DJI Tests Drone Technology on Mount Everest, Advancing Logistics, Mapping, and Climate Research at Extreme Altitudes

Shenzhen, China, (ANTARA/PRNewswire) - DJI, the world leader in civilian drone and creative camera technology, has announced the successful completion of three missions on Mount Qomolangma, also known as Mount Everest. The missions delivered significant advances in logistics delivery, mapping and atmospheric research in regions of extreme altitude. During the test series, DJI used the DJI FlyCart 100 for logistics delivery and the DJI Matrice 4E for mapping on Everest’s South Side in Nepal. Meanwhile, DJI’s first eVTOL delivery drone, the DJI EV50, supported long-range delivery at extreme altitude for atmospheric chemistry research on Everest’s North Side in China.

The achievement continues DJI’s decades-long effort to push the boundaries of drone technology on the world’s highest mountain. In 2009, DJI tested an unmanned helicopter equipped with the XP3.1 flight control system on Everest. A year later, DJI’s Ace One flight control system successfully operated above 4,700 metres. In 2022, the DJI Mavic 3 reached the summit of Everest and produced the first drone footage from an altitude of 8,848.86 metres. Subsequently, in 2024, the DJI FlyCart 30 carried out the world’s first drone logistics delivery trials from Base Camp to Camp 1 on Everest’s South Side.

“Our team continues striving to make the world’s highest mountain safer and cleaner for Sherpas and climbers from many countries,” said Christina Zhang, DJI spokesperson. “We are of course proud of this latest mission. Going forward, we hope our cooperation with the scientific community will continue to grow so that drone technology can play an ever greater role in saving lives and supporting conservation efforts around the world.”

High-Altitude Delivery Drone Carries 10,073 Kilograms of Logistics and Waste

The DJI FlyCart 100 is a large-capacity delivery drone capable of carrying payloads of up to 100 kilograms at sea level, with better energy efficiency and longer range. Together with the Nepali drone company Airlift, DJI tested the FlyCart 100’s performance at extreme altitude, including load capacity, transmission range, RTK positioning accuracy, signal stability and battery endurance at sub-zero temperatures between minus 15 and 5 degrees Celsius. Payloads consisted of various mountaineering expedition supplies, such as oxygen cylinders, ropes and ladders, flown between Base Camp and Camp 1.

This year’s testing demonstrated the FlyCart 100’s ability to carry payloads of up to 47 kilograms at altitudes above 6,300 metres. In total, the drone transported 10,073 kilograms of logistics and waste between Base Camp and Camp 1. Of that figure, 7,215 kilograms were mountaineering supplies, while the remaining 2,858 kilograms were waste successfully removed from the mountain. A one-way flight took only eight minutes. Previously, Sherpas had to walk six to eight hours while crossing the treacherous Khumbu Icefall to deliver similar loads.

Going forward, the DJI FlyCart 100 will support the Nepali mountaineering community’s long-term goal of transporting around 5,000 oxygen cylinders each climbing season between Base Camp and Camp 1. On return journeys, the drone will also carry some 10,000 kilograms of waste from higher camps, areas that were previously difficult to clean. On average, each climber leaves around eight kilograms of rubbish on the mountain. The effort aligns with Nepal’s sustainability targets, including the “Zero Waste Initiative 2027” championed by the Nepal Mountain Association.

Supporting Glacier Mapping to Improve Climbing Safety

Throughout the spring 2026 climbing season, DJI tested the DJI Matrice 4E to capture high-resolution glacier data in an extreme-altitude mountain environment. Equipped with various smart sensors, this compact enterprise drone performed well at an altitude of 6,450 metres in temperatures below minus 20 degrees Celsius. In just 3.5 hours, the Matrice 4E mapped more than 3 square kilometres of the core Khumbu Icefall area to centimetre-level accuracy, covering Base Camp, the Khumbu ice route and the area above Camp 1. This capability significantly shortens survey times, supports real-time hazard monitoring, assists safer route planning, speeds up mobility on the mountain and strengthens support for rescue missions.

The drone’s Laser Range Finder was used to measure distance and terrain conditions accurately in real time. The coordinate data produced by the drone helped the team identify and share the precise locations of hazards. During search and rescue missions, the drone also served as an “extra pair of eyes” capable of detecting human presence and movement on snow-covered terrain.

DJI believes the Matrice 4E will continue to play a vital role in improving climbing safety by providing the data climbing teams need to make faster, safer decisions in Everest’s extreme environment. “Although glacier mapping and satellite monitoring have been used in various parts of the world, our approach in Nepal is unique because of its level of detail, operational application and direct focus on climber safety,” said Raj Bikram Maharjan, CEO of Airlift Technology. “This mission is the first deployment of the Matrice 4E in Nepal and is likely one of the first real operational uses in the world at this scale in an extreme-altitude expedition environment.”

Supporting Climate Change Research at Extreme Altitude

In support of the scientific community, DJI also tested its first eVTOL delivery drone, the DJI EV50, to conduct detailed observations of atmospheric pollutants in the troposphere at highly extreme altitudes. Over 12 days, ozone-measuring equipment belonging to the College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering at Peking University was transported 12 times from the climbing base camp in the Qomolangma National Nature Reserve. To cope with complex wind conditions and an extreme flight environment, DJI employed spiral and shuttle flight patterns. The most successful flight reached an altitude of 8,861 metres with a continuous climb of 3,730 metres. For the first time, Peking University researchers used drones to conduct tropospheric observations at extreme altitude for atmospheric research.

Building a Safer Future for Mountaineering

Over the past 20 years, DJI has continued to innovate with drone technology, from pioneering camera drones to developing solutions now used in agriculture, infrastructure and public safety across many countries. In 2026, DJI brought this technology to the world’s highest peak, not to set new records but to support nature conservation. DJI reaffirmed its commitment to continue working with local partners, climbing communities and scientists to expand the use of drone technology in extreme environments in support of research, sustainability and safety.

Product Availability

The DJI FlyCart 100 is available through official DJI Delivery distributors. More information: https://www.dji.com/flycart-100

The DJI Matrice 4 Series is available through official DJI Enterprise distributors. More information: https://enterprise.dji.com/matrice-4-series

About DJI

Since 2006, DJI has led innovation in civilian drones on the world market. DJI helps people fly drones for the first time, supports visionaries in realising their imagination and enables professionals to transform their work. Today, DJI is building a better world by advancing human progress. With a solution-oriented mindset and a spirit of curiosity, DJI serves the agriculture, public safety, surveying and mapping, and infrastructure inspection sectors. In every application, DJI products deliver positive benefits to people’s lives around the world in highly innovative ways.