Images from uStrażaka.pl, Igor Bogdanov
DJI just dropped an official teaser for a November 5 product launch, and it looks like we are finally getting the standalone DJI Matrice 5T.
Earlier this month on October 14, DJI released the Matrice 5TD alongside the new DJI Dock 4. The catch with the 5TD is that it is a fixed-arm drone built strictly for automated dock operations which you cannot fold up or fly it manually in the field with a standard remote controller yet. The upcoming Matrice 5T is the portable, foldable version that field crews, search and rescue teams, and inspectors have actually been waiting for.
While DJI is keeping official details quiet until November 5, months of leaks, dealer slip-ups, and forum chatter have already given us a solid picture of what is coming.
Image from uStrażaka.pl
The first real glimpse of the foldable Matrice 5 showed up back in late July, covered by DroneXL. Regular DJI leaker Igor Bogdanov shared photos of a gray prototype sitting on a workbench. Unlike the fixed-arm dock version, this drone clearly had folding arms and tall landing legs.
Two big hardware changes stood out right away. First, there was a black dome mounted right on top of the body, looking a lot like an integrated LiDAR sensor for 360-degree obstacle avoidance, sitting just in front of a built-in RTK antenna. Second, the camera gimbal had five separate optical windows instead of the layout on the Matrice 4 series. Over on the MatricePilots forum, pilots quickly started guessing how DJI packed the payload; pointing toward multiple zoom and wide lenses, a laser rangefinder, a NIR light, and a much heavier-duty thermal camera.
When the Dock 4 and fixed-arm Matrice 5TD launched on October 14, a lot of operators wondered when the regular foldable model would show up. As it turns out, we got proof of it the exact same day thanks to an accidental leak in Poland.
As spotted by DroneXL, a Polish fire and rescue gear dealer called uStrażaka.pl posted photos on Facebook showing off their hands-on demo with the new Dock 4. Right next to a photo of the dock drone, they accidentally included a rear shot of an unreleased Matrice 5 with folding arms.
Facebook's automated system slapped an "AI content" tag on the post, and the dealer later claimed it was just a non-commercial test unit brought out during a demo with their distributor, NaviGate.pl. Still, the drone in the photo matched the July prototype leaks down to the smallest details. The back view showed a slide-in battery bay with green power LEDs, plus two accessories bolted to the sides: a finned spotlight module on the right and a dual-vent speaker on the left.
Image from Igor Bogdanov
Facebook's automated system slapped an "AI content" tag on the post, and the dealer later claimed it was just a non-commercial test unit brought out during a demo with their distributor, NaviGate.pl. Still, the drone in the photo matched the July prototype leaks down to the smallest details. The back view showed a slide-in battery bay with green power LEDs, plus two accessories bolted to the sides: a finned spotlight module on the right and a dual-vent speaker on the left.
Image from uStrażaka.pl
Since the dock-based 5TD and the portable 5T are part of the same generation, the specs shared in uStrażaka.pl's post and broken down on MatricePilots give us a clear idea of what the foldable 5T will bring to the table on November 5:
While the teaser points squarely at the thermal-equipped Matrice 5T, forum users on MatricePilots are also watching closely to see if DJI announces a Matrice 5E alongside it. A 5E model would drop the high-end thermal camera in favor of a mechanical-shutter mapping camera to replace the Matrice 4E. Either way, come November 5, field pilots are getting a major hardware upgrade that fits right back into a standard transport case.
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.