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The M4E now features the Smart 3D route function which solves the issue by running an automated flight route which helps to capture multiple images from different angles. This greatly improves the accuracy and completeness of the models reconstructed in Terra. 

If you have been using M3E for your mapping or surveying tasks, you should be familiar with the Area route flight mission planning. It is a great tool to construct 2D and 3D models. However, you may sometimes figure there’s: missing gaps, collapsed structures, or low quality images. 

In this article, we will cover how to do it with your M4E!

We also got a YouTube video guide! Check here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WvyClhbOYeQ.

Short summary

It is done by running two coordinated flights, the main idea is:

1. First flight running the standard Area Route option

• In your RC, choose the area route option and select the area of interest. A flight route will be automatically generated. Deploy the drone and it will capture top-down (orthophoto) images over the selected area.

• The data captured can be used to generate a rough point cloud model, they are stored and all done with just the RC.

2. Generate Smart 3D Flight path (Oblique Mission)

• Back to the menu, select the Smart 3D flight mission, you should be able to access the data file obtained from First Flight.

• After opening that file, the rough model will be automatically generated inside the RC screen. You can then select the target and adjust the area.

• Based on the rough model and area selected, it can automatically help to plan a second flight path with multiple oblique angles.

3. Second flight with the new 3D flight path
   
   

• Run the mission plan generated from step 2. The data collected from this run is the files to be imported into Terra for 3D model reconstructions.

Detailed walk-through

1. First flight - 2D ortho capture (Area route mission)

To begin with, start a normal Area route mission (like how you did with the M3E!), select your area of interest then proceed.

VERY IMPORTANT: For the settings, remember to select Oblique Collection → Enable Smart Oblique and Local Mapping. This allows the RC to process and construct a rough 3D model after the first mapping.

When ready, Fly the mission!

2. Generating the Rough 3D model

After the first flight, wait for the rough model to be processed. When done, go back to the home page and select Route again!

This time, we want to click into the Smart 3D capture mission.

Then, select the file related to the flight we did just now, it will show up in the side menu.

A rough map is constructed for you, what you need to do is select the target you want to map. In this case, we are trying to map the building, so I select the area around the house.

3. Flight route planning for the second mission (Smart 3D capturing)

After confirming the area to plot, wait for a few seconds, the flight path (green lines) are automatically generated for you. Adjust the parameters as required.

4. Fly the second mission

Hurray! What’s left is just to run this mission, then it’s done.

The flight path is projected for your reference!

5. Upload all the files to Terra

Final steps is to take the SD card out of your drone, then pass it to Terra.

For more details, feel free to visit our youtube video, we guide you through all the steps!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WvyClhbOYeQ

It has four sensors, including the zoom, wide, thermal camera and the laser rangefinder (LRF).

A popular solution with the M300/M350. The increased weather capacity, zoom power and LRF is what stands out from the Matrice thermal series.

Quad-Sensor Integration:

Combines a 20MP zoom camera, 12MP wide-angle camera, laser rangefinder (up to 1200m), and a radiometric thermal camera (640×512 resolution) — all in one compact gimbal.

20x Hybrid Optical Zoom:

The zoom camera offers up to 200x max zoom (hybrid), enabling detailed inspections from a safe distance.

Radiometric Thermal Imaging:

The thermal sensor captures temperature data with spot and area temperature measurement, isotherms, color palettes, and temperature alerts — essential for firefighting, search and rescue, and industrial inspections.

Laser Rangefinder:

Measures accurate distances to subjects between 3m to 1200m, with real-time location data displayed onscreen.

Night Scene Mode:

Enhances visibility in low-light conditions using the visual camera’s special imaging mode for nighttime operations.

High-Res Grid Photo:

Automatically captures a grid of high-resolution zoom images for detailed post-mission inspection and documentation.

AI Spot-Check:

Uses onboard AI to detect and frame pre-marked subjects for consistent, repeatable inspections.

Seamless DJI Integration:

Fully compatible with DJI’s Matrice 300 and 350 RTK systems, offering live mission planning, waypoint automation, and data sync with DJI FlightHub and Pilot apps.

