The Future of Flying Cameras: The Skydio 2

Imagine having a flying camera that can follow you without crashing into trees or obstacles, maps out the world using a set of cameras, predicts where you'll go, and keeps you in the shot. Sounds like science fiction, but it's now a reality with the launch of the Skydio 2, one of the most amazing gadgets I've ever flown.

The Skydio 2 is the latest innovation from Skydio, a company that has been pushing the boundaries of drone technology for years. Last year, I had the chance to play with its predecessor, the Skydio R1, which could also follow me through a park without crashing into trees. However, the actual product just didn't make sense to buy due to its size, lack of controller, and high price tag of $2,000 on sale.

But all that changed with the launch of the Skydio 2, a more consumer-friendly model that fits into a backpack and comes at a significantly lower price point of $1,000 without a controller. This new drone is going head to head with DJI's Mavic Drones in terms of price, but offers an optional controller that lets you take the Skydio out to three kilometers instead of being tied to your phone's WiFi.

The Skydio 2 has also made significant improvements to its flying system, which is even more impressive than the one on its predecessor. While it only has six cameras compared to the R1's original 12, they're no longer the low-res black and white affair that couldn't see tiny tree branches reliably. They're now 4K, full color with a 200 degree field of view, which is enough angular resolution and processing power to see smaller obstacles from far away.

One of the most exciting features of the Skydio 2 is its ability to fly fully autonomous at 36 miles per. This means that you can take your drone on long trips without having to worry about it crashing or getting lost. The company has also introduced an optional controleryou'll be able to buy, which lets you just point it where you'd like the drone to go or tap a few buttons to set its course.

But what's even more impressive is the Skydio 2's navigation system. In my brief demo, I was able to fly it around a park without crashing into trees or obstacles. The original Skydio R1 would have totally gotten stuck behind a fence and wouldn't have dared to attempt to do so. The Skydio 2's camerasystem has been improved, and the company claims that you can even fly it indoors.

Of course, none of this matters if the drone doesn't capture photos and videos worth sharing. Luckily, the Skydio 2 is capable of shooting 4K video up to 60 frames per second at up to 100 megabits per second or 120 FPS at 1080p. The camera also has a 12.3 megapixels Sony sensor that shoots with F2.8 and has improved dynamic range.

But what's truly impressive about the Skydio 2 is its ability to be built right here in the United States. Every single drone will run the gauntlet before it ships, which means that you can trust that it's been thoroughly tested for quality and performance. The company uses thermal compound on the magnesium alloy frame, which acts as a giant heatsink for all the chips.

The Skydio 2 is trying to be the drone for everyone - from people who've never dreamed of flying a drone because they're afraid of crashing it to aerial cinematographers. However, due to its advanced technology and high price point, you'll have to put some money down. The company says that these will be available in limited quantities and is asking for a $100 deposit on your pre order.

