With the new Matrice 400, DJI is equipping drone pilots to overcome significant operational obstacles. The M400 makes challenging missions more achievable with features such as vessel-based takeoff and landing, and power-line-level obstacle detection. While the M350 RTK remains a capable drone, the M400 introduces several key enhancements that make it a compelling choice for demanding missions.
Beyond its superior obstacle avoidance, the M400 offers enhanced operational capabilities. It features a robust design with an IP55 protection rating and a wide operating temperature range, matching the M350 RTK's durability. However, the M400 significantly increases payload capacity to 6 kg, allowing for more versatility with up to seven payloads simultaneously, including new options like the Zenmuse H30 Series and L2. Furthermore, the M400 extends its maximum flight time to 59 minutes (with a single payload) and doubles the transmission range to 40 km using the new O4 Enterprise Enhanced Video Transmission System, supported by an advanced ten-antenna system and cellular dongle compatibility. For those looking to invest in a new enterprise drone, the M400 presents a compelling value proposition.
Despite the M400's advancements, the M350 RTK remains a strong, proven platform. The M350 is particularly good for organizations with existing M350 RTK fleets or those whose operational requirements are fully met by its current capabilities. Its compatibility with a range of widely used payloads allows for diverse applications from photogrammetry to search and rescue. The M350 RTK was formerly a top-tier choice for commercial functions, and it continues to be a reliable option for many professional drone operations.
DJI Matrice 400:
Pros
DJI Matrice 350 RTK:
Pros
Cons
Cons
| DJI Matrice 400 | DJI Matrice 350 RTK | |
| | | |
| Price | Starting at | Starting at |
| Dimensions | Unfolded, with landing gear: | Unfolded, without propellers: |
| Weight | 9.74±0.04 kg | Approx. 6.47 kg |
| Max Payload | 6 kg | 2.7 kg |
| Max Takeoff | 15.8 kg | 9.2 kg |
| Ingress | IP55 | IP55 |
| Video Transmission | DJI O4+ Enterprise Enhanced | DJI O3 Enterprise |
| Obstacle | Omnidirectional binocular vision system | Six-direction binocular vision system |
| Max | 25 m/s | 23 m/s |
| Max Flight Time | Approx. | Approx. |
| Max Wind Resistance | 12 m/s | 12 m/s |
| Operating | -20° to 50° C | -20° to 50° C |
| Max | 7 | 3 |
DJI continues to outdo itself, and its latest release of the DJI Matrice 400 is no exception. This top-tier enterprise drone excels at nearly every mission, with a high payload capacity and incredible obstacle sensing upgrades that give you almost unlimited reign over the sky. But how exactly does it compare to its predecessor, the DJI Matrice 350 RTK?
The M350 RTK still stands up as an excellent enterprise drone, but there are a few nifty upgrades in the M400 that make it worth doing a deep dive comparison between the two. To help you see whether an upgrade to the M400 is justified, let’s see how the two drones compare.
The DM400 has a state-of-the-art omnidirectional obstacle avoidance system that combines rotating LiDAR, high-precision mmWave radar, and full-color low-light fisheye vision sensors for complete control in midair. The rotating LiDAR system features a laser beam that continuously spins around a vertical axis, providing a 360° field of view.
The high-precision mmWave radar goes even further, using electromagnetic waves to detect and measure movement, objects, and angles from midair. This allows the drone to fly near objects like glass-facade buildings or wind turbine blades that would normally confuse a vision-based sensor. It also allows it to identify incredibly small obstacles (such as power lines) through rain, fog, or darkness. Lastly, the full-colour low-light fisheye vision sensors provide Full-Color Vision Assist, giving the pilot a clear view of their surroundings for an even safer flight. When the lighting conditions are low, the vision sensors will switch to a black and white view to maintain visibility.
With all three of these sensors, the DJI M400 can return safely from mountain bases, bridge sides, and building edges even when the return point hasn’t been updated. It’s also designed for ship-based takeoff and landing, allowing the drone to launch from stationary vessels and land on moving vessels by recognizing specific landing point patterns on the ship. This makes it ideal for offshore operations such as wind turbine inspections or maritime patrols.
The Matrice 350 RTK has an admirable obstacle avoidance system, but it lacks several of the fancy features that make the M400 so effective at detecting smaller obstacles in dim lighting. The M350 RTK features a six-directional binocular vision system and an infrared sensing system, enabling it to position itself and detect obstacles in all six directions. If you want to enhance the drone’s detection capabilities, you can include the optional CSM Radar. This detects small obstacles up to 30 meters away, both above the drone and in a 360° range around it.