IP44 Rated:

Weather-resistant design ensures reliable operation in rain and harsh field environments.

Smart Track:

Automatically detects and tracks moving subjects such as people, vehicles, or boats, while continuously reporting their real-time location.

Standard rental package "dry hire" includes:

1 x Zenmuse H20T 

Contact the DFH Head office on [email protected] or 1300 029 829 for more information, availability, and pick up / drop off arrangements. 

Rental Enquiry Form

​The Wingsland Z15 is a high-intensity, 3-axis stabilized gimbal spotlight designed for DJI Matrice drones, offering powerful illumination for low-light operations such as search and rescue, firefighting, law enforcement, and infrastructure inspection.​

Key Features

• Exceptional Brightness: Equipped with four high-power LEDs, the Z15 delivers up to 10,200 lumens of light, effectively illuminating areas up to 150 meters away. ​
• Multiple Lighting Modes: Adapt to various scenarios with three selectable modes: Always On, Flashing, and SOS. ​
• Advanced Thermal Management: A built-in air-cooling system and intelligent protection mechanisms prevent overheating, automatically adjusting performance if internal temperatures exceed 90°C. ​
• Seamless Integration: Utilizing DJI's SkyPort interface, the Z15 is compatible with DJI Matrice 200/210/300 series drones and supports dual downward gimbal configurations, allowing concurrent use with Zenmuse payloads like the XT2, Z30, or X5S. ​
• Precision Control: The 3-axis gimbal provides smooth and accurate positioning, with a 15° field of view and a controllable range of ±90° pitch and ±170° yaw. ​
• Robust Design: Weighing 500g and measuring 100×110×150 mm, the Z15 is built for durability and reliable performance in demanding environments. ​
• Ideal for professionals requiring dependable aerial lighting solutions, the Wingsland Z15 enhances operational capabilities in challenging conditions.

Standard rental package "dry hire" includes:

1 x Z15 Gimbal Spotlight 

Contact the DFH Head office on [email protected] or 1300 029 829 for more information, availability, and pick up / drop off arrangements. 

Rental Enquiry Form

Oscar (DFH head of Agriculture) with a customer Dave - getting his repaired T40 back home ready for work again.

1. Unmatched preparedness and willingness to support

Drones For Hire is an authorised DJI Agriculture Service Centre (DJI ASC).  This is because of our ag drone knowledge accumulation, service centre capabilities (repairs, demonstrations, training) and support network of technicians. We have multiple staff certified as official DJI Academy Certified Agras Instructors & DJI Certified Agras Repair Technicians. These staff had to pass exams and do complete disassembly and reassembly videos to show their knowledge is real.  Drones For Hire began selling the DJI MG-1P spray drone and has sold more DJI Ag. drones than any other dealer in Australia. We were doing demos for the T30 which had the older pressure (Teejet nozzles) back in 2022/3 (3-min video), T40 demo, and T50 demo . We support customers with a mature library of tech support videos such as this 5-min spreader calibration video tutorial. Here is a 2-min stockman video about the benefits of a regular sized drone (M3E) for scouting stock yards, monitoring feral pigs and even mustering.    

2. A setup and training day included at no cost

Spray drone purchasers receive a full day with a Drones For Hire technician for equipment set up and training. Face to face on your property. Drones For Hire has 2-3 technicians in each state, who typically own and use DJI spray drones, and mapping drones and related gear. We can’t underestimate how important this is and how often customers thank us for it. Because it means the technician has relevant knowledge and context as to how to best apply the technology to the kind of country you have on your property and your spraying/spreading goals. 

3. Mapping session included at no cost

A complimentary M3M/M4E (Mavic 3 Multispectral or Matrice 4 Enterprise) mapping flight to map the first 10 ha section of your property, as part of your setup day. Note this can be changed by request to e.g. demonstrate the Matrice 4 Thermal drone (for e.g. spotting feral pigs, counting cows, checking water levels in a cotton field).

4. Spray drone jobs subscription credit included at no cost

Credit for receiving spray drone job inquiries from our job inquiries marketplace (55,000 inquiries processed since 2013 – Australia’s largest and longest running drone job marketplace). 

