CZI MF30-M4 Drone Flow Meter for DJI Matrice 4 Series

CZI MF30-M4 Drone Flow Meter: Compact UAV Payload for Real-Time Surface Velocity and Flow Measurement on the DJI Matrice 4 Series

The CZI MF30-M4 is a compact drone-mounted flow meter payload designed for rapid surface water velocity measurement and flow calculation on the DJI Matrice 4 Series. Developed by CZI for emergency hydrological monitoring and routine water conservancy surveys, it integrates a 24GHz velocity radar and an 80GHz ranging radar into a single 108g payload that mounts directly to the Matrice 4 via PSDK.

A single operator can complete installation and deployment in under two minutes, making it a practical tool for flood response teams that need actionable flow data quickly and without complex ground-based equipment.

The velocity radar measures surface flow speeds from 0.1 to 20 m/s with accuracy of ±0.01 m/s at speeds below 1 m/s and ≤±1% full scale at speeds above 1 m/s, operating at a recommended measurement height of 1 to 10m above the water surface. The 80GHz ranging radar measures water surface distance from 0.18 to 30m with ±2mm ranging accuracy, enabling the system to compute reference water levels in real time.

All data displays live on the remote controller through DJI Pilot, while the full feature set — including automated flight missions, river cross-section flow calculation, data export, and cloud synchronization — is available through CZI Pilot software running on the drone controller.

CZI MF30-M4 Core Features and Advantages

• 24GHz velocity radar: measures surface flow from 0.1 to 20 m/s with ±0.01 m/s accuracy.
• 80GHz ranging radar: water surface distance measurement from 0.18 to 30m at ±2mm accuracy.
• Lightweight design: 108g payload mounts to DJI Matrice 4 via PSDK for fast field deployment.
• Two-minute setup: single operator can install and deploy the payload in under two minutes.
• CZI Pilot software: complete flow monitoring from measurement to calculation and data export.
• Automated flight missions: route-based automatic flight records all measurement point data.
• Reference water level: supports Pearl River, Wusong, and other benchmark calculation systems.
• Flow calculation: Area-Velocity, International, and Liwen methods supported for cross-section flow.
• Cloud synchronization: flow data syncs to cloud platform for visualization and data management.
• IP55 rated: sealed against dust and water jets for field deployment in light to moderate rain.

Applications and Use Cases

• Flood emergency response: rapidly measure breach flow velocity at river upstream points during flood events, giving response teams actionable hydrological data within minutes of arrival without ground-based equipment.
• Routine hydrological surveys: import river cross-section data and conduct scheduled surface velocity measurements at fixed monitoring points to support ongoing water resource management and reporting.
• River cross-section flow calculation: combine measured velocity data with imported cross-section profiles to compute volumetric flow rates using Area-Velocity, International, or Liwen calculation methods.
• Water level monitoring: use the 80GHz ranging radar alongside RTK elevation data to calculate reference water levels relative to established benchmarks such as Pearl River or Wusong datum.
• Disaster reconnaissance: deploy rapidly over inaccessible or hazardous waterways during disaster events to collect flow and water level data that ground teams cannot safely reach.
• Dam and reservoir management: conduct scheduled flow measurements upstream and downstream of dams and reservoirs to support discharge management, spillway operations, and safety monitoring.
• Irrigation and agriculture water management: measure flow rates in irrigation channels and agricultural water supply systems to support water allocation decisions and efficiency monitoring.
• Environmental monitoring: collect surface velocity and water level data in rivers and wetlands for ecological research, habitat assessment, and environmental compliance reporting.
• Urban stormwater management: measure flow velocity in urban drainage channels and stormwater systems during and after heavy rain events to support drainage capacity analysis and flood risk assessment.
• Bridge and infrastructure inspection support: measure flow conditions near bridge piers, culverts, and hydraulic structures to assess scour risk and support infrastructure safety evaluations.

The CZI MF30-M4 exists for water resource professionals who need fast, reliable surface flow data from a drone without the logistical burden of traditional ground-based measurement equipment. Its 108g weight, two-minute deployment time, and integrated CZI Pilot software pipeline make it a practical primary tool for flood emergency response teams and routine hydrological survey programs operating on DJI Matrice 4 Series platforms.