As someone who's spent an hour with the Skydio 2 in a park, I can say that it's truly impressive. But like any new technology, there are always going to be some kinks to work out. That's why we're going to put this drone through its paces later this year and tell you if it's really worth buying.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: en- Nobody is flying this drone.There's no human at the controls.This flying camera can follow mewithout crashing into treesor obstacles all by itself.It maps out the worldusing a set of cameras,it predicts where I'll go,and it keeps me in the shot.It's called the Skydio 2,and it's one of the most amazing gadgetsI've ever flown?(electronic music)Last year I got the chanceto play with its predecessor,the Skydio R1,which could also follow me through a parkwithout crashing into trees.I wanted it so badly.But the actual product justdidn't make any sense to buy.It was big.I couldn't fit it in my backpack.I couldn't really flyit like a normal dronebecause it didn't have a controller,and it cost $2,000 on sale.But today, Skydio is launching a second,more consumer-friendlymodel, the Skydio 2.The Skydio 2 does fit into a backpack,and at $1,000 without a controller,it's going head to head withDJI's Mavic Drones in price.Only it does have an optional controller,one that lets you take theSkydio out to three kilometersinstead of being tiedto your phone's WiFi,and one that Skydio says a three year oldcould learn to fly.Here's how easy.I'm just pushing forwardon the right analog stick,and it's dodging these trees by itself.You can do the same thing backwards too,since it's got omni-directional sensing.But I'd be lying if I said thisrebranded $150 Parrot Anafi controlleris the thing that excitesme about this drone.Or even the 40% battery lifeincreased to 23 minutes,or the 50% decrease in size and weight.It's that Skydio'ssecond gen flying systemis even more impressivethan the one that blew me away last year.While the Skydio 2 only has six camerasto the R1's original 12,they're no longer the low-resblack and white affairthat couldn't see tinytree branches reliably.They're 4K, full color,with a 200 degree field of view.Skydio says that'senough angular resolutionand processing power tosee smaller obstaclesfrom far enough away to flyfully autonomous at 36 miles per.And if you're mostly lookingfor a drone that flies itself,the company has anotherintriguing optional controlleryou'll be able to buy.This is an Airwalk thatlets me just point itwhere I'd like the drone to go,or tap a few buttons to set its course.But it also doubles as a GPS beacon,so the Skydio canautomatically hunt you down,even if its cameras losetrack of where you're going.Even in my brief demo,it was clear the navigationsystem has been improved.Watch this.The original Skydio R1would've totally gottenstuck behind this fence.And I saw the Skydio 2 whip aroundto keep me in the shotin ways the original wouldn'thave dared to attempt.Here's a mind-blowing videoof what the drone actuallysees according to Skydio.The company claims the camerasystem's intelligent enoughyou can fly it indoors, too.Of course, none of thismatters if the dronedoesn't capture photosand videos worth sharing,and it seems Skydio's improved there, too.You're looking at a 12.3megapixels Sony sensor at F2.8,that shoots 4K video upto 60 frames per secondat up to 100 megabits per second,or 120 FPS at 1080p if youwant to try some basic slum.It's a little bit choppyhere in low lightingwithout an ND filter.But we can already see greatlyimproved dynamic range.And Skydio says it'll havethird party snap on magneticfilters post launch,if that's what's keeping you away.It also helps thatSkydio 2 has a three axisgimbal for stabilization this time,one that can also point fully upwards.You know, in case some industrialwarehouse wants a dronethat can inspect avehicle's undercarriage.That could happen, by the way.While the consumer version of Skydio 2is programmed to keep aone meter protective bubblearound itself at all times,they're letting partners bringthat down to 50 centimetersto slowly squeeze into human sized spaces.And the company says it'll beannouncing somepartnerships down the road.But here's something elsefascinating about Skydio.These drones aren't comingout of a Chinese factory.They're all made right herein Redwood City, California,where former Apple and Tesla engineersare stress testing everypiece of this drone.Co-founder Adam Bry saysevery single Skydio R1 wasbuilt and shipped right hereon this miniature assembly line,and the Skydio 2 willbe the same to start.Here's where they put thermal compoundon the magnesium alloy frame,which acts as a giant heatsink for all the chips.Here's the industrial robot armthat tests all the drone's cameras.Bry says every single drone willrun the gauntlet before it ships.What we're seeing here is impressive,both for what this drone is capable of,and that they're ableto build it right here.But it also makes me a tad skeptical.The Skydio 2 is trying tobe the drone for everyone.For people who'd neverdream of flying a drone'cause they're afraid of crashing it,for aerial cinematographers,and yet it's just thistiny bay of stationsproducing this craft for theoreticallyeveryone who'd want it.So for now, you're gonnahave to put some money down.Skydio says these will beavailable in limited quantities,and it's asking for $100deposit on your pre order.I'm impressed enough that I'mseriously thinking about itif I were an early adopterdying to show this off to my friends.But I coulda said that aboutthe $2500 Skydio R1 as well,and I didn't actually end up buying that.But that's me spending an hourwith the Skydio 2 in a park.We're gonna put this dronethrough its paces later this yearand tell you if it's really worth buying.Thank you for watching ourvideo with a flying robot.If you liked that, check out our videowith a walking robot dog named spot.Also, this is me fallingoff a scooter, good bye.\n"