The DJI Matrice 4TD is the dock-optimized thermal variant of the Matrice 4 platform, engineered for autonomous remote operations with DJI Dock 3. It carries the same four-module sensor stack as the standard M4T — 48 MP wide-angle, 48 MP medium-tele (70 mm), 48 MP tele (168 mm with 16x optical / 112x hybrid zoom), and a 640 × 512 radiometric thermal camera — but adds an integrated RTK module, low-noise anti-ice propellers, a -20 °C to 50 °C operating range, and a battery sized for 54-minute flights and a 43 km maximum flight distance. Pair it with Dock 3 for 24/7 unattended operations, or fly it manually with the DJI RC Plus 2 Enterprise.
Thermal-equipped, dock-optimized version of the Matrice 4. 54-minute flight time, integrated RTK, low-noise anti-ice props, and dual deployment as a Dock 3 aircraft or a standalone manual platform.
Features
- Four imaging modules on one stabilized payload: 48 MP wide-angle (f/1.7, 24 mm equivalent), 48 MP medium-tele (70 mm), 48 MP tele (168 mm with 16x optical / 112x hybrid zoom), and a 640 × 512 radiometric thermal camera with 1280 × 1024 super-resolution mode
- 1,800 m laser rangefinder and NIR auxiliary light for accurate target geolocation and low-light operations day or night
- Integrated RTK module on the aircraft, with hovering accuracy of ±0.1 m vertical and horizontal at RTK fix
- Built for DJI Dock 3: launches in 10 seconds from a 27-minute charge cycle (15% to 95%), operates on a 10 km radius from the dock, and supports remote oversight through DJI FlightHub 2 and DJI Cloud API
- Also flyable as a standalone aircraft with the DJI RC Plus 2 Enterprise controller (7.02-inch 1,400 nit display, IP54), so the same airframe handles both autonomous and pilot-on-station missions
- IP55 environmental rating on the aircraft and IP56 on the dock, with -20 °C to 50 °C aircraft operating temperature (-30 °C to 50 °C for the dock) for sustained operations through rain, dust, snow, and cold-weather environments
- 1364F foldable low-noise anti-ice propellers, the dedicated propeller for the M4D series, with a quieter acoustic signature and reduced icing risk in cold or humid conditions
- 54-minute maximum flight time, 47-minute hover, and 43 km maximum flight distance, measurably better than the standard M4T airframe thanks to a larger Li-ion 6S battery and revised airframe
- Omnidirectional binocular vision system supplemented with a 3D infrared sensor for obstacle awareness in autonomous operations
- DJI O4+ Enterprise video transmission with 25 km range (FCC) between the aircraft and Dock 3 or the RC Plus 2 Enterprise controller, with support for the D-RTK 3 Relay Fixed Deployment Version to extend range in obstructed environments
- Mission features carried over from the M4 Series: AI Spot-Check for repeatable inspections, PinPoint for target geolocation and broadcast, Smart Capture, and panorama capture up to 100 MP stitched
Specifications
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Aircraft | |
| Configuration | Quadcopter, folding |
| Dimensions (without propellers) | 377.7 × 416.2 × 212.5 mm (L × W × H) |
| Diagonal wheelbase | 498.5 mm |
| Weight (with battery, props, microSD) | 1,850 g |
| Max takeoff weight | 2,090 g |
| Max horizontal speed (Normal mode) | 15 m/s forward |
| Max horizontal speed (Sport mode) | 21 m/s forward |
| Max ascent / descent speed | 10 m/s ascent (Sport), 8 m/s descent (Sport) |
| Max wind speed resistance | 12 m/s |
| Max takeoff altitude | 6,500 m |
| Max flight time | 54 minutes |
| Max hovering time | 47 minutes |
