DJI FlyCart 100 Delivery Drone Carries a Warehouse in the Sky

DJI has built drones for photographers, racers, and even law enforcement, but the FlyCart 100 takes the company’s hardware in a new direction. The FlyCart 100 truly opens up previously inaccessible areas by allowing us to transport huge cargo loads over long distances and transform those inaccessible locations into proper supply depots.

Over the last year, delivery companies have been scrambling to reduce costs and speed up their routes, but DJI saw this as an opportunity to develop technology that does the heavy lifting – literally, the thing weighs 83 pounds when empty but can carry 44 pounds of gear on a normal flight. But the true magic arrives when you have a little distance to travel; it can double to 88 pounds, so whether you’re transporting medical supplies or building materials, this device has you covered.

The built-in cargo case essentially wraps around your gear and holds it in place with straps and sections that close tightly. The container itself is a respectable size, being 20 inches long, 15 inches wide, and 12 inches high, allowing you to store all kinds of weird shaped goods that would rattle around in a backpack. With an IP55 weather certification, it can withstand almost any weather condition, so you can take it outside in the rain or dust without breaking a sweat. Inside, there is foam cushioning to protect all of your delicate equipment, as well as a quick release clasp that allows you to remove the entire thing off after you’ve delivered whatever you need to, and then simply reattach it for the return trip.

In terms of flight, it performs exactly as an industrial workhorse should. You can fly for up to 21 minutes with a 44-pound load on board, or 37 minutes with a lower load, and the top speed is a decent 43 mph, with a round-trip range of 18 miles on a single charge. And they include a sophisticated method for switching between two smart cells that can be swapped in and out rapidly, giving you plenty of room to complete back-to-back runs. Even in 15 mph winds, the six rotors keep the thing stable, allowing it to fly gently, while the GPS maintains it on course to within inches. You can even keep an eye on everything using a portable controller or app, which includes live video feeds from onboard cameras so you can see exactly what’s happening. That level of view is invaluable, especially when flying over dense woodland or maneuvering through city traffic.

The FlyCart 100 is loaded with safety features that will offer you peace of mind, such as a pair of redundant motors that kick in if one fails and sensors that scan all around you to detect trees or electrical wires. When you’re gently floating down to earth, a parachute deploys automatically to slow you down and ensure a safe landing. On top of that, the winch system allows the machine to descend cargo to 65 feet below the drone without ever having to land in a difficult location. Once the package touches the ground, the cable just loops back up, ready to go again. This is especially important in circumstances where speed is of the essence, such as sending a defibrillator to a stranded climber or delivering immunizations to a village cut off by flooding. DJI tested the item with thousands of simulated drops to ensure it could withstand the strain.

In the real world, extensive field testing has had a significant impact on how the FlyCart 100 is designed, such as using carbon fibre arms that fold up flat, making the entire device tiny enough to fit in a large suitcase. When unfolded, it measures 5 feet from tip to tip but weighs only 83 pounds, making it light enough for one person to transport in the back of a truck. And at night, brilliant LEDs illuminate its location, and a loud buzzer alerts anyone who gets too close from 300 feet. Pilots use it in conjunction with the DJI Pilot 2 program, which is essentially a route-planning and tracking tool that also maps out no-fly zones and keeps track of every single takeoff, which is beneficial in regulated airspace where all paperwork must be completed. DJI has even ensured that it works seamlessly with third-party tracking systems, allowing fleets to utilize it without issue.

The FlyCart 100’s most impressive feature is how quietly it works. In the highlands, it was utilized to transport 40 pounds of tools to survey crews, which must have been a blessing for the lads and lasses out there. In the city, it was utilized to transport items to high-rise apartments while avoiding the traffic on the streets. One logistics company saved 30% on fuel by replacing vans with drones for residential runs. Battery swaps take only around two minutes, and the charging station can handle four packs at once, ensuring a steady stream of drones taking off.In terms of noise, you can get down to 76 decibels during takeoff, which is basically similar to a dishwasher; the neighbors will never notice.