The DJI M350 RTK also comes with an FPV camera that boasts superior night vision capabilities. By working together with the PinPoint function, you can fly more confidently at night in a wide variety of terrains. Lastly, there’s an arm lock detection function that prevents the drone from flying off with the arm sleeves unlocked. Altogether, these features may not reach the level of the M400 in terms of overall safety, but they do a pretty decent job of keeping the drone secure in less-than-ideal flying conditions.
The DJI M400 is a pretty large drone, with a weight of 9740±40 g (with batteries) and folded dimensions of 490×490×480 mm (L×W×H) when including the landing gear and gimbal. It is designed to fly in any number of inclement weather conditions, with an IP55 protection rating that wards off dust and liquid. It can also stay operable in temperatures ranging from -20° to 50°C (-4° to 122°F), giving you the freedom and flexibility to fly in both scorching deserts and frigid snowcapped mountains.
Perhaps its most notable design feature is its ability to handle a payload capacity of up to 6 kg, with four external E-Port V2 ports that allow you to accommodate up to seven payloads at a time. The drone supports smooth transitions between the single downward gimbal and dual downward gimbals, while a third gimbal connector underneath the drone makes it even more adaptable to your needs.
The payload capacity of the M350 RTK is good, but not as high as that of the M400. The drone features a maximum payload capacity of 2.7 kg, allowing you to carry up to three payloads at once. The E-Port open interface allows you to connect with a wider variety of payloads, while the gimbal setup–a single downward gimbal, dual downward gimbals, and a single upward gimbal–gives you plenty to work with in terms of configuration for various applications.
The DJI M350 RTK is a slightly smaller drone, with a weight of 6.47 kg (with two batteries) and folded dimensions of 430×420×430 mm (L×W×H). It also has an IP55 protection rating and the ability to operate in the temperature range of -20° to 50°C (-4° to 122°F), making it equally as durable as the M400.
The DJI M350 RTK is a slightly smaller drone, with a weight of 6.47 kg (with two batteries) and folded dimensions of 430×420×430 mm (L×W×H). It also has an IP55 protection rating and the ability to operate in the temperature range of -20° to 50°C (-4° to 122°F), making it equally as durable as the M400.
Even with the ability to attach up to seven payloads, the DJI M400 has a pretty stellar flight time. With only one payload attached (such as the Zenmuse P1), the M400 can fly for up to 59 minutes and hover for up to 53 minutes. A 3 kg payload reduces this to 44 minutes, while the full 6 kg payload lowers it to 31 minutes. Still, it’s a decent amount of time to fly, especially with all of that weight.
The aircraft’s ten-antenna system, combined with the high-gain phased array antenna on the remote controller, allows the Matrice 400 to transmit images and video up to 40 km away using the O4 Enterprise Enhanced Video Transmission System. The drone also supports the sub-2G frequency band and the optional DJI Cellular Dongle 2, which keeps the signal stable by switching to the best available carrier network in case of interruption.
There’s also an integrated video transmission relay module that allows one M400 drone to extend signal coverage. By sending one M400 drone to a high altitude, this function allows the pilot to use the drone as a relay to extend signal coverage to another drone flying further away. This can be especially helpful in vast, remote environments where drones need to cover a lot of ground quickly (such as a search and rescue operation).
The Matrice 350 RTK has a slightly lower maximum flight time of 43.9 minutes when equipped with the Zenmuse P1 payload. This flight time is reduced to 32 minutes when using the full 2.7 kg payload, making it about equal to the Matrice 400 when at full capacity.
While the M400 uses O4 transmission, the Matrice 350 RTK uses O3 Enterprise transmission to broadcast triple-channel 1080p HD live feeds up to 20 km away. The aircraft and the remote controller are both equipped with a four-antenna transceiver system that automatically chooses the two best antennas for transmitting signals. With a lower range and fewer features for maintaining a stable signal, the M350 RTK is a bit more restricted in crowded, complex, or remote environments.
Each drone is compatible with several different payloads, offering you a decent amount of versatility for performing multiple missions at once. Payloads compatible with the Matrice 400 include:
● Zenmuse H30 Series. This contains five modules: a wide-angle camera, a zoom camera, an infrared thermal camera, a laser range finder, and an NIR auxiliary light.
● Zenmuse L2. This features frame-based LiDAR, a high-accuracy IMU system, and a 4/3 CMOS RGB mapping camera to provide real-time 3D data capture. It’s more geared toward collecting geospatial data, allowing you to map complex structures and generate reconstructed models.
