When commercial drones first became available buyers were limited by the handful of devices that were available. This made choosing the one a relatively simple task. But today there are literally hundreds of commercial drones available in a number of configurations. This can make choosing the right drone for your specific task a challenge, especially if you are new to the drone market.

To help you choose the right drone we have compared two of the most popular commercial UAVs from DJI. The Matrice 600 and Inspire 2 are both compelling options for commercial operators, but they provide very different operating capabilities. First, let’s look at the specifications of each device and then we’ll recommend specific use cases for each one.

Overview

Configuration

Having looked over the basic configuration data of both devices, it is clear that these are very different beasts. The Matrice 600 is a six-propeller device (hexacopter) while the Inspire 2 is four propeller device (quadcopter).

The quadcopter is the most popular configuration for commercial drones because it provides the best compromise between power, portability, range and stability. But that doesn’t mean hexacopters should be discounted, they are particularly useful for applications where a large payload needs to be carried over greater distances.

When choosing a drone the first thing you need to think about is the type of application you will be using it for. Will, you need to carry a vast array of cameras and sensor equipment? Or is manoeuvrability and portability more important? Answering these question will point you in the direction of one configuration over the other.  

One word of advice, you should never copy what other people in your industry are using. Just because one surveyor is using an Inspire 2, doesn’t necessarily mean this is the right choice for you. If you survey large tracts of land for property development, for example, the DJI M600 may be the better option.  

Performance

A quick look at the performance characteristics of the two devices highlights more differences between the machines. The Matrice 600 can cover a much greater distance than the Inspire 2 and can carry 3x more payload. However this comes at the cost of speed, the Inspire 2 is a sprightly little machine that can top 50 mph if conditions allow. And it can accelerate to that speed in a little over 2 seconds.

But for most drone users, speed is secondary to payload capacity and endurance. For these, you need to look at individual battery performance levels and the number of batteries the drone can carry. This will provide a good indication of how the drone will perform in real-world environments.  

Battery Capacity

Without a battery your drone is useless, battery capacity is one of the most crucial things to get right when choosing a drone. There is nothing worse than surveying a construction site, only for the drone to run out of juice halfway through the job.

Battery Specifications

A quick glance over the battery specifications shows that the M600 has the power, but it comes at the cost of duration. Even when using high capacity batteries the M600 can only fly for up to 18 mins with a 6 kg payload. The Inspire 2, on the other hand, provides an extended flight time of up to 27 mins with a 2.75 kg payload.

Battery Management

Battery management is also an important factor to consider when choosing a drone. Both models here are available with quick change batteries. But only the M600 comes with them as standard. The built-in charging hub allows all six batteries to be replaced simultaneously in the field.

The Inspire 2 is fitted with the DJI TB50 intelligent battery, which is compatible with the optional DJI battery station. This state of the art battery management system is designed to provide all-in-one smart charging, storage and transportation for up to 12 TB50 batteries.  

Payload options

The payload is an important factor when choosing a drone. Today’s UAVs come with an impressive array of Zenmuse cameras and gimbals which can be used to capture incredible images and impressive amounts of data. But the smaller the drone the less of this equipment it can carry.

When it comes to payload there are two things to think about. The gimbal and the camera. The gimbal is a mounting device that allows the camera to remain horizontal regardless of the motion of the device. The camera attaches to the gimbal. There are two types of gimbal, upward facing and downward facing.

Gimbal Installation

As you can see the Inspire 2 only provides a single downward-facing gimbal mount. This limits your options when collecting data. If you require an upward facing camera you will have to opt for the Matrice 200 or 600. The Matrice 600 also provides the option for two downward-facing cameras, allowing operators to create stereoscopic images.

One final advantage of the M600 is the ability to attach the Ronin MX gimbal which provides continuous 360-degree rotation with enhanced stability and rigidity. The MX Ronin is compatible with almost any professional camera and used extensively in the film industry to collect stunning high-quality images.

Camera Options

The table above highlights one of the major differences between the two devices. The M600 can be fitted with a wide array of Zenmuse and other cameras, while the Inspire 2 is limited to the Zenmuse X4S and X5s.

Image Processing

The camera is only half of the equation when it comes to capturing images. Drones also have to be equipped with an image processing system to transmit the captured images back to the ground controller or app.   

The Inspire 2 comes equipped with DJIs CineCore 2.1 image processor which can record video up to 6K and transmit live video up to 1080p/720p. The Matrice 600 also comes with CineCore 2.1 but can also be equipped with the DJI Lightbridge transmission system which allows live image transmission up to 2.4G.

Flight Controllers

Both drones can be controlled by either a ground controller or app. The Inspire 2 remote controller combines dual frequency video downlink with standard aircraft controls to provide an easy to use multifunctional control system. The controller also provides a battery level indicator which ensures you always have enough power left in reserve to get home.

In addition to these standard features, the Matrice 600 ground station provides increased signal transmission of up to 5 km. While the flight controls themselves can be customized allowing operators to quickly access aircraft functions during flight.     

DJI Go

The DJI Go app is available for both IOS and Android devices. It allows operators to control both the drone itself and the gimbal mounted cameras. The interface is intuitive and easy to use, with all the flight controls logically laid out on the screen. The app also allows operators to carry out basic housekeeping tasks such as updating drone firmware.   

DJI Go provides the following flight data and controls:

• Live HD transmission
• Intelligent flight mode
• Automatic takeoff and landing
• Automatic flight loss protection
• The ability to edit and share your photos or videos

DJI Go 4 is compatible with both the Matrice 600 and Inspire 2 using any Zenmuse X series camera.  

Spotlight Pro

Spotlight Pro is an intelligent flight mode, available on the Inspire 2. It uses DJI’s visual tracking algorithm to lock onto a moving target, such as a car or motorcycle, regardless of the direction the drone is travelling in. The mode makes it easy for a single operator to keep a moving object in frame.

Spotlight Pro differs from Active Track in that the pilot keeps control of the UAV while the camera follows the target. With Active Track, the UAV locks onto the target and automatically tracks it.

Conclusion

As you can see there is quite a difference between the two devices. Both are very capable machines but operators need to make a decision based on the type of payload they require and the range they need to cover.

For users who need to carry varying payloads over expansive areas, the Matrice 600 is the way to go. This heavyweight drone is easy to fly and stable in all weather conditions. It also has the ability to automatically adjust flight parameters based on different payloads making it easy to control no matter how much weight it is carrying.

The M600 is also fully compatible with a range of Zenmuse cameras including the Zenmuse XT thermal and Z30 zoom camera. The modular design of the gimbal mounts also allows the operator to select the exact imaging equipment needed to carry out the job at hand. For this reason, the M600 is popular in the motion picture industry and land survey sectors.   

That being said, the large size and reduced speed of the M600 may count against it for some. For those people, the Inspire 2 provides a nice compromise between size, speed and range. While its maximum payload may be less than the M600, it can still carry both the Zenmuse X4S and X5S cameras. Perhaps that’s why this drone is popular with the visual media sector.