| Max flight distance | 43 km |
| Max operating radius (from dock) | 10 km |
| Operating temperature (aircraft) | -20 °C to 50 °C (-4 °F to 122 °F) |
| Ingress protection (aircraft) | IP55 |
| RTK module | Integrated on the aircraft |
| Hovering accuracy (RTK) | ±0.1 m vertical, ±0.1 m horizontal |
| GNSS | GPS, BeiDou, Galileo, QZSS, GLONASS (QZSS and GLONASS via RTK module) |
| Motor | DJI 2611 |
| Propellers | 1364F foldable low-noise anti-ice |
| Wide-angle camera | |
| Sensor | 1/1.3" CMOS, 48 MP |
| Lens | 24 mm equivalent, f/1.7, FOV 82° |
| Focus range | 1 m to ∞ |
| Max image size | 8064 × 6048 |
| Defogging | Supported |
| Medium tele camera | |
| Sensor | 1/1.3" CMOS, 48 MP |
| Lens | 70 mm equivalent, f/2.8, FOV 35° |
| Focus range | 3 m to ∞ |
| Defogging | Supported |
| Tele camera | |
| Sensor | 1/1.5" CMOS, 48 MP |
| Lens | 168 mm equivalent, f/2.8, FOV 15° |
| Focus range | 3 m to ∞ |
| Digital zoom | 16x optical, 112x hybrid |
| Defogging | Supported |
| Thermal camera | |
| Type | Uncooled VOx microbolometer |
| Resolution (UHR mode) | 1280 × 1024 |
| Resolution (Normal mode) | 640 × 512 |
| Pixel pitch | 12 μm |
| Sensitivity (NETD) | ≤ 50 mK @ f/1.0 |
| Lens | 53 mm equivalent, f/1.0, FOV 45° |
| Frame rate | 30 Hz |
| Infrared wavelength | 8 to 14 μm |
| Temperature range (high gain) | -40 °C to 150 °C (-40 °F to 320 °F) |
| Temperature range (low gain) | 0 °C to 500 °C (32 °F to 932 °F) |
| Accuracy (high gain) | ±2 °C or ±2%, whichever is greater |
| Digital zoom | 28x |
| Palettes | White Hot, Black Hot, Tint, Iron Red, Hot Iron, Arctic, Medical, Fulgurite, Rainbow 1, Rainbow 2 |
| Laser rangefinder | |
| Normal incidence range | 1,800 m @ 20% reflectivity target |
| Oblique incidence range | 600 m |
| Blind zone | 1 m |
| Accuracy | ± (0.2 + 0.0015D) at distance D (meters) |
| Gimbal | |
| Stabilization | 3-axis mechanical (tilt, roll, pan) |
| Mechanical range (tilt) | -140° to +113° |
| Controllable range (tilt) | -90° to +90° |
| Max control speed (tilt) | 100°/s |
| Angular vibration range | ±0.005° |
| Sensing | |
| Type | Omnidirectional binocular vision plus 3D infrared sensor at bottom |
| Forward measurement range | 0.5 m to 20 m (detection to 200 m) |
| Backward measurement range | 0.5 m to 20 m |
| Lateral measurement range | 0.5 m to 16 m |
| Battery | |
| Capacity | 6,768 mAh |
| Voltage | 22.14 V |
| Energy | 149.9 Wh |
| Chemistry | Li-ion 6S, LiNiMnCoO2 |
| Weight | 640 g per pack |
| Cycle count | 400 |
| Low-temperature charging | Supports self-heating low-temperature charging |
| Video transmission | |
| System | DJI O4+ Enterprise |
| Max transmission distance (FCC, no interference) | 25 km |
| Max transmission distance (CE / SRRC / MIC) | 12 km |
| Latency (aircraft to dock) | ~100 ms |
| Antenna | 8 antennas, 2T4R |
| D-RTK 3 relay support | Yes (recommended for obstructed environments) |
| Cellular dongle support | DJI Cellular Dongle 2 (sold separately) |
Sensor and mission features
- AI Spot-Check. Saves a reference framing and exposure, then reproduces the same shot on subsequent autonomous flights from the dock. Critical for repeatable inspection of towers, substations, perimeters, and infrastructure where the same asset is photographed across months.
- PinPoint. Tap a target in the live feed; the aircraft computes real-world coordinates using gimbal pointing, RTK position, and the 1,800 m laser rangefinder, and broadcasts them to ground crews or to other aircraft. Used for handoff in DFR, search and rescue, and security operations.
