The DJI Matrice 30 series — the M30 and M30T — earned a strong reputation across Australia as a compact, capable workhorse for public safety, infrastructure inspection, and general enterprise use. With its integrated sensors and rugged build, the M30 was many organisations' first enterprise drone.
DJI has now moved on, replacing the Matrice 30 series with the Matrice 4D and Matrice 4TD — designed specifically for autonomous dock-based operations with the DJI Dock 3, while also supporting manual flight with the RC Plus 2 controller.
What's Changed?
The transition from M30 to Matrice 4D series represents a shift towards autonomous drone operations. While the M30 was primarily a manual-flight platform, the M4D and M4TD are optimised for both manual and fully autonomous operations via the DJI Dock 3.
| Feature | Matrice 30 / 30T | Matrice 4D / 4TD |
| Status | End of Life | Current |
| Dock Compatible | No | Yes (Dock 3) |
| Manual Flight | RC Plus | RC Plus 2 |
| Thermal (T variant) | M30T: Wide + Zoom + Thermal + LRF | M4TD: Wide + Zoom + Thermal + LRF |
| Transmission | O3 Enterprise | O4 Enterprise |
| IP Rating | IP55 | IP55 |
| 4G Connectivity | Dongle required | Built-in 4G |
| RTK | Built-in | Built-in |
The Dock 3 Advantage
The biggest reason to upgrade from the Matrice 30 to the Matrice 4D series is dock compatibility. The DJI Dock 3 enables fully autonomous drone operations — schedule flights, capture data, and retrieve results without a pilot on site. This is transformative for:
- Mining sites — Automated daily stockpile surveys and perimeter patrols
- Energy infrastructure — Scheduled solar farm and powerline inspections
- Security operations — 24/7 automated surveillance and rapid response
- Construction — Regular progress monitoring without deploying a pilot each time
If your organisation is considering drone automation, the M4D/M4TD + Dock 3 combination is the clear path forward.
Still Flying the Matrice 30?
Your existing M30 or M30T continues to be a capable platform. We stock spare parts and accessories while supplies last:
Upgrade to the Matrice 4D Series
The Matrice 4D and 4TD are available from Advanced Avionics Australia with full DJI warranty and Care protection plans. We also offer the Dock 3 for organisations ready to move to autonomous operations.