If you’re looking to capture professional cinema grade aerial shots, DJI’s self-proclaimed first heavy lifter, the Matrice 600, could be the next drone on your radar. Newly released earlier this year, the M600 is a hexacopter made for filmmakers and other industry professionals looking to shoot the next cinematic masterpiece. Though the Matrice 600 trumps other drones in terms of size, it is designed to be just as easy to set up and fly.
The Matrice 600 is designed with six rotors for extra redundancy and stability. It also comes with six batteries for an extended flight time and extra safety in the air. With the Zenmuse X5 or XT camera, the M600 has a flight time of up to 35 minutes, and with the Ronin-MX or a heavier payload, a flight time of approximately 16 minutes.
The Matrice is capable of carrying a payload of up to 13.2 lbs, and is compatible with all of the DJI Zenmuse line of cameras and gimbals. The M600 also comes with the A3 flight control system, which is upgradable to the A3 Pro flight controller. Fully customizable and designed with all of the latest technologies, the Matrice 600 is a powerful system that delivers when it comes to shooting footage worthy of the big screen.
DESIGN AND PERFORMANCE
Ready to set up and use in minutes, the Matrice 600 is designed for maximum durability and easy maintenance. The M600 features an aluminum body, manually retractable landing gear, and foldable carbon fibre arms. The retractable landing gear ensures that the legs won’t show up in footage, while the foldable carbon fibre arms provide extra stability and portability. The Matrice’s six propellers are also carbon fibre reinforced to help keep them extra stiff.
With six actively cooled motors, flights are smooth and stable. The Matrice 600 is equipped with the E2000 Tuned Propulsion System that includes the 6010 Motors and 2170 Propellers. Due to the large motors and propellers the Matrice can lift a heavy payload and still stay quiet in the air. The six motors also make flying much safer. If a motor fails the drone can recover itself and safely land.
Another key advantage of the Matrice 600’s design is its limitless customization options. All of DJI’s line of gimbals and cameras are supported by the M600 system. This gives operators the ultimate freedom to customize the Matrice to fit their exact needs.
When it comes to cruising through the air the M600 is very steady yet agile, especially for its size. The maximum speed of the Matrice 600 is 64.8 kilometres per hour. The M600 can fly at a maximum altitude of 2500 metres above sea level. The M600 also has a maximum ascent time of 8 kilometres per hour and a maximum descent time of 4.8 kilometres per hour.
FLIGHT CONTROLLER AND APP CONTROL
Complete and accurate control is what you will get with the Matrice 600. The M600 comes with the revolutionary A3 flight controller as well as the Lightbridge 2 system. The Lightbridge 2 system can stream long range 1080p live feed and supports dual video input and dual operator setups, one for flight and one for camera control.
The A3 flight controller has built-in failsafe measures for loss of signal, low power and even propulsion failure of upto three motors. In the event of a propulsion failure, the aircraft yaws continuously and the A3 automatically switches to Home-lock for landing the aircraft safely in an emergency. Operators can also choose to upgrade to the A3 Pro version which can be enhanced with 2 additional IMUs and GPS units for triple redundancy and even more accuracy.
In addition, users can purchase the D-RTK GNSS system, which possesses centimetre level position accuracy and can withstand interference from metal.
The Matrice 600 supports the DJI Go app and the DJI Assistant 2. The app gives users a built-in flight simulator, HD view, battery level status, redundancy status, transmission strength, and more. With the app and the simplified Lightbridge 2 Remote Controller, flying a big, heavy lifting drone has never been easier. Operators can also control camera settings including shutter speed, ISO, aperture and focus. The DJI Assistant 2 makes firmware updates and configuration a breeze and also has a built-in flight simulator. There is also a new Ground Station app in the works for collaborative tasks with multiple Matrice 600 aircrafts.
BATTERY LIFE
A long battery life is a huge benefit for any filmmaker looking to perfect and capture their vision on camera. The Matrice 600 functions with six DJI Intelligent Batteries, giving it the power to lift heavy weight and keep the system running. Additionally, the six batteries give the Matrice 600 extra safety in the air. If a battery fails mid-flight, the M600 will be able to recalculate its remaining capacity, then hover in position or land automatically.
The M600 will only take-off if all six batteries are installed on the drone. All of the batteries can be turned on and off with the push of one button. The Matrice 600’s battery life varies depending on the payload and environmental conditions. It can fly for approximately 35 minutes with a Zenmuse X5 or XT camera, and up to 16 minutes with a heavier camera such as the RED EPIC.
