As our friends and colleagues from flytechnologywho, by the way, helped us to get this drone for testing, every suggestion from our defenders was taken into account by the company in the PROTECT+ firmware. And even now, active negotiations are underway to further improve the software that is constantly updated on this drone. And its positioning as something more than just the Enterprise series becomes clear even during a quick look. First of all, the drone itself has become larger and heavier (1604 g) compared to its predecessor. But first things first.
A serious competitor
Autel positions this drone as a direct competitor to the Dji M 30T, and indeed it is quite similar in terms of characteristics, although in size it is a cross between the DJI m3T and DJI M30T. But there is something that can completely set this drone apart from all competitors!
These are the frequencies at which it operates, namely 900 MHz/2.4 GHz/5.2 GHz/5.8 GHz. The EVO Max 4T with PROTECT+ firmware uses advanced flight control modules and algorithms specifically designed to counter RFI, EMI, and GPS spoofing. This allows the EVO Max 4T to fly confidently near power lines, critical structures, and in challenging environments such as war zones. Special attention is also paid to the ability to fly in restricted areas - the drone has no restrictions. Advanced sensors allow the security system to see 720 degrees and move inside fortified structures, underground or without GPS. Finally, manufacturers realized that there are areas on the planet without GPS signal)).
As for spoofing, if it occurs, the drone automatically detects a sharp change in coordinates and stops taking into account signals from satellites. We can say it's full-fledged.
Autel's ATTI mode is fully implemented, and it can also be activated directly from the flight software at any time. At the same time, as our tests have shown, the drone, unlike DJI, does not start to blow away in the wind thanks to the advanced visual control system of its own security cameras. This, in turn, will mean a significant reduction in the number of drone losses due to the inability of inexperienced pilots to fly the drone in ATTI mode in strong winds.
The camera is a top of the line!
I would also like to talk about the camera, which turned out to be of surprisingly high quality. It includes a wide-angle camera, a zoom camera, a thermal imaging camera, and a laser rangefinder for all your needs. 8K 10x optical zoom combined with software zoom allows you to zoom in up to 160x. The image quality at the maximum zoom is similar to the Dji M30, but much better. If DJI m 30 has a 12 megapixel camera, Autel boasts 50 megapixels, the difference is not very noticeable visually, but 50 megapixels allows you to see more small details at a considerable distance, and this is often very necessary.
No miracle happened with the thermal camera - it's still the same 640×512 with 16x zoom. The only thing we noticed was that the thermal image loses a little quality when zoomed in. It is also possible to manually set the range of temperatures of interest during the search, and this can be very useful in our work)). But what really impressed me was the progressive night vision mode of the main camera. Even in absolute darkness, it is able to maximize the ISO value, which makes it easy to navigate in space.
As for the laser rangefinder, it is standard in its characteristics, and the maximum range is about 1200 meters. It is also capable of displaying coordinates in the WGS84 system. Our team was pleasantly surprised to see the drone's artificial intelligence. In addition to different equipment, it is able to distinguish between people, and it is quite good at distinguishing between military and civilians.
Flights and routes
Another advantage of this drone is the visual route guidance system and security cameras installed on board. The system is able to build complex routes when returning home, noticing the slightest obstacles on its way and easily avoiding them. But it's not even this that's important here, what about its direct competitor DJI M 30?
The security system is based on stereo infrared sensors arranged on all sides, and they are very clearly visible in the UAS. While on the EVO Max 4T, spherical cameras with a 120° viewing angle are responsible for security, and in combination with the nighttime Stealth flight mode, when all lights on the drone itself go out, it allows you to remain more invisible.
We can write a separate article about the software, but in short, everything is very concise, ergonomic, and appropriate. To begin with, this is the first drone that has officially received localization in our country and is ready to communicate with you in your native nightingale language). It seems like a small thing, but it's still nice)). In addition, the drones that will be supplied to European countries will have a choice of English or Chinese. However, there were some translation mishaps.
For example, the Sport mode, for some reason, was translated into the Ukrainian version as "Unreal" mode, and on the one hand, this only encourages you to try it, but on the other hand, you want to think twice when you see such a warning: "The maximum speed in Unreal mode is 23 m/s, the software may shut down."
In addition, we all know that DJI drones cannot be updated to prevent unpleasant surprises on the battlefield, but here the situation is quite the opposite, as each new release opens up new features and new opportunities. For example, initially, the drone could only shoot in 4K quality, and now, after the update, your drone will be able to do it in 8K. This means that the potential inherent in it at the factory will be revealed gradually. It's also worth noting that data covering user and drone information, including flight logs, location, and account information, can only be physically accessed locally via the drone.
Seriously, it is most likely just to disclaim responsibility, since the software is still at the stage of writing and is constantly updated, opening up
Encrypted data storage: Supports AES-256 encryption for photos, videos, and flight logs and is password protected.