Very handy if you wish to use your spray drone as a commercial business or just to pick up the odd local job.

5. Official AU stock that has a warranty and is insurable 

Drones For Hire is not interested in black market / grey market / illegal imports. These units are geo-locked by the OEM meaning they will only take off in a specific country / region of the world. Additionally, there is no local AU warranty, and the owners’ insurance policy will be void when they make a claim since the SN Serial Number will not pass the OEM reference check. Above all, these units are usually very poorly supported if at all, and arranged by short sighted, transient suppliers. 

Drones For Hire stock is legitimate and correct for the AU region and backed with an official DJI warranty. We have a good and long standing relationship with the leaders of DJI Agriculture, and local DJI staff in Australia.  

6. A commitment to innovation and local manufacturing 

Drones For Hire manufactures our own aluminium enclosures for spray drones (2-min video)

Drones For Hire also makes our own Batch Master chemical mixing stations, Fast Mover T50 transport kits, Fast-fill caps, RTK Hard Cases and various other items. 

Culturally, Our goal is to be the most farmer-centric ag. drone business in Australia and to grow fast by investing in our ‘support is sales’ mantra, and the mechanisms that enable it. 

7. Ag drone spares ready to ship

Drones For Hire recognises the urgency when a farming machine is out of action – often it happens at the worst time and can lead to yield and other losses. Our customers are always juggling different priorities and changing weather systems , varying prices for their crops/ beef/ wool etc.  

For this reason, Drones For Hire has pre-ordered and has in supply a large number of ag drone spares that we can ship very fast via our Toll Priority partnership. In all cases, we try our best to quickly understand the situation, identify the parts requirement, ship without delay and arrange help as required.

8. $1000.0 spares kit include at no cost 

We also include a $1000.0 spares kit for free with all our T50 bundles. The kit contents are carefully considered by our technicians and are updated when needed to give you the best chance of continuing to spray when a consumable part needs replacing.  

9. A solid presence in the Australian drone industry 

Drones For Hire has been operating for more than 10 years, and operates the largest and longest running drone jobs marketplace, having processed more than 55,000 drone jobs. Drones For Hire also sells $M of drone hardware each year and has a large dry-hire drone rental fleet. 

 10. A full workshop dedicated to repairs, modifications

Drones For Hire has a workshop for all warranty and non-warranty repairs. It consists of the equipment necessary to support our clients and keep their gear running such as a large working area, 100 ha for flight testing and training, substantial tools, winches, generators, vehicles, trailers, mixing/batching tanks, granular bins and a mapping training area/media area. 

Feel free to reach out and ask about the suitability of a T50 for your own property or for your contract spraying business:  [email protected] or 1300 029 829.

Go to T50 bundles (shop page)

Whatever your final T50 shopping list includes: always consider the long term and Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) on your DJI Agras 50.

If your T50 is out of action because you can’t figure out how to do something specific or because it needs parts/repairs, and you can’t get support, consider the cost of losing part of your crop or losing control of your weeds. And for contract sprayers , the cost of losing a contract and losing your local area reputation as a dependable service provider. 

I. Choose a supplier that is renowned for support and look for evidence that they can. 

The temptation is to focus on the initial purchase price – we all do it. After all, that’s the figure that’s most visible and often the first number discussed. 

Another often-overlooked component of the TCO is the cost of poor knowledge. The DJI Agras T50 is a powerful tool, but like any sophisticated technology, it requires proper training and knowledge from a good dealer , to maximize its potential. We find that just some small tips can go a long way, even basic stuff, for example explaining how Manual+ mode (in the controller) can be far more effective than regular manual mode. It is also a big advantage so not only have a drone expert teaching you the system, but also someone that understands agriculture and contracting applications. 

The cost of poor knowledge / inadequate supplier training isn’t just about operating inefficiencies—it’s about missed opportunities for improving crop health, maximizing productivity, and lowering input costs. It’s essential to invest not only in the drone but also in comprehensive training and support to ensure that the equipment is used to its fullest potential. Knowledge gaps could lead to higher operational costs, poor performance, and ultimately, reduced returns on investment. DJI T50s are very well thought out with useful flight modes and settings for different mission types  - use them to your advantage. 

