DJI, the world drone leader, yesterday unveiled its first-ever civilian carrier drone FlyCart 30, marking its foray into commercial delivery and logistics services.
FlyCart 30 is a dual-battery quadcopter with an eight-propeller structure. It has a maximum payload capacity of 30 kg and flies up to 16 km when fully loaded under a dual-battery mode.
With only one battery pack in action, the drone’s load increases to 40 kg and its range increases accordingly.
With a maximum flight range of 28 km, the drone cruises at a top speed of 20 m/s.
FlyCart 30 is IP55 water and dust resistant, on top of being able to withstand inclement weather and gales of 12m/s.
The drone can remain airborne for 18 minutes even in frigid environments thanks to the self-heating dual-battery pack capable of replenishing power.
With a lift of 6,000 m above sea level, it adapts to all kinds of topographies and climates.
For instance, the drone is able to operate at a temperature ranging from -20 degrees to 45 degrees Celsius.
DJI’s latest release also stands out for its two modes of delivery, namely, a cargo box configuration and a winch crane system.
The cargo box that the drone comes with can be assembled and disassembled quickly for effective loading and offloading of goods. Moreover, the cargo box is programmed to measure its own weight.
In the cases where cargo box carries the risk of missing the landing spot or cannot be dropped off to the designated location, the crane cable mode will kick in.
Under this mode, the cable drop system enables both automatic and manual control, whereby the user can have the cargo delivered as per his or her requirements, or intervene promptly if need be.
These two forms of transportation methods have given the user more freedom of choice and reliable alternatives.
The drone is equipped with DJI’s O3 video and image transmission system, which sends signals non-stop to as far as 20 km away.
Other components also set this drone apart from other members of the DJI family or similar carrier drones in the market.
The most eye-catching are a smart obstacle avoidance and a built-in parachute system, which is a standard component on all variants of FlyCart 30.
The parachute will be opened to break the fall once the drone is in free fall due to a severe glitch.
Extra safety features to cope with emergencies include the option for users to find multiple safe landing spots.
In addition, FlyCart 30 is controllable by two operators in different locations. The drone’s RC Plus remote controller allows them to switch control of the device during a long-haul flight. This effectively solves issues such as signal occlusion and insufficiency delivery accuracy.
The standard package of FlyCart 30 costs 125,000 yuan (US$17,137.5), which contains a drone, a DJI RC remote controller and C8000 smart charger, DB2000 smart flight batteries, and a charging hub and cables. The drone went on sale on China’s mainland from August 16 onward.
