Skydio R1 Drone: Latest Challenger to DJI Drone Supremacy

Former Google drone engineers Adam Bry and Abe Bachrach have just launched a controller-free selfie drone that takes automated filming to a new level.

Using technology that is similar to what is used in autonomous vehicles, the Skydio R1 uses 13 external cameras to monitor its environment and plan a flight path around obstacles.

Using only an iOS or Android smartphone app to select subject and filming options, the Skydio R1 makes aerial imaging an otherwise hands-off experience.

Like DJI’s family of recreational drones, such as the newly launched Mavic Air, Skydio R1 has five different flight modes including:

• Lead
• Follow
• Orbit
• Side
• Tripod

Today’s press release indicates that engineers are working on building in additional flight modes.

But most drone enthusiasts are going to be focused on features like price, flight time, range and image quality.

Like DJI’s Spark mini-drone, the Skydio R1 will have 16 minutes of battery life and a top speed of 25 mph.

Image capture ranges from 4K at 30 frames per second or 1080 with 30 or 60 frames per second and a 105 degree field of view.

No need for a microSD card with the Skydio R1 because it comes with 64GB of onboard storage.  Some aerial imaging enthusiasts may balk at the built in storage, preferring instead to enjoy the flexibility of portable, removable storage to a tethered transfer solution.

Also similar to the DJI Spark is the 2-axis gimbal, with a third axis being the actual drone flight control.

Using a Wi-Fi signal for video stream and app contact, the Skydio R1 has a maximum range of approximately 300 feet, depending on the smartphone.

Pilots can edit their images creations in the Skydio app or tether the drone via USB for full flight recoding download.

But here’s the kicker:

Skydio R1 comes in at the whopping price of $2500, roughly 5x the price of a $799 DJI Mavic Air.

We haven’t figured out who the target market is for the Skydio R1 at this steep price point.

We look forward to comparing the Skydio R1 to the Mavic Air and the Spark.  Stay tuned.  The Skydio R1 is available for order immediatly at shop.skydio.com