- Smart Capture and panorama. 100 MP stitched panoramas and Smart Capture across all three RGB sensors. Useful for documenting site state at the start and end of an autonomous mission.
- Lens defogging. All three RGB sensors support active defogging, which keeps imagery usable through condensation and humid conditions where the dock launches.
- Thermal radiometric imaging. Per-pixel temperature data with ±2 °C accuracy at high gain and a -40 °C to 500 °C combined measurement range across the two gain modes. Sufficient for hot-spot detection on substations, fire response, and emergency search and rescue.
Dock 3 integration
The Matrice 4TD is designed first as a Dock 3 aircraft. The dock provides the following operating envelope:
- 10-second takeoff with advanced GNSS standby for rapid mission readiness
- 27-minute battery charge cycle (15% to 95%), measured at 25 °C
- 10 km operating radius from the dock for routine missions
- -30 °C to 50 °C dock operating temperature, with compressor-based air conditioning, dock cover heating, and self-contained backup battery (>4 hours runtime)
- IP56 environmental rating, supporting permanent rooftop, ground, or vehicle-mounted deployment
- Built-in 9-antenna 2T4R transmission system with intelligent switching, plus a high-precision RTK base station built into the dock
- Internal and external security cameras (1080p, 151° FOV) for site monitoring and aircraft observation
- Environmental sensors: wind speed, rainfall, ambient temperature, water immersion, in-cabin temperature and humidity
- Network options: 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet, or 4G via the DJI Cellular Dongle 2 (sold separately)
- Lightning protection on AC power and Ethernet ports, meeting EN/IEC standards
- Vehicle-mounted deployment supported with the dedicated vehicle-mounted gimbal mount, for mobile DFR and patrol operations
Who this is for
- Public-safety agencies running DFR or perimeter-watch programs where the dock launches autonomously on dispatch, and command staff supervise through DJI FlightHub 2 from the operations center
- Utility, energy, and infrastructure operators standardizing on autonomous inspection rounds across substations, solar fields, pipelines, and remote sites — visit the site once to install the dock, then operate remotely
- Federal, state, and local government programs deploying drones for traffic management, border / coastal monitoring, wildlife management, and disaster response, where the operator-on-station model is impractical
- Industrial and security customers placing docks at multiple sites and supervising aircraft from a centralized control room, with thermal imaging required for night operations or hot-spot detection
- Operators who need a single airframe that can fly autonomously from a dock and also be hand-flown on demand with the RC Plus 2 Enterprise controller
Operating modes
- Autonomous from Dock 3. Pre-planned missions execute from the dock on schedule or on dispatch through DJI FlightHub 2 or DJI Cloud API. The aircraft launches in 10 seconds, executes the mission, and returns for charging — no operator on site required.
- Manual with RC Plus 2 Enterprise. The aircraft can also be flown manually with the DJI RC Plus 2 Enterprise controller (7.02-inch 1,400 nit display, IP54, 25 km transmission range FCC) for missions where pilot oversight is preferred or required. The same aircraft handles both deployment models.
- Remote supervision through FlightHub 2. Command staff can monitor live video, mission state, and aircraft telemetry from FlightHub 2 or FlightHub 2 On-Premises during autonomous operation, intervene if needed, and trigger return-to-home or alternate missions in real time.
Compliance and certification
| Remote ID | Standard Remote ID compatible |
| FCC, CE, SRRC, MIC | Certified per published transmission specifications |
| NDAA Section 848 | The M4TD is a DJI-manufactured aircraft and is not on the Blue UAS Cleared List. Federal and DoD buyers with NDAA procurement requirements should look at the Freefly Astro Max NDAA or other Blue UAS Cleared aircraft. |
| BVLOS | The aircraft is hardware; BVLOS operations require an FAA waiver from 14 CFR 107.31 or operation under a public aircraft authority. The aircraft's omnidirectional sensing and dock-based operation are designed to support BVLOS approval applications. |
FAQ
What's the difference between the M4TD and the M4T?
