Skydio – Autonomous Drone?

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February 16, 2018

Skydio R1 Drone capturing bicycle riders 1200

There really is a “New Kid in Town” when it comes to the drone wars. Up until now, DJI and Yuneec have been all the rave, fighting for that position atop the ladder for Consumer, Prosumer and even the Pro market. Throw in Autel Robotics with an impressive American start that has had some promise but has not really been able to keep up with demand and it is a good thing that we have another entry to the market. In comes “Skydio”.

Totally Autonomous

Okay, so it might not be completely new to true drone enthusiast, who has been awaiting the arrival of Skydio for quite some time. The Skydio is considered by the company as a “fully autonomous flying camera”. Having 13 onboard cameras and a state-of-the-art Autonomy Engine to “see the world around it”, the Skydio is designed to track you as you are moving, sensing terrain and obstacles while maintaining a perfect camera angle and the following range at all times. This is truly the first example of a set-it and forget-it market drone.

“…the Skydio Autonomy Engine, enabling it to see and understand the world around it so that it can fly safely at high speeds while avoiding obstacles, even in dense and challenging environments.”

What a Stylish break from the Norm

The technology alone in this new type of drone is impressive enough to dig deeper into the specs but just look at its beauty as well. There have been some other beautiful drones, IMHO, but this one stands out as a top runner as a thing of beauty.

Some of the Numbers

  • Built in 64GB Storage for 1.5 Hours / 4K or 4.5 Hours / 1080p30
  • Comes with 2 Batteries – 16 minute flight time for each battery
  • Size: 13″x16″x1.5
  • Weight: 2.2 lbs.
  • Top Speed: 25 mph

Ouch, that is a little expensive, don’t you think

While the entry price for the Skydio might put it out of reach for many (Retail price of $2,499), as the company ramps up production and bears down on the market with advertising, the price should start dropping before long.

One to watch

With all of the heavy hitter companies behind Skydio, this is going to be a company to watch as it emerges into this heavy drone space. It will be a fun ride.