Drone in a Box: The DJI Dock 3 and How it's Changing Agriculture
As we all know, technology is progressing at a greater pace than ever before. This is especially the case for drone technology, with the capabilities of modern drones far outpacing those from even a couple of years ago.
The DJI Dock 3 is a prime example of this, and is set to become an increasingly useful tool for the agricultural sector. It’s what’s called a “drone in a box” solution. Basically, a weatherproof box houses a waterproof drone inside. The drone (the DJI Matrice 4D or Matrice 4TD) is equipped with multiple zoom cameras, a laser rangefinder and a thermal camera.
What makes the Dock 3 special is when it’s supplied with an internet and power connection, it can be controlled and the data it captures can be viewed from anywhere in the world. The implications of this for agriculture are enormous.
You can purchase a Dock 3, set it up on your farm, and get a licensed done pilot to the conduct missions and send you the data. You don’t need to worry about learning to fly it yourself, or getting a Remote Pilots License. Just install the dock and let someone else do the work.
Trough and water infrastructure inspections, fence inspections, crop mapping, livestock checks, security and much more are all possible without anyone even needing to enter the property. The Dock 3 even contains its own weather station and cameras, so it can tell when its ok to fly and when it’s not.
The Dock 3 opens, the drone launches, completes the mission, before landing itself back into the dock where it charges itself up. With its own inbuilt air conditioner, it’s able to operate in temperatures of up to50°C. The drone can hop between docks if your property is particularly large, allowing for missions over massive areas.
The DJI Dock 3 can help you save on labour costs, perform asset inspections, enhance crop yields, improve livestock outcomes and increase farm safety, all without you needing to leave home.
There are some qualifications set by CASA that anyone operating the Dock 3 remotely needs to have, such as Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) accreditation and a certified Remote Operations Centre (ROC). Because of these requirements, the Dock 3 may be financed as an ongoing "drone as a service" cost, rather than an upfront purchase.
If you'd like to book a demo of the Dock 3, get in touch with Field Master Systems today.