Same four-module camera stack (wide, medium-tele, tele, thermal) and same gimbal architecture. The M4TD is the dock-optimized variant: integrated RTK module, 1364F low-noise anti-ice propellers, a larger Li-ion 6S battery for 54-minute flight time (vs. 49 min on the M4T), wider operating temperature range of -20 °C to 50 °C (vs. -10 °C to 40 °C on the M4T), and the airframe enhancements that support 24/7 dock operation. The standard M4T is the right choice for operator-in-the-field missions; the M4TD is the right choice for autonomous dock deployments or for crews that need both deployment models in one aircraft.
Can I fly the M4TD without a dock?
Yes. The M4TD pairs with the DJI RC Plus 2 Enterprise controller for standalone manual flight at up to 25 km range (FCC), with all the same mission features (AI Spot-Check, PinPoint, panorama, defogging, thermal radiometric imaging) available. Many operators run the M4TD primarily from a dock and keep an RC Plus 2 Enterprise on hand for ad-hoc manual missions and pilot training.
How long does it fly?
Up to 54 minutes of maximum flight time and 47 minutes of hover time on a full battery, per DJI's published lab data. Real-world flight time is shorter and depends on wind, payload draw, altitude, and aggressive maneuvering. From the dock, the practical operating radius is 10 km on routine missions with battery reserve maintained for return.
Does it have integrated RTK?
Yes. RTK is built into the aircraft on the M4TD, not added as a separate module. The aircraft achieves ±0.1 m hovering accuracy at RTK fix, both horizontally and vertically. When deployed with Dock 3, the dock includes its own high-precision GNSS / RTK base station, and the D-RTK 3 Multifunctional Station can also be used as a relay for obstructed sites.
What about cold weather?
The aircraft operates from -20 °C to 50 °C and the dock from -30 °C to 50 °C, with self-heating low-temperature battery charging and active dock cover heating. The 1364F anti-ice propellers reduce ice accumulation in humid or freezing conditions. Persistent operation in extreme cold or precipitation will affect performance, and the IP55 / IP56 ratings should not be treated as permanent — DJI notes IP performance may degrade over time and use.
How does video transmission work?
The aircraft uses DJI O4+ Enterprise for video and control link, with a 25 km maximum range under FCC rules in unobstructed conditions. From the dock, the transmission is direct dock-to-aircraft, with the dock relaying live video and telemetry to FlightHub 2 over Ethernet or cellular (DJI Cellular Dongle 2 sold separately). In obstructed environments, the D-RTK 3 Multifunctional Station in Relay Fixed Deployment Version is recommended to extend usable range.
What software runs the dock?
DJI FlightHub 2 (cloud), FlightHub 2 On-Premises (closed-network deployments), FlightHub 2 FlightHub Sync, or any third-party platform built on DJI Cloud API. The DJI Enterprise app on Android is used for initial deployment and commissioning of the dock.
Is the aircraft on the Blue UAS Cleared List?
No. The DJI Matrice 4TD is not on the DIU Blue UAS Cleared List and is not NDAA Section 848 compliant. Federal and DoD buyers with NDAA procurement requirements should look at Blue UAS Cleared aircraft like the Freefly Astro Max NDAA. State and local agencies that do not have an NDAA procurement requirement can operate the M4TD under their normal authorities.
Can I geolocate targets from the aircraft?
Yes. The PinPoint feature uses gimbal pointing data, the aircraft's RTK-corrected position, and the 1,800 m laser rangefinder to compute real-world coordinates for any pixel in the live feed. Coordinates can be broadcast to FlightHub 2 and to ground crews, which is the standard handoff workflow in DFR and search-and-rescue operations.
Do I need a Part 107 license to fly this?
Yes, for commercial operation in the United States, when flying the aircraft manually or with on-site personnel. Autonomous dock operations almost always require additional waivers (BVLOS at minimum) and benefit from operating under Part 89 / public aircraft authority for government and public-safety agencies. The aircraft ships compatible with Standard Remote ID broadcast requirements. We can help structure your operations manual and waiver application alongside the purchase.
What payloads are compatible?
The M4TD supports the DJI AL1 Spotlight and DJI AS1 Speaker (both shared with the M4 Series). No mounting bracket is required when installing these accessories on the M4D series aircraft — they install directly. Third-party PSDK payloads compatible with the M4 Series interface are also supported.
