DJI’s new drone brings high-resolution thermal imaging to rescue operations
The Matrice 5T can detect thin power lines 32 meters away
Its thermal camera offers four times the resolution of conventional sensors
DJI has introduced the Matrice 5T, an enterprise-level drone designed for search and rescue, emergency response, and demanding inspection missions. Its high-resolution thermal camera and enhanced night vision allow operators to examine difficult locations, including environments with extremely limited visibility. The aircraft also offers up to 59 minutes of flight time, improved obstacle avoidance, and longer communication range for operations across challenging terrain. 1K thermal imaging and night vision improve search capabilities
The Matrice 5T features a thermal camera with native 1280 × 1024 resolution, providing four times as many pixels as conventional 640 × 512 sensors. Its ultra-high-resolution infrared mode increases output to 2560 × 2048, allowing operators to examine heat patterns with additional image detail. These capabilities could prove particularly useful during search-and-rescue operations, where identifying people in darkness or on difficult terrain remains challenging. The wide-angle camera uses a 1/0. 98-inch sensor and f/1. 8 aperture, supported by artificial intelligence enhancements for low-light photography. DJI claims the system can capture full-color images under illumination measuring just 0. 01 lux, an extremely dark operating environment. The drone also includes a 50 MP medium telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom for examining infrastructure and distant objects. Another telephoto camera provides 11x optical zoom, 176x hybrid zoom, and monochrome night vision, allowing operators to examine license plates from distances reaching 400 meters. Obstacle detection receives similar attention through the combination of LiDAR, millimeter-wave radar, and omnidirectional visual sensors. The LiDAR system can identify thin obstacles, including electrical cables, from distances reaching 32 meters during nighttime operations…