DJI has given its newest enterprise drone, the Matrice 400, a massive upgrade — not in size, but in brainpower. Released alongside the drone is Manifold 3, a compact yet powerful onboard computer that brings AI processing, developer flexibility, and even smartphone-like app installation directly to DJI’s latest flying platform.
Weighing in at only 120 grams, Manifold 3 is powered by NVIDIA’s Jetson Orin NX, delivering up to 100 TOPS (trillion operations per second) of computing power. This means the drone isn’t just flying — it’s thinking, analyzing, and reacting in real-time.
What makes DJI Matrice 400 special?
The Matrice 400 is DJI’s newest flagship enterprise drone, a successor to the Matrice 350 RTK. With enhanced flight performance, extended payload support, and compatibility with advanced sensors like LiDAR, it’s built for demanding missions in energy, public safety, infrastructure, and environmental monitoring.
Now, pair that with Manifold 3, and the Matrice 400 becomes an intelligent aerial workhorse — one that developers and professionals can customize and control like never before.
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AI on board: What can manifold 3 do?
What sets Manifold 3 apart is how much it enables in such a small package. Built for performance and adaptability, it includes:
- 100 TOPS computing power for AI models
- GPU and DLA acceleration
- IP55 protection, built to handle -4°F to 122°F
- Efficient thermal design, running smoothly even in hot conditions
- USB-C 3.0 with Power Delivery, so you can plug in flash drives, sensors, and more
But hardware is just half the story.
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Manifold 3 unlocks some serious next-gen capabilities:
- Real-time access to LiDAR point cloud data
- Overlay AR visuals in DJI Pilot 2 for situational awareness
- Onboard 4G networking for lower latency and faster transmission
This means public safety teams could overlay live AR markers during a mission, while infrastructure inspectors can visualize 3D LiDAR scans in real-time, all without leaving the field.
Moreover, thanks to DJI Payload SDK (PSDK) support, developers can tap into drone sensors, video streams, and control systems directly. You can install application packages from the third-party ecosystem, such as software for power grid, river, and pipeline inspections, to enhance efficiency in specific scenarios. If you are a developer, you can use the PSDK open interface and CUDA computing components provided by Manifold 3 to develop AI applications for drones. You can then apply for mass production review and listing in DJI’s Ecosystem Products Catalogue to promote your application.
Manifold 3 provides a stable, high-performance environment for building and deploying applications that span:
- Renewable energy site inspections
- Forestry and environmental monitoring
- Pipeline, powerline, and river inspections
- Emergency and public safety operations
- Building facade assessments
And with USB-C expandability, connecting network cards or specialty sensors is plug-and-play.
In short, Manifold 3 makes the Matrice 400 much more than a drone — it becomes an intelligent flying robot, capable of running sophisticated AI models in real time. That’s a game changer for industries that rely on fast, accurate aerial insights. Whether you’re inspecting power lines in the desert or monitoring a floodplain in the rain, the combination of DJI’s Matrice 400 and Manifold 3 means you can process, analyze, and act — all from the sky.
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