Skydio 2 Drone Tested
Drones have been a "next big thing" in surveillance for many years, but how well do they actually work?
In IPVM's first drone test, we bought and tested the USA-based Skydio 2 drone to see how it works in practical real-world applications. In this report, we look at:
- How well does the drone handle in flight and landing?
- How does its automatic case landing work?
- How accurately does it track moving vehicles and people?
- Does its AI-based obstacle avoidance avoid collisions with trees, poles, buildings, and overhead cables?
- How does image quality compare to typical surveillance cameras?
- The drone and controller's physical features and issues with both
Note: This is the first in IPVM's testing of drones and related technologies. We plan to expand this segment in the coming months.
*******
** *** *****, *** ****** * performed ****, **** ****** ****** *** landing, ********* ********* **-***** ******* ** its ****, ** **** ** ****** automatic ******* *** ****** ******** **** AI-based ********* ********* ***** ******* *****, poles, *** ********** ** ****** ****** up ** ~** ***.
*******, ****** **** *** ********* **** VMSes *** ****** **** ********* ** archived *****. **** ********* *** ****** Cloud ** ********* ** **** *** available **** ** ***** *** ******. It *** ** ******** *** **** VMSes ** ***** ******** ***** ******* to ****-**** *******, *** ****** **** not ***** *** ** ***** ************.
************, **** ********* ** ****** ** track, ****** ********** ** ~**-**' ********, which ** **** ********** **** ******* and ********. ***** *** ** ******** once ******** (** ** ~***') *** there ** ** *** ** *** a ******-***** *******, ** ***** **** manually ****** **** **** ****.
**** ** *** ****** **********'* ******* may ** ********* *** *** ***** as ***** *********** **** *** ***** typical ************ ***, *.*., *** "****" button ***** ********** ***** *** ***** nearer/further (***** *** ****** *** * fixed ****) ** *** "*******" ****** which **** ******* ***** ******* ******** (since ********* ** ********* ** *******).
*******, **** **** *** ***** ******** a ****** ****** *** ******, ***** below. *** ********** **** *** ******* an ********** ****** (********* **** *** higher-priced ** *****). ** *** *******, phone ***** ****** ** ** ******* in ***** ** *** **** **** the **********, ** **** ****** *** not *** **** *** ********** ** fell *** ****** ******.
No ******** **** ******
** *** *** ******* ******** **** Skydio ** *** ******* ** **** did *** ******* ** ******** *** comment ***** *** ******* ***********. ** will ****** **** ****** ** ******** is ********.
FAA *********** ***** ***** ************
***** **** ******'* *** ***********, ** the ****** ******, *** *** *** strict *********** ** *** ****** *** be ***** ***** **** ******* ** from ***** **** ** **** ************.
- **** **********, ****** **** ******** ****** line ** ***** **** *** ***** at *** *****. *** *******, **** means **** * ***** *** *** fly * ***** * ***** *** to ******* ** ********* ** * fenceline.
- *** *** **** ******** ********* ***** operations **** ****** *** ********, *********** flights ** ******* ******** (*** ********), which ***** ***** *** **** *** used ** ******* ** ********* ** staffed ******* ********** (*.*., ******** ** industrial ******, *** ******, ***.).
- ************, ************* **** **** **** **** a********* ******* ******* ****** *** ***** **********, with * *:* ***** ** ********* pilot *****. *** *** ********* ***** ****** ***** **************** **** ******* ** **** *******.
***** *********** **** **** ***** *** in ************ ** *********** ******* ** live ******** ** ********* ****** **** of *****, ********** ***** ** *** operator, ****** ****** *** **** **** for **** **** ********** *********** ** sight ******* ** ***** ** **** quickly ***** **** ****** ** ***** angles ***** *** *** ** ******** otherwise.
** **** *****, ******* *** ** granted ** *** *** *** ****** line ** **** ********** *** ********** over ******, *** **** **** ** far **** **** ** ***** ***** on * ********** *****. ** **** to ***** ***** *** ***** ********** issues ********* ***** ********** ** ************ in ** ******** ****.
Other *******' **** ****
***** *********** ** **** ** *** world *** ******* ** ***** ** place ** *** ** (**** ** sight ********, ******** ********** **** ******, etc.). *******, **** ******* ***** ********** beyond ****** **** ** ***** (*****).
*** *******, ********* ** *** ********** ******* ********** *** ********** **** people ** *****,** ******, ****** *** ******* ****** ** to *** (*.* ******) ****** **** of ***** **** ** ******** *********** if ****** ***** **** (~***'), *** heavier ****** ** ** *** (*.* miles) ****. **** ***** **** ********* operations *** ******-***** ************ ********, ***** it ** *** ** *** **.