II. Choose a supplier that is invested in the future

Some more DJI T50 sellers have started to pop up, many of them single operators with an ABN, a spray drone, and ute. Consider these sellers’ capacity to support customers and willingness to stay the course when things get complicated or busy.  

$34K (ex GST) isn’t much for an agricultural machine that is as capable and versatile as a DJI T50. With the right approach to this technology you will see that back in under 6 months, and many times over , in a 2-3 year period , especially when you have critical spraying /spreading to do .Just  make sure you go in to it the right way;

• Get good advice for your initial setup (gear list that matches your needs), 
• Get training that is specific to your spraying priorities , and ideally bring in a 2nd person (son, contractor, farm hand) for redundancy and help along the way.  
• Go with a reputable supplier who has the means to arrange good support at short notice.

Go to T50 bundles (shop page)

The T50 , on paper, has the technology in the aircraft and RC ,  to be able to fly a range of 15 kms or more, due to its internationally revered Ocusync transmission system. The caveat is, here in Australia , it needs to comply to the CE compliance standard, as such it is capped at 2km. Similarly the US has the FCC standard. However, this doesn’t actually change anything because DJIs system (Ocusync) is far ahead of any other,  more importantly; when you're operating a spray drone you don’t really want to be more than about 1 km from it anyway, for 2 reasons:

• You want to minimise the time the done is flying but not spraying/spreading. The trip out (ferrying time) to the mission start point from the home (Refill) point is called ‘connection routing’ in the RC menu. The longer it is, the more battery you are using up before the drone even starts spraying. 
  
  
• The T50, fully opened out, is roughly 3 x 3m in size (280L × 308W×82H cm) with the arms and propellers unfolded, and weighs 103 kg with a full load of granular onboard (hopper full). Most operators don’t feel comfortable piloting it from far away and it should always be within line of sight anyway.  

The max speed is 36 kph (10m/sec). This limit is important when spraying because at more than this speed, the aircraft loses its ability to keep the droplets contained within the vortex bubble; video example – the Drones For Hire team spraying on rice in VIC.  This is important for getting the droplets down into the crop/pasture correctly. This is one of the absolute key advantages of a DJI T50 spray drone above a boom sprayer.  Remember you're not just getting a flying boom, you're getting a carefully designed spraying system with propellers and spraying system designed and positioned for optimum spraying results.  

The T50 spreader can take 50 kg of granular (seeds, fert, baits etc), and the liquid tank can hold 40L of spray liquid.

Go to T50 bundles (shop page)

To fly a T50 on your own property

The rules were relaxed somewhat in 2024. To fly it on your own property only requires a ‘standard’ drone licence , this is called an RePL ( Remote Pilot License) which can be done in 3 days; 2 days from home doing online theory, and 1 day  in a park flying (practical). The RePL costs about $1100.0-1300.0 depending on which training school you choose. 

To fly a T50 on someone else's property requires 2 additional things:

1. A T50 Type Rating (also called ‘Endorsement’). This typically involves flying your T50 with a assessor standing next to you for about 2 hours. The assessor is basically looking to see if you can operate this relatively large drone (T50) safely - i.e. flying certain maneuvers and checking the environment before take off (nearby powerlines, animals and closeness of regional aerodromes). They might also ask about some basic aircraft specs ( e.g. max wind speed it should fly in, battery capacity) amongst other things. Cost is $890.0 at the time of writing.   
   
   
2. A CASA ReOC. A Remotely Piloted Aircraft Operator’s Certificate (ReOC) is something you need that basically tells CASA you have your knowledge and procedures in palace to be able to fly your T50 safely in unfamiliar properties/environments such as a new clients property. The process involves learning, preparing a response to a scenario you will be given , and then doing a phone interview to see if you pass. An example scenario may be something like: “Fred Smith has asked you to spray his 100 ha canola plantation at map location X. You may notice this location has a nearby public footpath, is close to a regional aerodrome, and a local helicopter company performs periodic powerline checks nearby.  You will need to factor in how to manage these risks, amongst various other considerations, in your scenario response. Cost is about $1,890.0 at the time of writing.  

