Investing in a drone, especially a high-end model with advanced sensors like LiDAR, can be daunting. One question may linger: “What if my $50,000 drone is damaged or destroyed?” Rest assured that drone technology and manufacturers have come a long way in preventing accidents, and many come with robust coverage options.
Safety Features on Today’s Drones
Modern drones are equipped with technology that significantly reduces the risk of crashes. Here’s how:
Obstacle Avoidance Systems
Most newer drones, including popular models like DJI's Mavic and Matrice series, come with sophisticated obstacle-avoidance systems. These systems use dual cameras on all sides of the aircraft, providing depth perception and the ability to detect nearby objects like trees or buildings. If the drone comes too close to an obstacle, it issues an audible warning, similar to car parking sensors, and automatically stops or tries to navigate around the object.
However, obstacle-avoidance sensors have some limitations: they don’t work well in low-light conditions or with thin obstructions, such as wires. So, while these features add a layer of safety, it’s still essential for operators to stay vigilant.
Smart Battery Management
Running out of battery mid-flight is another common crash risk. DJI drones have intelligent battery monitoring systems that estimate remaining flight time and notify the operator with audible warnings. If the battery runs critically low, the drone will even attempt to return to the home point automatically, helping to prevent crashes due to power loss.
What Happens if You Crash?
Despite the advancements in safety technology, accidents can still happen. So, if you’ve crashed a DJI Enterprise drone system, what’s next? Thankfully, all DJI enterprise drones come with optional DJI Care programs, offering comprehensive protection against damage from accidents, crashes, water, and even signal interference.
DJI Care Programs: Basic and Plus
DJI Care has two protection plans (for up to 2 years, contact us to learn more about your options):
- DJI Care Basic: Covers up to two replacements at a minimal fee.
- DJI Care Plus: Offers unlimited replacements within the coverage amount, with no additional replacement fees.
All DJI enterprise drones include the Basic plan with the purchase. For added peace of mind, you can upgrade to DJI Care Plus. DJI also covers shipping costs if you need to use either coverage option.
Covered Models and Payloads
DJI Care coverage is available for a wide range of enterprise drones and payloads, including:
- Drones: Matrice 350 RTK, DJI Mavic 3 Enterprise, Matrice 30 Series, Phantom 4 RTK, and more.
- Payloads: Zenmuse H20 Series, Zenmuse P1, Zenmuse L1, and various other advanced sensors and modules.
If you buy, for example, a Matrice 350 RTK with an L2 LiDAR package, the entire setup is covered under the DJI Care plan.
Real-Life Example: DJI Care in Action
Our team recently experienced this firsthand. During a search and rescue mission in the alpine mountains, our Matrice 350 RTK with an H20T camera encountered icing conditions and crash-landed in an inaccessible area. The crash was due to pilot error flying in icing conditions.
Although disappointed, we knew that DJI Care would support us. We submitted a ticket along with flight logs to DJI support. Within days, DJI determined that an unknown failure had occurred, and they provided a replacement for the entire system at a minimal fee (even though the aircraft was lost). This could have ended up in a $30,000+ cost to our business.
A Worthwhile Investment
When investing in a professional-grade drone, safety features and DJI Care’s comprehensive coverage provide peace of mind. These programs and technologies ensure that you can focus on your mission without constant worry over potential mishaps.
Whether you’re using drones for land management, search and rescue, or industrial inspections, DJI Care programs help protect your investment, letting you put your drone to work with confidence.