*******
****** * ******* ****** ** $*,*** USD ******** **** ******, ****** *** base ******* **** *** ******* *** Skydio ********** (*** ******* ****). *** least ********* ******* **** * ********** is *** ****** *** ($*,***). * Professional *** ** **** ********* ***** contains *** **** ********* ** *** Cinema ***, ***** **** *** ******* ($2,999).
**** ******* ** ******* ****** **** some ***********, **** ** ***, ***** Air ** ***** *** ~$*,***, ********* controller *** ********** *********. *******,
Compared ** ****** **
** ******** ** *** ********/********** ****** 2, ****** **** ****** ***** ********** ******(~$**,*** *** ******), ***** **** *** same ***** ******** ** ******'* ** enterprise *****, **** **** *** ***********:
- ********* *******:*** ** ** ******** **** ********* collision ********* ******* (*****/*** ******) *** lighting ***** ****** ** ** *** at *****. *** ****** * ****** notifies ***** **** ** ** *** dark ** ******.
- ******* ******:** ******** ** *** ** ****** included ** *** ****** *, *** X2 ******** * **** ***** ******* thermal ******.
- ********** **********:******'* ** ********** ********** ******** * large ******* *** ********** ******** ******* and **** *** ******* * ****** device ** ** ********* *** **** video.
Skydio ** ******
****** * (*** **) **** **** several "******" ***-********* (*.*., ****** ******** or *****), *** ****** **** ****** a *** ** ******** ***** ** a ************ *****. ***** ******** ****** allow *** ***** ** ***** ******* while ******** ** ***** (******* ** following), ****** *****-********* ******** *********, ** return ** **** ******** ******* ** using ***.
**** ** ***** ****** *** ******** for ****** ********** ************, ****** ***** responding ** ********/****** ****** *** ****** to **** ********** ******** ***** *** visual ****** ******, ** ****.
** ****** ***** ** $*,*** *** drone *** **** *** *** ** and $*,*** *** ***** *** **** for *** **.
Flight ***********
** *** *******, ****** * *** stable *** **** ** ****** ***** of ** ** ~**-** *** **** minimal ****** ** *** ******** *******.
************, ******* *** *********** ********* *** to ******'* *****-** *********** ** *** cases. **** *******, *** ****** ***** down, *** ** * **** ** seen, *** ***** **** ************* **** to **** ** *** ** **.
*** ***** ***** ***** **** ******* indoors *** *************, *** **** ******* worked ********** ******* ** **-** *** winds, ** ****.
Strong ******** *********
******'* ****** ******* **-***** ****** *********, using * ** ******* ******* (* top/3 ******) ** ****** * ** map *** ******* ****** ********. ** the ***** **** *** ***** ** an ******, ** **** ************* ****** its ****** **** ** ***** **, both ****** ****** ****** *** ****-********.
*** *******, ** *** **** *****, the ******* ***** ** *** *** of * *** ** *****, **** the ***** ************* ********* ***. ** can ** **** ******* **** ** avoid *** **** *** ** *** point ********** ******** ** ***** ******** and **** *** ******* ** ****.
** ******* **** ** ******* *** dozens ** ****** ***** (****** *** object ********), ******'* ****** ********* *** strong. ** *********** **** *** *********, with ******* ******, ***** *****, ***** occurred **** ******** * ******* ** 15-20 ***. ***** ***** ** *** drone **** *** **** *** ***** to *** ***** ***** (**** ***** were *******, ** ***** ******).
** *** ** ****** **** ********** with *****, *********, *****, ** ***** objects.
Person *** ******* ********
****** ****** ****** *** ******* ******** which ** ******* ****** ** ******* on * **** **** (+) ** top ** ***** *******. ***** *** select **** * ******** ********** *** adjust ***** **** *** ***'* **.
** *** *******, ** ***** ******** to ** *****, ***** ** ******'* object *********, ********* *****. *** *******, with * ******* ******* ** *** out ** ***** ** *** **** below, *** ***** ***** *** ** the ***** ** **** ** *** times.
******** **** ********** **** ********, ****** at ****** ** ** **-** ***. In *** **** *****, *** ******* car ***** *** ******* *** *** speeds ** ***** ** ***, ******** trees, *****, *** ***** ** **** the ******* ** *** ***** ** view, ****** ******** ******* ** ** accelerates, **** *** ***** ******** ** toward *** *** ** *** ******.
******** ****** *** * ******* ***** of ~***' (******** ******** ** ******* from *** *****), ~** ***.
Tracking ** *** ******
**** **** ******* ******** ** *** stealthy *** ** *** ***** ** the ***** ****** (~**-** ** ** 20' ********). **** ** **** ***' altitude, ** ******* ******* ******* *** easily ******* ** ******** ** ****, though ** *** ** **** ********* to ****** *** ***** ** ********.