Interested to see who already has a CASA ReOC? Remember a ReOC is a requirement to operate a T50 on someone else's property as a contract spray business. Go to CASA list of ReOC holders.   

Go to T50 bundles (shop page)

The DJI T50 is a modular, uncomplicated and well-engineered spraying machine, with a simple maintenance requirement. Especially when considered relative to a manned helicopter or SP sprayer. For this reason, we just don’t see spray drones simply wear out. In 2025, we still see old T10s, T20s and T30s in service. You will replace rotors and washers/shims, maybe a centrifugal or impeller pump motor , the very occasional ESC, or a motor, but that’s usually it. If you have a crash, the system is designed with sacrificial parts. Drones For Hire has its own graphical parts catalogue that is thorough and clear.

You are much more likely to stop using your spray drone because you want to upgrade to the next model, not because your current model is worn out / has been retired. DJI brings out new models roughly every 2 years. We see some customers holding out for the next model which is plausible, depending on how long the wait is, what season this time frame covers and the subsequent variables that can impact your spraying needs.  The cost of not being able to spray e.g. when it’s wet or because your local contactor is booked, or your boom sprayer is down for repairs can become far more costly than the drone purchase. Some customers even get a T50 just as a backup/ redundancy.

What’s the next one on the horizon? The DJI T100 is coming next! It will feature some more industry leading breakthrough technology as usual from DJI and will really push spray drones forward into broad acre areas of Australia, with a suspected productivity rate of 220+ ha per day per drone.  

Important to note, the T100 is not just an upgraded T50, it is in a different product category. The T50 is a versatile all-rounder that is good on crops and good for spot spraying weeds on hills, aquatic weeds in waterways and even white washing greenhouse roofs. Relative to its predecessors (T40, T30) and the T100, the T50 can be considered a ‘medium’ sized aircraft that many customers can pick up on their own and move on and off a trailer or vehicle. 

The T100 on the other hand is much bigger, less agile, requires 2 people to carry, and is therefore more designed as a high productivity crop sprayer.   

Go to T50 bundles (shop page)

A T50 costs 34,500.0 ex. GST (MSRP) for the standard 3-battery kit (aircraft, controller, charger and 3x batteries). You may choose to add a spreader (hopper for seeding, fert, baits). For a more advanced setup, add a RTK3 base station for more precision,  M4E mapping drone for large area mapping (250 ha per day), and a recommended spec laptop for map making (basically a high res and up to date version of Google maps satellite view , that can be used for automated T50 mission design. 

For broadacre spraying, a simple formula to go off is multiply the application rate x 1.8. Therefore, spraying broadacre at 20L/ha would be $36.0 per ha, 30L/ha would be $54.0 per ha, 40L/ha would be $72.0 per ha and so on. As always, contractors need to be aware of the options being offered in their local area, and their pros and cons and price accordingly. Sometimes drone contractors can charge a bit less if a local boom operator is discounting, and other times more, if it's wet or there are power lines and there is no other option. We find some contractors prefer to base their pricing on a per hour rate. This can be a good way to find out what you need to charge per Ha, but remember growers always prefer a per ha rate.

For spot spraying in pasture (weeds on undulating country, hills, gullies , fence lines, difficult country etc.), is normally $275.0 to $325.0 per hour.  While this can seem expensive to growers, a few facts should be mentioned. As discussed, a drone will cover more area quicker, use less active chemicals (sometimes up to 50%), and only spray target weeds. This means the end cost is usually less than contact hand spraying in most areas. It is also nearly always a better kill (no human error to determine rates, and the drone sits above the middle of the target which can be out of reach for a hand wand). 

Return on investment (ROI): a standard T50 3-battery kit (aircraft, controller, charger and 3x batteries) is 34,000.0 ex GST. You should see a very good return on investment as a property owner e.g. increasing your grazable land on the property, and needing less contractors. And also as a contract sprayer, typically charging at least $2200.0 per day.   

Go to T50 bundles (shop page)