DJI Zenmuse L3
Q: What aircraft is Zenmuse L3 compatible with? Which gimbal interface can it be mounted on?
A: Zenmuse L3 is compatible with DJI Matrice 400. It requires the Zenmuse L3 single gimbal connector, which must be connected to the E1 port on the aircraft’s underside for optimal mapping accuracy.
Q: What is the protection level of Zenmuse L3?
A: Zenmuse L3 can achieve IP54 protection under IEC60529 standard in controlled laboratory conditions. To maintain protection:
Ensure the gimbal interface and surfaces are dry before installation.
Confirm gimbal is firmly installed and CFexpress™ card protective cap is clean and closed.
Wipe the drone surface before opening the CFexpress™ card cap.
Note that protection decreases over time with normal use.
Q: What is the laser pulse emission frequency of Zenmuse L3? How many returns does it support?
A:
100 kHz, 350 kHz: 4, 8, 16 returns
1000 kHz: 4, 8 returns
2000 kHz: 4 returns
Q: How does the range of Zenmuse L3 change at different laser pulse emission frequencies?
A:
2000 kHz: 290 m (center), 200 m (edge), recommended ≤ 50 m altitude
1000 kHz: 400 m (center), 280 m (edge), recommended ≤ 100 m altitude
350 kHz: 700 m (center), 500 m (edge), recommended ≤ 300 m altitude
100 kHz: 950 m (center), 650 m (edge), recommended ≤ 500 m altitude
Range is defined as the distance at which 50% of pulses are detected. Multiple surfaces reduce effective range.
Q: How many scanning modes does Zenmuse L3 have? In what scenarios do they apply?
A: Zenmuse L3 supports Linear, Star-Shaped, and Non-Repetitive scanning modes:
Linear: Consistent point cloud distribution, ideal for high-accuracy terrain mapping.
Star-Shaped: Multiple scan angles, good for forests or dense urban areas.
Non-Repetitive: Broad coverage for complex structures like transmission towers.
Q: What improvements does Zenmuse L3 have compared to the previous generation?
A:
Hardware: Smaller laser spot (1/5th of L2), supports up to 16 returns, dual 100MP RGB cameras with 107° FOV, POS accuracy 0.02° heading, 0.01° roll/pitch.
Accuracy & Efficiency: Vertical accuracy <3 cm at 120 m, <5 cm at 300 m, <10 cm at 500 m. Point cloud thickness is half of L2. Single flight at 300 m covers up to 10 km², up to 100 km²/day.
Q: What is the dual 100MP RGB mapping camera system for?
A: Expands horizontal FOV to 107°, allowing broader coverage. Even with 20% LiDAR side overlap, it can capture data for both digital orthophoto maps (DOM) and digital elevation models (DEM) in a single flight.
Q: What type of CFexpress™ memory card does Zenmuse L3 require? What if I use a non-bundled card?
A: Recommended: CFexpress™ Type B, 1 TB (bundled). Non-bundled cards may reduce write speed or power efficiency, causing frame drops or accuracy issues. A warning will appear in the app if a non-bundled card is used.
Q: Why do the left and right images in the dual RGB camera Liveview sometimes appear with different brightness?
A: Each camera uses center-weighted metering to optimize resolution. Significant differences in ambient lighting can cause visible brightness differences in Liveview.
Q: Why do I see a stitching seam in Liveview under certain conditions?
A: Keep a minimum 20 m distance between L3 and the ground or subjects. Too close, and the left and right cameras capture different perspectives, causing visible seams.
Q: What is the difference between 100MP and 25MP operation? Which scenarios are each suitable for?
A:
100MP: High resolution, more detail, higher flight altitudes (>150 m), larger storage required.
25MP: High sensitivity, larger effective pixels, lower altitudes (≤150 m), smaller storage required.
Q: Does the L3 single gimbal connector support other DJI Enterprise payloads?
A: No. Mounting other payloads may reduce mapping accuracy or affect functions such as Smart Track or Automated Overhead Power Line Inspection.
Q: When shooting video, why doesn’t the gimbal recenter, and which RGB camera is used?
A: Only one camera is active during video recording; the right-side RGB camera is used. The gimbal does not recenter.
Q: How efficient is the surveying and mapping operation? How is it calculated?
A: Zenmuse L3 covers 10 km² per flight, up to 100 km²/day when mounted on Matrice 400 (300 m flight altitude, 20% side overlap, 17 m/s, 6 hours effective flight).
Q: What is the typical flight altitude and corresponding accuracy?
A:
120 m: Vertical 3 cm, Horizontal 4 cm
150 m: Vertical 3.5 cm, Horizontal 5 cm
300 m: Vertical 5 cm, Horizontal 7.5 cm
Measured in a DJI lab using calibrated D-RTK 3, DJI Pilot 2 Area Route, Linear scanning.
Q: What improvements does L3 offer in Power Line Follow?
A:
FOV increased to 80° × 80° for larger section detection.
Smaller laser spot and longer range for stable detection.
Supports higher operational altitudes:
Transmission: 10–130 m (recommended 50–80 m)
Distribution: 10–50 m (recommended 30–50 m)
Q: Which types of lines is Power Line Follow suitable for?
A: Transmission and distribution lines ≥10 kV. Not guaranteed for low-voltage lines (e.g., 400 V) or communication/broadcast cables.
Q: In what scenarios could power line tracking be affected? How can issues be resolved?
A: Affected by:
Insulated lines
Dense tree canopies near lines
Dense or multiple crossing lines
Complex intersections
Solutions:
Switch to manual flight in complex junctions.
Avoid Power Line Follow near close tree canopies or black PVC-insulated wires.
Q: Is IMU calibration necessary during Power Line Follow?
A: Not specifically. Acceleration/deceleration while passing towers provides some IMU calibration.
Q: How to use real-time point cloud data? Can it be subscribed to and parsed?
A:
Real-time stream subscription: Via OSDK/PSDK devices; refer to SDK documentation on DJI Developer.
Offline export: Recorded .ldrt files are saved on the memory card for playback.
Q: Does real-time point cloud support cloud sharing?
A: Yes. Upload from DJI Pilot 2 to DJI FlightHub 2 for emergency decision-making.
Q: Is the accuracy of real-time point cloud consistent with DJI Terra?
A: No. Real-time point cloud is for preview only; high-accuracy reconstruction should use DJI Terra offline.
Q: Which flight tasks and modes does L3 support?
A: Waypoint Route, Area Route, Linear Route. Modes: Terrain Follow, Power Line Follow.
Q: What is the function of Point Cloud Result Preview?
A: Previews estimated point cloud in real time based on flight parameters. Shows Flight Band Center Scatter Plot, Adjacent Flight Band Center Scatter Plot, and Min Density Scatter Plot.
Q: How does Zenmuse L3 calibrate itself? When is calibration necessary?
A: If issues like rule-based coloring errors or point cloud layering appear, perform LiDAR calibration in DJI Terra. Refer to the Zenmuse L3 User Manual.
Q: How to use DJI Terra’s PPK function? Which satellite data formats are supported?
A: Supported formats: DAT (D-RTK 3/2 Base Station Mode), RINEX v2.1x/v3.0x, RTCM v3.0–3.3 (MSM3–MSM7), OEM4, OEM6. Distance between station and aircraft should not exceed 15 km; use stations supporting ≥2 GNSS constellations.
Q: Is a license required for DJI Terra processing of L3 point cloud data?
A: No. Point cloud processing, accuracy optimization, and other deliverables are free in DJI Terra V5.1.0+. Future pricing depends on release notes.
