DJI Zenmuse H30T

The DJI Zenmuse H30T is a gimbal payload with five sensors for heavy multicopters of the Matrice line (Matrice 400, 350 RTK and 300 RTK). It combines a thermal camera with a 48 MP wide-angle camera, a 40 MP zoom camera and a laser rangefinder and attaches through DJI SKYPORT.

The thermal camera with an uncooled microbolometer delivers 1280 × 1024 pixels, four times as many image points as a 640 × 512 sensor, at a 12 µm pixel pitch. The thermal sensitivity is at most 50 mK, measured at aperture f/1.0; the spectral range is 8 to 14 µm and the frame rate 30 Hz. The thermal image is stored in the R-JPEG format and carried with temperature measurement ranges, which makes it suitable for measurement reports. The wide-angle camera has 1/1.3 inch and 48 MP, the zoom camera 1/1.8 inch and 40 MP; zoom is quoted as 34x hybrid-optical and up to 400x magnification. Three axes stabilise the payload, which weighs 920 g and has an IP54 rating.

The frame rate of 30 Hz lies above the 9 Hz limit above which thermal modules fall under the EU Dual-Use Regulation. Anyone using or passing on the payload outside the EU may need an export licence. Images of people and property fall under data-protection law, and the operator must be registered.

Higher resolution recognises smaller temperature differences at greater distance, such as individual solar cells from a safe flying height; for overview flights, less suffices. The daylight cameras help assign hot spots to components. Zoom mechanics, gimbal motors and SKYPORT contacts are the wear points, and firmware is maintained together with the aircraft. Zoom steps above the optical range only enlarge, they add no detail.