DJI is rolling out a new firmware update for its DJI Dock 3 and Matrice 4D series ecosystem, bringing one particularly notable addition: support for the recently launched DJI O4 Ground Station, a new signal-enhancement solution designed to push remote drone operations farther than before.
The update covers nearly every component in the Dock 3 platform, including Dock firmware v17.02.05.21, aircraft firmware v17.02.05.21, remote controller firmware v01.64.08.18, DJI Pilot 2 v17.2.5, and DJI Enterprise app v2.6.0. DJI is also reminding operators to update the aircraft, dock, and remote controller together, since mismatched versions will not be compatible.
For enterprise drone operators, the headline feature is clear: DJI O4 Ground Station support.
Launched earlier this week, the DJI O4 Ground Station is a dedicated communication hub built for long-range drone and dock operations. It uses a 12-antenna array and intelligent multi-band transmission management to improve connectivity in challenging environments. The product is aimed at organizations running remote drone programs, including infrastructure inspectors, utility companies, public safety agencies, and other teams using DJI Dock 3 for unattended operations.
With the new firmware, Dock 3 users can take advantage of the O4 Ground Station in two different ways.
The first is Gateway Mode, which connects directly to DJI FlightHub 2 through the internet. This setup can help overcome deployment limitations and extend operational coverage for dock-based missions. DJI says the configuration is designed to support remote control and video transmission across significantly larger areas without requiring personnel on-site.
The second is Relay Mode, which is intended for locations where traditional network coverage is weak or unavailable. In this mode, the ground station acts as a communication relay, helping maintain links in valleys, mountainous terrain, or other signal-blocked environments.
The firmware update also introduces several altitude-awareness improvements.
In DJI Pilot 2, operators can now display True Altitude, or AGL (Above Ground Level), directly in the camera view. The feature requires terrain data to be enabled but should provide pilots with a better understanding of their actual height above the ground rather than relying solely on relative altitude measurements.
Meanwhile, DJI FlightHub 2 gains new AGL altitude alerts within Cockpit mode. Organizations can configure altitude thresholds and receive warnings when those limits are exceeded. Flight records in FlightHub 2 will also now calculate and display altitude-above-ground changes throughout a mission, giving operators additional data for post-flight analysis. DJI notes that these calculations rely on the platform’s global elevation model and may contain some inaccuracies.
Dock 3 is DJI’s latest-gen “drone-in-a-box” platform designed for 24/7 remote operations. The dock works with the ruggedized Matrice 4D and thermal-equipped Matrice 4TD drones, which feature improved weather resistance, extended flight times, and advanced imaging systems tailored for inspections, mapping, emergency response, and security missions.
Now, the addition of O4 Ground Station compatibility could prove significant for organizations trying to expand Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations or improve connectivity in difficult environments. For companies investing in automated drone programs, extending mission range without sacrificing reliability is often one of the biggest challenges, and this update is clearly aimed at addressing exactly that.
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