pro, which were launched just within the last few months, DJI has now launched the Matrice 350 RTK.
The Matrice 350 RTK is the newest drone in DJI’s Matrice series, a line of commercial drones that have become go-to platforms for work in law enforcement, as well as for inspections.
The last drone to come out in the Matrice enterprise line was the M30, a smaller version of the M300 that came out along with DJI’s first ever dock, making it DJI’s first ever drone-in-a-box. But the M350 RTK is an upgrade for the M300 RTK, which came out almost exactly three years ago, in May of 2020.
Credit: DJI
As for pricing, it looks like the M350 RTK may actually cost less than the M300 RTK.
Right now the M300 is selling for $13,700 on DJI’s website. Pricing isn’t available for the M350 on the DJI site—the only option there is to fill out a form asking to learn more. But on reseller sites we’re seeing it priced at $12,559, more than a thousand dollars less than the M300.
Specs for the Matrice 350 RTK
So what’s new on the M350?
The biggest upgrades from the M300 to the M350 are that the new platform comes with a significantly upgraded IP rating of 55 (compared to the M300’s 45), a night vision FPV camera, and upgraded O3 enterprise transmission system.
There are also battery upgrades with the M350, including TB65 Intelligent Flight lithium-ion batteries with more charge cycles and an optional BS65 Battery Station with a new charging mode, providing more ways to make sure you have charged batteries on-hand at all times.
The M350 also comes with the DJI RC Plus as the standard remote controller.
Here are the specs for the new Matrice 350 RTK:
- Flight time. 55 minutes, same as the M300.
- IP rating. IP55, up from IP45 with the M300. (The RC Plus has an IP54 rating.)
- Cameras. Enhanced night vision FPV camera.
- Payload capacity. Six pounds (2.7 kg).
- Transmission. Upgraded O3 enterprise transmission provides 1080p video for a range of 12.4 miles (20 km)—the M300’s range was 9.3 miles (15 km).
- Wind resistance. 39 feet/second (12 m/s) wind resistance.
- Max flight altitude. 4.3 miles (7,000 meters).
New Features for the M350 RTK
Here are some standout features found on the Matrice 350 RTK.
Multi-Payload Support
Matrice drones are made for commercial applications. And the M350 RTK takes this fact a step further when it comes to usefulness by being able to carry payloads from third parties, allowing users to attach customized payloads to the drone like gas detectors, loudspeakers, or multispectral sensors.
These payloads can be attached through DJI Payload SDK, allowing users to turn the drone into the specific type of remote data collection they need. And the drone can support up to three payloads—it has a single downward gimbal, a dual downward gimbal, and a single upward gimbal, as well as an E-port open interface.
It may sound like a small thing, but the ability to swap in your own payload can literally turn a drone from a single-use device into a Swiss Army knife. Or, to use another relevant metaphor, from a flip phone into an iPhone, allowing you to download an app to get your device to do exactly what you need.
Dual-Battery System and Intelligent Battery Station
Batteries are also a topic that may not seem especially interesting, but it’s the kind of thing you don’t think of until you really need to—and then it’s too late, and you’re stuck in the field, waiting for your batteries to charge.
The Matrice 350 RTK comes with a new TB65 dual-battery system that has more charge cycles—it can be charged up to 400 cycles—and the batteries seem to be more stable. The system supports hot swapping, allowing for several flights before you have to power the drone off.
As an optional add-on, the BS65 Intelligent Battery Station provides even more support in the field for making sure you always have batteries on hand.
The station has multiple charging modes, including Storage Mode and Ready-to-Fly Mode, allowing you to choose to charge to 50% or 90% depending on your plans. It also supports easier battery life management—when the station is connected to the RC Plus, you can see the drone’s battery status in the Pilot 2 app.
Credit: DJI
Enhanced Safety Features
The M350 RTK comes with several new features to make it even safer to operate, including:
- Arm lock indicator. New arm lock detection helps you avoid unlocked armed sleeves.
- Night vision FPV camera. We’ve already mentioned the fact that the M350 has this camera, but a primary reason it was added to the platform was to enhance safety for flying at night or in low-light conditions.
- 6-directional sensing and positioning. The drone comes with a six-directional binocular vision system and an infrared sensing system for six-directional awareness, positioning, and obstacle-sensing capabilities.
- CSM radar. The radar allows the drone to detect and avoid small or subtle obstacles within its horizontal 360° range at a distance of almost 100 feet (30 m).
DJI Payloads Compatible with the Matrice 350 RTK
We already mentioned that the M350 can carry third party payloads. But it can also carry several payloads from DJI.
Here are the different options you can choose from:
Zenmuse H20 Series
Credit: DJI
The four-sensor system of zoom camera, wide camera, thermal camera, and laser rangefinder works together, supplemented by advanced intelligent algorithms, to deliver outstanding sensing and imaging performance.
Zenmuse H20N
Credit: DJI
The H20N integrates starlight sensors into its zoom and wide-angle cameras. Pair this with dual zoom thermal cameras and a laser rangefinder, and you have a versatile hybrid payload that rises to the occasion.
Zenmuse P1
Credit: DJI
The P1 integrates a full-frame sensor with interchangeable fixed-focus lenses on a 3-axis stabilized gimbal. Designed for photogrammetry flight missions, it takes efficiency and accuracy to a whole new level.
Zenmuse L1
Credit: DJI
The L1 integrates a Livox Lidar module, a high-accuracy IMU, and a mapping camera. When used with the flight platform, it forms a complete solution that gives you real-time 3D data throughout the day, efficiently capturing the details of complex structures and delivering highly accurate reconstructed models.
