DJI launches Dock 4 with 25-second automated battery swapping
DJI's first battery-swapping drone dock cuts the swap operation to 25 seconds, paired with the 59-minute Matrice 5TD and new multi-sensor autonomy functions.
DJI has introduced Dock 4, its first automated drone station capable of replacing an aircraft battery in 25 seconds, alongside the new Matrice 5TD enterprise drone. Battery swapping removes the need to wait for the aircraft to recharge inside the dock between dispatches. The 25-second figure covers the battery exchange, rather than the full mission turnaround. Matrice 5TD offers up to 59 minutes of flight time and a maximum speed of 21 m/s, with DJI reporting drone-to-cloud video latency of up to 160 milliseconds. The combination targets remotely operated drone fleets for emergency response, infrastructure inspection, security and surveying.
Matrice 5TD combines wide-angle, telephoto, infrared and night-vision imaging with laser ranging, rotating LiDAR, three-directional millimetre-wave radar and six-directional visual sensing for obstacle avoidance, including thin power lines. Its camera system offers 11× telephoto imaging, infrared resolution up to 2560 × 2048 in enhanced mode and laser ranging up to 3 km. Onboard AI identifies 17 object categories, while FlightHub 2 supports remote operations, searchable video feeds, automated detection alerts and mission management. Dock 4 operates across a stated −40°C to 50°C temperature range, with the aircraft supporting interchangeable accessories weighing up to 450 g.
The launch follows DJI Dock 3, introduced in February 2025 with vehicle-mounted deployment support and the Matrice 4D series. Dock 3 relies on charging the aircraft between missions, with a published 27-minute charging time from 15% to 95% under specified conditions. Dock 4's battery-exchange mechanism reduces that particular interruption, enabling faster repeated dispatches from a fixed station. Actual fleet availability remains dependent on spare-battery charging, flight conditions, maintenance and local operating authorisations. DJI says the new system will be sold through authorised enterprise dealers, but has not disclosed a global retail price.