×

To make this website work, we log user data. By using Shephard's online services, you agree to our Privacy Policy, including cookie policy.

×
Open menu Search

IDEX 2023: Autel Robotics showcases DJI challenger drone

2nd March 2023 - 11:30 GMT | by Matty Todhunter in London

RSS

The EVO Max 4T is an in-development rotary-wing ISR drone from Autel Robotics. (Image: Autel Robotics)

Autel Robotics presented its Dragonfish series and EVO Max 4T at IDEX 2023, hoping to challenge DJI's market dominance with the latter.

First announced in January 2023, Autel Robotics showcased the EVO Max 4T drone at IDEX 2023. According to an company representative speaking to Shephard at the show, it hopes the drone will take some of DJI's market share when it comes to the market.

The EVO Max 4T contains various autonomous flight technologies and AI features, such as omnidirectional obstacle avoidance and the A-Mesh system that enables drone-to-drone autonomous communication, connection and collaboration. 

The drone has an open architecture. Because of this, a user can fit various payloads to the platform and hot-swap its batteries without powering it down. 

IDEX 2023: Bayraktar TB2 to dominate Middle East UAV spending

IDEX 2023: Ukrainian industry highlights loitering munitions and UAVs

IDEX 2023: Israeli hydrogen-powered heavy lift UAS to fly by summer

At IDEX, Autel also displayed its Dragonfish series of fixed-wing drones, first seen in October 2018 at the Commerical UAV Expo in Las Vegas. The series comprises three models, the Dragonfish Lite, Standard and Pro, which vary in size and weight.

Dragonfish Lite Dragonfish Standard Dragonfish Pro
Size965 x 1600 x 350mm1290 x 2300 x 460mm1650 x 3040 x 460mm
MTOW4.5kg7.5kg14.5kg
Payload 1.0kg1.5kg2.5kg
Endurance 81 min126 min158 min
Ceiling Altitude4000m6000m6000m

Each UAV features a tiltrotor design which, according to Autel, has no complicated moving parts. The system is modular, meaning it can be assembled in just three minutes by operators and host a range of payloads. The UAVs are all waterproof with an IP43 rating.

The Dragonfly features two top-mounted centre-fuselage rotors for lifting and two propellers mounted on the wingtips. (Image: Autel Robotics)

Like the EVO Max 4T, the Dragonfly series of drones features a variety of automated functions. For example, its nose contains a millimetre-wave radar which detects obstacles up to 200m away, allowing the UAV to autonomously adjust height and speed. It also contains an ADS- B receiver which notifies the operator about the position, altitude and speed of incoming crewed aircraft.

Information disseminated at IDEX listed five ISR payloads for the drone series. According to a company representative, these have been developed in-house, and if none apply to a user's needs, a third-party payload can be fitted to the drone without tools.

 

Shephard's IDEX and NAVDEX 2023 coverage is sponsored by:

World Defense Show

Matty Todhunter

Author

Matty Todhunter


Matty Todhunter is the UAS Analyst for Shephard Media's Defence Insight. Before joining Shephard, Matty graduated with …

Read full bio

Share to

Linkedin