- The DJI FlyCart 100 is a new heavy-duty load-carrying drone
- It can carry up to 100kg and climb heights up to 6,000 meters
- It’s also able to operate in a range of demanding environments
DJI drones may be faced with an impending US ban, but that hasn’t stopped new models from flying into view – in fact, the Chinese giant has just unleashed its most powerful flying machine so far in the form of the brilliantly-named FlyCart 100..
According to a DJI press release, the FlyCart 100 could deliver your next parcel – although unless you’re up Mount Everest or on a construction site, it probably won’t be necessary. That’s because it’s custom-made to work with heavy payloads in the most challenging environments, and by the sound of it, there’s not a whole lot it can’t do. It could be one of the best drones around, albeit not one you’d pack for a photography trip.
DJI says the FlyCart 100 can carry loads up to 100kg in weight, making it a beefy option compared to more standard delivery drones. Over longer distances, it can carry 65kg for 12 kilometers, or 80kg for six kilometers, giving it impressive range for substantial parcels.
In order to do that, it’s equipped with a winch and 30-meter cable, which can be retracted at a rate of 1.2 meters per second. The winch has both automatic and manual release and retrieval options, too.
That kind of carrying capacity requires a powerful battery. In that regard, DJI notes that the FlyCart 100 can support ultra-fast charging and has hot-swappable batteries with a redundant design, enabling the drone to keep operating even when one cell goes down. The batteries can also be warmed to keep them working well in cold conditions.
Comes with a sky-high price tag
Speaking of which, DJI says its new drone can function in temperatures ranging from -20°C to 40°C, withstand winds of up to 12 meters per second, and fly as high as 6,000 meters, which would let it scale a good number of sky-high mountains. It’s got IP55 water and dust resistance, a LiDAR detection system to help it avoid obstacles, plus a built-in parachute that slows its descent to seven meters per second if needed.
Still, despite all that, it’s not the friendliest-looking drone on the market. Its large size, angular design, eight blades and multiple attachments give it a cyberpunk feel, like it was heading to a shoot for a new Terminator film and got lost along the way. If I saw a swarm of FlyCart 100 drones appearing over the horizon, I’m sure my heart would skip a beat or two.
If you’re based in the US, though, you might not be able to get hold of one of these products. The US government is inching closer to banning DJI products from its shores over alleged national security concerns, meaning the company’s titan-sized drone might never make an appearance there.
DJI hasn’t listed an official price for the FlyCart 100. We’re checking with DJI but have seen prices listed elsewhere in the range of $12.500 (£9,400 / AU$18,800). That might seem like a lot, but this is no consumer toy.
Given what it can do, it’s likely that anyone interested in its capabilities won’t mind paying a pretty penny for a drone that claims to be able to stand up to the roughest of challenges. Let’s just hope the FlyCart 100 doesn’t find a way to connect to Skynet and get HK-Aerial ambitions.
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alexblake.techradar@gmail.com (Alex Blake)