******* ******** ******** ** *** **********. The ***** ***** ** ~**' ******** from *** ******* **** ******** ** started, *** *** **** ** *******, but ***** **** **** **** ********** each **** * ******* ** *******.
Other ******* ******** ** ********/******
** *** *******, *** ****** * sometimes ******** ***** ******* ** *********, such ** *** **** ***** ***** below, ** **** ** ********* *** trash ****, ******* ** **** ******** and ******.
No ********* ******
****** * ****** ** ***** ** night ** ** ***** ****** **** to **** *** ***** "***" *** warning ******* ** ****** *** *** it (****** ***** *** ******** ** Skydio's **** ********* ** *****). ** the **** ***** ** ****** ** night, *** ****** *** ****** ******* them ** ** *** ****.
F2.8 **** **** ******
*** ****** * ******** * **** camera **** * ***** **° ****. It **** * **** (*** ************) F2.8 *-****, **** ****** ********** ****** than ******* ************ ******* ** ******* indoor ********** (~***-*** ***).
*** *******, ** (~** ***), ****** are ********** *** *** ********** *****, with ****** ******** ********* ***** *** colors ********* ** *******. ** ********, even * brighter ****** **** ****** ****** *** more ***** ******.
******** ** **** ******** ** ******** conditions, ***** ****** **** ****** **** to ********** ********, ***** ** *** videos *****.
Physical ********
** *** ***** *****, ** **** at *** ******** ************ ** *** Skydio * ***** *** **********, **** notably:
- ** ****/***** ***** ** *******:****** **** ***** ******, *** ****** 2 **** *** **** **** *** landing. *******, ** ***** ** *** flat ********* ** *** *******. ** our *****, ** ***** **** **** may **** ** ** ******** ***** during *******, *** *** ********** ********* case ******* ******* *** ** **** to ***** ****.
- ***** *** ********* ********* *******:*** ***** **** * **** ***** camera *** **-****** *****, ** **** as *** ** ********* ********* ********* cameras (***** ** *** ***** *****).
- ********** ******** ***** ***** ** ** removed:*** ****** **** ***** **** *** user's ****** ***** ****** ****** *** small, ********* *** *** **** ***** cases ** ** ******* ***** ** inserting.
** ****** ***** *** ***** ****** in **** *****:
Drone ********* ** ***/***** ********** **** ** *****
*** ****** * ****** ** ****** as ********* ** ***, ***** *** battery *** ********** *** **** ** China.
Tested ******* ****: **-** *******
******'* ********* ******* **** ** ** minutes, *** ** *** *****, ****** flight ***** ** ***** **-** ******* were ******. ******* **** ***** ************* in **** *** **** ***** *** "boost" ******** *** ****** ******, ** both ******* **** ***** ** *** propellers.
No *** *********** ** **** *****
****** **** *** ********* **** ***** for ****** **** ********* ** ******** video *** ** *** *********** ********* they *** *** **** **** ***** to ** **. **** ********* ** listed ** ** "********" ******* ** Skydio *****, *** **** ** ******** to ** ********* *** ***** *** interface, *** ***** *******. ** *** be ******** *** **** ***** ** index ******** ***** *** "*******" ***** integrations, ******* ** *** ****-**** ******* are *******, *** ** *** ***** Skydio ** *********.
*** ******** *** ** ******** ****** from *** ****** * ** ** remove *** ** **** *** **** files ** * ********. *********, ***** may ****** ******* (****** **** ***** or *******) *** **** **** ** a ****** ******. ****** ***** ******** automated ***** **** ***** ******** *** drone ** *** ***** ******* *** wifi *** ************* ******* *****, *** this ******* ** *** ******** ** the **** ****** * *******.
Skydio *** **
*** ****** *** ****** ** ****** used *** **** ***** *********, ******** motion ********, *** ********** **********, ****** it **** ***** ******* *****, ******** from *****, ********, *** ******* ****. For ***** ****** *********, ********* ****** to ****, *******, *** ****** ********, the ********** ** **** (********* ** the ******** ******** *****).
Skydio *****
****** *** **** ********* * ***** platform, ****** *****, ***** ********* ****** enterprise-wide ********** ** ******, *.*., ****** times, **********, ******** *******, ***., ** well ** ********* ***** **** ** a ******* ********.
****** **** *** ***** ** *** live ***** ********* *** ****** ******* (teleoperation) ** ****** ***** **** ** 2021 ** ***** ****. ******* *** Skydio ***** ** ********* *********** *** handled *** ***********.
********
*** ********* ******** **** ****, *** latest ** *** **** ** *******:
- ****** *: *.*.**
- ****** * ***: **.*.*
* *** *** * *** ****** where ******** *** * ***** ******** drone **** ******* **** **********, ******* them *********** *** ******* **** ******.
