Well-known consumer drone manufacturer DJI announced global availability for its first-ever delivery drone today. The DJI FlyCart 30 will carry up to 66 pounds (33 kg) for up to 10 miles (16 km), and it will do so in a significant range of weather and terrain. Plus, in a novel approach for delivery drones, the FlyCart 30 has a built-in parachute.
“From agriculture to construction management and surveying, DJI’s industrial-grade drones have transformed industries,” Christina Zhang, a senior direct at DJI said in a statement. “We are optimistic that FlyCart 30 will become a trusted solution for aerial delivery, solving complex terrain and terminal transportation problems efficiently, economically, and most importantly, safely from the air.”
Fast facts on the FlyCart, which has been available domestically in China for six months already:
- Payload capacity: 66 pounds (33 kg)
- Speed: 45 mph (72 kph)
- Dual cargo mode: 70-liter carrying capacity or winch cable for dropping loads safely
- Range: 17 miles (28 km) without payload, half that with payload
- Operational temperature range: -4° to 122° F
- Operational altitude range: 0-19,685 feet (0-6,000 m)
- Operational modes: autonomous and piloted (up to 12 miles/16km)
- Sensing: dual active phased array radar and binocular vision
While DJI has made its name in the consumer space, it does have drones for agriculture, enterprise, and surveying. It’s aiming this new drone at specific spaces like mountain and offshore delivery as well as emergency rescue transportation. Particularly that last part is a significant need: finding lost hikers or climbers, and safely delivering needed supplies for them.
The parachute might seem like a negative—doesn’t DJI have confidence in this drone and its range—but in the rescue space is clearly a major positive. If you need to push range to the maximum and beyond in order to deliver life-saving equipment, having the ability to gently land your drone and be able to retrieve it to fly again another day is a major benefit.
DJI has also included a feature that allows a remote pilot to transfer control to another pilot “with a single click.” That’s a good feature for search and rescue, where someone might be closer to the situation and better able to manage the drone, as well as for shift changes mid-flight.
In the core delivery space, however, DJI will face tough competition from Amazon, from Manna Aero, and others who are already establishing themselves as leaders.
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