Convenient management
The menu of the new software is intuitive and, similarly to DJI, is organized into a convenient list. Among the features, I would like to note the ability to disable GPS directly during the flight.
The landing lights can be turned on or off separately, which is definitely useful for those involved in delivery. There is also a threaded connection near the landing lights, which can help to securely fix any fastener.
It's also easy enough to take a screenshot and start recording it, which is mandatory during a combat flight. Now the program itself does it. The Anti-Fog function allows you to make the picture more contrasty and take better pictures in rain or fog. But the camera settings are only available when the drone is on the ground, and during the flight, all you can do is adjust the exposure. There's also no way to choose the formats and size of the image being captured. By default, it always remains maximized.
It is also worth mentioning such an important point as the downloaded map of Ukraine, which is very detailed. And thanks to the split-screen function, you can use both the map and the thermal imager at the same time.
Some more "goodies"
The Autonomy Engine from Autel enables this drone to find its way autonomously. It collects environmental data and plans 3D flight paths through complex environments such as mountains, forests, and buildings. Applications include rapid 3D scene reconstruction, public safety surveillance, industrial inspection, and topographic surveying. This means that such a drone can be sent on automatic missions, as it will navigate by visuals in the event of a GPS signal loss.
In addition, in the future, it is planned to implement the A-Mesh system, which provides autonomous communication, connection, and joint work of drones. Several drones in the vicinity can act as relay points, which greatly increases the efficiency of work, and in case of loss of communication with one of the drones, it will automatically transmit its signal through the drone flying nearby. This, in turn, will allow the realization of two ambitious ideas at once. Firstly, it will be harder to lose a drone to enemy EW if several drones are sent on a mission at the same time, as they are all capable of automatically hopping to 900 MHz/2.4 GHz/5.2 GHz/5.8 GHz frequencies, and secondly, even if one of the drones loses control, it will be able to switch to transmitting its signal through its partner's drone and move to a safe distance. The use of such tactics will have a significant impact on the advancement of our military deep into enemy territory and will help in planning offensive operations.
About the ease of use
As for the handling, as always, the Autel is gentle and pleasant to fly. Maximum flight speed: 82 km/h. The drone responds very accurately to sticks and is basically similar to its predecessors in terms of control. The only thing we found surprising was the turning speed. With rather small dimensions, the radius of a sharp turn in standard mode is approximately 12-15 meters. But all this can be changed programmatically in the remote control settings.
As for launching it by hand, as you probably know, Autel drones don't like it very much.
This model has no such problem at all. It is possible to take off and land it on your hand. In flight, it behaves quite predictably and stably. А
The declared flight time of 42 minutes allows for a long enough time to stay in the air and work on targets during one flight. As for the altitude, like all autonomous drones, it is 800 meters vertically, which is more than enough for this drone. However, it is now possible to disable the height limit and raise the drone to at least 2000 meters. However, the manufacturer claims that EVO Max 4T is capable of climbing 7 km with a maximum flight range of 8000-20000 m.
Bottom line.
So, to summarize, we can safely call this drone a successful attempt to make something much bigger than the Enterprise series. This is a huge step forward, and a pretty serious bid for the title of military drone. We are confident that this drone will definitely find its application on the battlefield, and its main use may be for correction and reconnaissance, and in some cases it will have enough payload to deliver gifts)).
Basicinformation
Climbing speed, km/h: 28,8
Descent speed, km/h: 21,6
Top speed, km/h 82,8
Maximum height, m 7000
Max. permissible wind speed, km/h: 43,2
Carrying capacity, kg: 0,399
Ambient temperature, deg: -20+50
Flight time, min: 42
Equipment
Thermal imager: yes
Camera
Sensor: 1/2" CMOS
Lens: Focal length: 11.8-43.3mm (35mm, equivalent: 64-234mm) Aperture: f/2.8-f/4.8
Camera rotation: yes
Sensitivity, ISO: video 100-6400 (auto), photo 100-6400 (auto)
Video recording capability, points (frequency, fps): 7680×4320
Photo resolution, dots: 8000×6000
Stabilization: yes
Suspension for the camera: 3-axis
Control type, number of channels: remote control (Smart Controller V3)
Built-in display (diagonal), in: 7.9
Power supply for the remote control: 5800 mAh
Maximum remote control range, m: 8000-20000
Aircraft
Spare blades, pcs: 6
Blade protection: no
Other: Spare control knobs (pair), Power cable, 32 GB memory card, Case, Remote control - 1 pc, Strap
Dimensions and weight of the aircraft
Width, cm: 57.6
Length, cm: 66
Height, cm: 14,9
Weight, kg: 1,600
Color: gray