** ** ***** **** **** *** added ***** ******* *** *******.
**** *** **** *********** *** ******** a ***** ******** ** *** ********* features, *********** ***************, *** **** ************** when ********* ***** ********* ** **********.
** ** **** ****** **** *** legal *********** ********* ********* ** **** clear. *** *********** *** * ***** to ****** ****** **** ** *****, as **** ** ***** ************ *** operation *** *********, *** **** *******. It ***** **** *** ‘****** *****’ requirements ***** ****** *** ****** ** people ********* ** ***** **********.
* **** ******* ** ****** *******.
***** *** ..
**** ***** **** **** ******* *** the ****** ** *** ***!!
**** * ***** ** ** ***** new ** ****, *** *** ******* test ** **** ****** *** **** for * ***** **** ***** ** pass. *** *** ******** ******* ** passing *** ****** ****** ****. **** take *** **** * ***** ****** before *** **** *** **/**** *** answer ***********, **** **** *** *** correct ****** *** ***** *** ** start *** **** ********* *****. ****** you *** ******** *** ****, ******** will ****. ****, **’* **** ***** that ****** ***** *** **** ***********, except ** ** ****** 😉
** ** *****, *** *** ******* about *************** ****? **** ***** ***** ** ******* and *** ***'* **** **.
************* ****** **** ******, ** ********* *** proctored, *** **** ********** ** *** tell *** **** *** *** *****.
****, **’* **** ***** **** ****** obeys *** **** ***********, ****** ** of ****** 😉
* ***** **** ******* ******* ******** in *** ***** ****** **** ********* like **% ** ***** ******* *** breaking *********** ** **** ***, *** the **** *********** ** *** ** the **** ******. *'* *** **** my *** ******** ******* **'* **** easy ** *** ******* ** *** video ****** *** *** ** ****** a **** ** ***** ** ********* where *** ***'* *** **.
** * ********* ****** ****** ***** training ****** ***** *** * ***** basic *** ******** ***** ** **** to **** **** * ******* ******* less **** **% ** ** **** followd ** * ****** ******. ***** is **** ******** *** **** *** US *** ****** ** **** ***** are * **** ******** ****** *** and *** ********* ** ****** ****** to * *** ******** *****. ** have ****** * ***** **** * security ***** ** *** ****** ******** and *** ***** ***** ********** ** a ******* ****** ** * **** application. *** ** ****** ** ** a **** ******* ** ** *** be ********** **** * ***.
**** ******* ******. ****** *** "** cool" ************ ** ******, **** ******** helps ** ****** ********* *** ********* of * "***** ** * ******* (DAAS)" ******** *****..........
******
*'* ** ********** ** *** ***** Evo ** ***** ** ****'* *** on **** ***** *******. **** ***** 6k/8k *****. * ***'* **** *** conflicts ** ********.
** ***'* **** *** ********* ***** to **** *****, *** ***** *** a ****** ** ****** **** *** novel ***** ****. *** **/** ********** is ***. *** ***** ** ***** "**** ****" ***** ** * ******** *********/**** out ***, ***** **** ***** ****** simply ****** **** **** *** **********.
***** ********** *********** ***** ** *** ** (Washington), *** ** ****** ***** ******* *********** ********** ****, ***., ***** ** ********, *****.
**** *** *** ***** ** ****** as **** * **** **** ** a *** **** ** *** ******** arsenal.
**** ********** ** ***** ******** ***** vehicles (***** **) ** ** ******* follow *** ******** ******* *** ** these *** ***** ** ***** **********, ease ** *******\********, *** ********** ****** without *** **** ** * ***** or **** ** *****. *** ***** pluses **** ** ******** *** ***** drone ************ *** *********.
** ******** **** **** *** ***** in *** ******** *** ***** ***** issues:
*. *** ** *** ***** ** request ** *** ***** *** ** large *** *** **** ******** ******* drone ****** ** ***** ****** ** check ** **** **** ******* ** hampered ** ** *** ***** ******* while ******** *** ******* *** * grant ** *** *** ***** ** those *****.
*. ****** ** * *** **** a ******** ******* (** *** ***** drone (*** **'* ****** **** *** maybe ********) ***** ** * **** changer *** * ****** ******* ** a ***** ***, *** **** ***** are **** *** *** ***** ***** only.
******** *'* **********? *****?
**
******: ********* ***** ***** ********* **** report, ****** ******** * ******** ****** for****** *, ******* **.**.**.
** *****'* ****** ** ****** *********** as ******, *** ** **** ** some **** ******* ** *****. ** adds ********** ****** ******** **** ** improved ******* **********, ********* **** ** do ** *** *****/********** **********, *** how ** ******* ** ****.