DJI has released the DJI FC100 flagship cargo drone, with a maximum payload of 80 kg and a 9 - minute fast - charging capability.

36Kr learned that on June 30, DJI officially launched the new flagship civilian cargo drone, DJI FlyCart 100 (hereinafter referred to as DJI FC100). It integrates greater payload capacity, faster charging, and enhanced safety and intelligence. It supports two load systems, is paired with a rich ecosystem of applications, supports PSDK, and can be adapted to third - party loads, redefining professional cargo transportation and breaking through the boundaries of more scenarios. DJI FC100 can be applied in multiple scenarios such as emergency response, fire - fighting, power, engineering, logistics, and water areas, and can handle all - weather transportation in complex scenarios with ease. The first - generation DJI cargo drone, DJI FlyCart 30, was launched in August 2023.

The main highlights of the upgraded DJI FC100 cargo drone are as follows:

1) Payload capacity

In single - battery mode, the maximum supported payload has been upgraded from 30kg to 80kg. In dual - battery mode, the maximum supported payload has been upgraded from 40kg to 65kg, maximizing its performance, of course, on the basis of sea - level altitude. At an altitude of 3000 meters, the single - battery payload of DJI FC100 is 70kg, and the dual - battery payload is 50kg. However, the maximum flight altitude of both generations of products when unloaded is 6000 meters, and the maximum flight height is also 1500 meters.

2) Aerial hoisting system

DJI FC30 supports two modes: cargo box and aerial hoisting system. After market and user research, the new - generation DJI FC100 has been upgraded to support two different modes of aerial hoisting systems: the flagship version and the dual - battery version. The flagship version supports cable retraction, with a retractable rope length of 30 meters and supports rapid retraction of heavy loads at a speed of 1.2 meters per second. It also features functions such as active hook opening and closing, real - time weighing, and rope - releasing for getting out of trouble. The dual - battery version is suitable for simple scenarios that do not require a winch, such as open take - off and landing sites. It allows ground crew to receive goods on the ground by lowering the altitude of the aircraft for unloading. This load also supports functions such as real - time weighing, automatic swing elimination, and one - key fusing.

The aerial hoisting system of FC 100 has been significantly upgraded compared to FC30. Its structure has been redesigned, adopting a dual - motor mode with a longer internal rope length, higher motor power, faster retraction speed, and a new active hook function. The two aerial hoisting systems are not interchangeable.

3) Safety system

Compared with the previous generation, which was equipped with front - and - rear active phased - array rotating radars and binocular vision, DJI FC100 has added a lidar, a millimeter - wave radar, and a quad - vision system for comprehensive protection. The newly added lidar has a higher point - cloud density, enabling more accurate obstacle recognition. Real - time point - cloud imaging helps the pilot judge the environment around the aircraft. In addition, a quad - vision system has been added, and the detection algorithm of the millimeter - wave radar has been optimized.

Moreover, the parachute has also been comprehensively upgraded. The maximum take - off weight of DJI FC100 is 149.9kg, nearly 60% higher than that of FC30, which places higher requirements on the parachute. The newly designed parachute can open at an altitude of over 80 meters when the aircraft is fully loaded, with a ground - impact speed of no more than 7m/s, providing good protection for the cargo and the aircraft. It also newly supports non - roll flight, improving the stable flight ability in cross - winds and the fault - tolerant control performance in case of power failure. Many safety functions such as cargo obstacle avoidance, low - altitude flight limitation, and AR display of people and vehicles have been added.

4) 9 - minute fast charging

DJI FC100 is equipped with a 41 - ampere - hour battery and supports three charging methods, enabling 9 - minute fast charging and significantly reducing the charging time. It continues the battery hot - swap function, reducing waiting time for battery replacement. It also supports a battery insulation box to ensure operation performance in cold environments.

5) Image transmission

The image transmission of DJI FC100 has been upgraded to the 20 - kilometer O4 image transmission system and supports 4G - enhanced image transmission and image - transmission relay to handle obstructed environments. It continues the function of one controller for two aircraft, allowing two people to operate one aircraft to meet the operation needs of various scenarios.

6) Software

DJI FC100 supports the new Delivery App, which has added functions such as loading and unloading point guidance and multi - view assistance for fully automated transportation with one - key operation. DJI's transportation management system supports a global overview map and third - party video access. DJI FC100 supports PSDK Eport - lite, with an open external high - power interface of up to 3000W, and supports cloud - to - cloud docking 2.0 for expanding more applications.

It is worth mentioning that DJI's cargo drones are currently accelerating their global layout. In Japan (with the highest penetration rate), the United States, South America, Europe, and other regions, low - altitude transportation applications are being deployed to help overseas users break through the bottlenecks of industry transportation efficiency and safety with China's technological innovation capabilities. Currently, the key overseas scenarios include mountain engineering (photovoltaic, building materials, etc.), power and fire - fighting, and emergency transportation.

Zhang Xiaonan, Senior Director of Corporate Strategy and Spokesperson at DJI, said, "DJI has always responded to industry expectations with technological innovation. In the past two years, cargo drones have played a crucial role in scenarios such as emergency rescue, high - altitude power, and engineering transportation, and have been recognized by professional users. In the new - generation cargo drone, DJI FC100, we have focused on optimizing the payload capacity, endurance, and intelligent safety system, and introduced a more flexible aerial hoisting solution, enabling more users to enjoy the all - round improvement in transportation efficiency, safety, and adaptability brought by professional hoisting and services. We look forward to exploring new low - altitude cargo transportation scenarios with more users!"