● Zenmuse P1. This payload is equipped with a full-frame sensor with interchangeable fixed focus lenses mounted on a 3-axis stabilized gimbal. Its high levels of precision make it well-suited for photogrammetry flight missions.
● Zenmuse S1. DJI created this spotlight to be used with multi-payload drone platforms, using LEP technology to deliver incredible brightness in several different modes. It’s ideal for public safety or emergency rescue operations, particularly at night.
● Zenmuse V1. DJI created this loudspeaker to be used with multi-payload drone platforms. Users can broadcast high-volume sound at an extended range via multiple modes, making it perfect for emergency rescue and other public safety missions.
● Manifold 3. This payload enhances operational efficiency and processing capabilities by adding 100 TOPS of computing power to the aircraft.
● Third-Party Payloads. The external ports allow you to equip the Matrice 400 with third-party payloads, giving you even more creative control over what you do in midair.
The Matrice 350 RTK is compatible with a couple of the same payloads as the DJI M400, as well as several older models. These include:
● Zenmuse L2. As previously mentioned, this high-precision aerial system combines frame LiDAR technology, a high-precision IMU, and a 4/3 CMOS RGB mapping camera. It enables drone pilots to capture geospatial data more precisely, efficiently, and reliably. When used with DJI Terra, it provides a complete solution for acquiring and processing high-accuracy 3D data.
● Zenmuse P1. As noted earlier, the P1 is designed specifically for photogrammetry, the Zenmuse P1 combines a full-frame sensor with interchangeable fixed-focus lenses on a 3-axis stabilized gimbal. This powerful setup significantly boosts the efficiency and accuracy of your aerial mapping projects.
● Zenmuse H20N. This payload features a zoom camera, a wide-angle camera, dual zoom thermal cameras, and a laser rangefinder. It also integrates starlight sensors within its zoom and wide-angle cameras to make it even more effective in low-light environments. These various sensors make it well-suited for missions ranging from firefighting to inspections to search and rescue operations.
● Zenmuse H20 series. This payload series comes with a four-sensor system: a zoom camera, a wide camera, a thermal camera, and a laser rangefinder. It’s a slightly less powerful payload than the H20N, but still performs well at tasks like data capture and high-quality imaging.
● PDSK Payloads. The drone can work with customized payloads integrated using the DJI Payload SDK (Software Development Kit), giving you the power to equip things like loudspeakers, gas detectors, and multispectral sensors.
Both drones are compatible with the DJI Pilot 2 app, which allows the user to plan routes and exert greater control over their flight. To pilot the app, however, there is one controller that works with each drone:
The Matrice 400 is compatible with the DJI RC Plus 2 Enterprise controller, which features a high-bright display that maintains visibility even in direct sunlight. It also features an IP54 protection rating and O4 Enterprise video transmission with support for SDR and 4G hybrid transmission.
The Matrice 350 RTK is compatible with the DJI RC Plus controller, which comes with a high-brightness 7-inch screen. The WB37 external battery ensures battery life of up to six hours, while Dual Operator mode allows two users to pilot the aircraft at the same time. Like the RC Plus 2, this controller features an IP54 protection rating, although it runs on O3 Enterprise instead of O4.
With different payload capabilities, features, and price points, each drone may be better suited to different needs. The DJI Matrice 400, although newer and more advanced, is actually the cheaper option at $14,099 CAD. This drone has a longer flight time, more advanced obstacle detection sensors, and is compatible with a higher number of more advanced payloads. Features like the Zenmuse L2’s ability to follow power lines and Real-Time Terrain Follow make it easy to automate inspections and perform mapping missions. The AR projection features are also pretty handy tools for identifying landmarks, generating maps, and detecting obstacles.
The Matrice 350 RTK is the more expensive option at $14,379 CAD. It has a few fancy features of its own, such as AI Spot-Check and PinPoint, that make it easier to frame subjects and coordinate between the air and the ground. Until the M400 came out, the M350 RTK would have been the best option on the market for most commercial functions, but the M400 has definitely proven to be a stronger drone. With that being said, if you already own the M350 RTK, it may not be worth the price of buying another enterprise drone just to take advantage of the extra features. But in an even comparison between the two, the Matrice 400 is the clear winner.
Dr Drone
Auteur
DrDrone is Canada's leading provider of drone technical services, with over a decade of experience and the distinction of being the first company in the country to offer drone servicing and repairs. As the largest drone vendor in Canada, we are also the primary supplier of Remotely Piloted Air Systems (RPAS) to the Canadian government. Our team members possess extensive knowledge of each drone's technical specifications and have a wealth of hands-on experience. For more than ten years, we have been dismantling and reconstructing drones, ensuring a deep understanding of these systems.