{{Short description|American camera drone}} {{Infobox aircraft | name = Skydio R1 | logo = | logo_size = 275px | image = | alt = | image_caption = | other_names = | aircraft_type = Camera drone | aircraft_role = | national_origin = United States | manufacturer = Skydio | status = | owners = | primary_user = | more_users = | service = | major_applications = | number_built = | construction_date = 2018–{{circa|2019}} | introduction = February 2018 | first_flight = | developed_from = | developed_into = | variants = }} The '''Skydio R1''' is an American teleoperated quadcopter drone produced by Skydio. Introduced in 2018, the R1 was produced in limited numbers as a proof of concept for the company's later drones.
== Design and development == Announced in February 2018, the R1 was the first drone released by Skydio.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kesteloo |first=Haye |date=2018-02-13 |title=Skydio launches R1 - an autonomous flying drone that takes obstacle avoidance to new heights |url=https://dronedj.com/2018/02/13/skydio-launches-r1-drone/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230322084328/https://dronedj.com/2018/02/13/skydio-launches-r1-drone/ |archive-date=2023-03-22 |access-date=2025-07-16 |work=DroneDJ |language=en-US}}</ref> The drone is capable of flying autonomously using only its 12 navigation cameras.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Manjoo |first=Farhad |date=2018-02-13 |title=The Autonomous Selfie Drone Is Here. Is Society Ready for It? |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/02/13/technology/skydio-autonomous-drones.html |access-date=2025-07-16 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite web |last=Hollister |first=Sean |date=2019-10-01 |title=Skydio 2: the self-flying future of drones starts at $999 |url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/10/1/20892377/skydio-2-drone-autonomous-self-flying-camera-controller-price-release-date-announcement |access-date=2025-07-07 |website=The Verge |language=en-US}}</ref> The R1 also has a gimbal-stabilized 4K main camera and can be controlled with a mobile app rather than a controller.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Statt |first=Nick |date=2018-04-05 |title=The Skydio R1 autonomous drone is an action sport enthusiast's dream come true |url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/4/5/17195622/skydio-r1-review-autonomous-drone-ai-autopilot-dji-competitor |access-date=2025-07-16 |website=The Verge |language=en-US}}</ref> The drone's structure is made of carbon-fiber and aluminum, allowing it be stowed in a backpack without being damage.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Sandler |first1=Rachel |last2=Villas-Boas |first2=Antonio |title=This $2,500 'self-flying camera' can follow you around and snap photos without anyone controlling it — here's how it works |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/skydio-r1-drone-self-flying-camera-explained-photos-2018-2 |access-date=2025-07-16 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US}}</ref> The drone has a maximum flight time of 16 minutes, which ''The Verge'' noted was lower than contemporary DJI drones.<ref name=":0" /> The R1 is powered by a 256-core NVIDIA Jetson TX1, which is mounted in the middle of the drone and allows it to recognize humans and other objects.<ref>{{Cite web |last=kangalow |date=2018-02-14 |title=Skydio R1 - Jetson TX1 Based Self-Flying Camera |url=https://jetsonhacks.com/2018/02/14/skydio-r1-jetson-tx1-based-self-flying-camera/ |access-date=2023-07-18 |website=JetsonHacks |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Han |first=Jakub |date=2018-04-27 |title=Skydio R1 - Impressive Fully Autonomous 4K Drone |url=https://www.cined.com/skydio-r1-impressive-fully-autonomous-4k-drone/ |access-date=2025-07-16 |website=CineD |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |author1=Michelle Fitzsimmons |date=2018-02-13 |title=Skydio R1 is an autonomous drone that will film all your awesome adventures |url=https://www.techradar.com/news/skydio-r1-is-a-self-flying-drone-that-will-film-all-your-awesome-adventures |access-date=2025-07-16 |website=TechRadar |language=en}}</ref> The drone was initially released in a limited "Frontier Edition", which were built at Skydio's corporate headquarters before mass production began.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-02-13 |title=Skydio Announces R1, Delivering on the Promise of the Self-Flying Camera |url=https://www.suasnews.com/2018/02/skydio-announces-r1-delivering-promise-self-flying-camera/ |access-date=2025-07-16 |website=sUAS News |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Skydio Demonstrates Incredible Obstacle-Dodging Full Autonomy With New R1 Consumer Drone - IEEE Spectrum |url=https://spectrum.ieee.org/skydio-r1-drone |access-date=2025-07-16 |website=spectrum.ieee.org |language=en}}</ref>
While the R1 was praised for its autonomous capabilities, the drone was significantly more expensive than the competing DJI Mavic Pro.<ref name=":2" /> ''Engadget'' noted that the R1 was almost as expensive as the high-end DJI Inspire 2.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-05-30 |title=Skydio's R1 drone can autonomously follow your car, too |url=https://www.engadget.com/2018-05-30-skydios-r1-drone-can-autonomously-follow-your-car-too.html |access-date=2025-07-16 |website=Engadget |language=en-US}}</ref> The R1 was still listed on Skydio's website as late as July 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Skydio — Product |url=https://www.skydio.com/product/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190620000627/https://www.skydio.com/product/ |archive-date=2019-06-20 |access-date=2025-07-07 |website=Skydio |language=en-US}}</ref> After the launch of the R1's successor, the Skydio 2, Skydio co-founder Adam Bry referred to the R1 as "the Tesla Roadster of autonomous drones", comparing the drone to the car produced in limited numbers by Tesla Motors as a proof of concept for its future vehicles.<ref name=":52">{{Cite web |last=Hollister |first=Sean |date=2019-10-01 |title=Skydio 2: the self-flying future of drones starts at $999 |url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/10/1/20892377/skydio-2-drone-autonomous-self-flying-camera-controller-price-release-date-announcement |access-date=2025-07-07 |website=The Verge |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Specifications (Skydio R1) ==
{{Aircraft specs |ref=<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Murison |first=Malek |date=2018-02-13 |title=Skydio R1: America's Belated Response to DJI's Dominance |url=https://dronelife.com/2018/02/13/skydio-r1-america-dji-dominance/ |access-date=2025-07-16 |website=DRONELIFE |language=en-US}}</ref> |prime units?=imp <!-- General characteristics --> |genhide=
|capacity= |length m=0.33 |length ft=1 |length in=1 |length note= |width m=0.41 |width ft=1 |width in=4 |width note= |height m=0.04 |height ft= |height in=1.5 |height note= |empty weight kg= |empty weight lb=2.2 |empty weight note= |gross weight kg= |gross weight lb= |gross weight note= |max takeoff weight kg= |max takeoff weight lb= |max takeoff weight note= |fuel capacity= |more general= <!-- Powerplant --> |eng1 number= |eng1 name= |eng1 type= |eng1 note= |power original=
|prop blade number= |prop name= |prop dia m= |prop dia ft= |prop dia in= |prop dia note= <!-- Performance --> |perfhide=
|max speed kmh= |max speed mph=25 |max speed kts= |max speed note= |cruise speed kmh= |cruise speed mph= |cruise speed kts= |cruise speed note= |stall speed kmh= |stall speed mph= |stall speed kts= |stall speed note= |never exceed speed kmh= |never exceed speed mph= |never exceed speed kts= |never exceed speed note= |minimum control speed kmh= |minimum control speed mph= |minimum control speed kts= |minimum control speed note= |range km= |range miles=<!-- Use the custom parameter --> |range nmi= |range note= |endurance=16 minutes |ceiling m=18.29 |ceiling ft=60 |ceiling note= |climb rate ms= |climb rate ftmin= |climb rate note= |time to altitude= |disk loading kg/m2= |disk loading lb/sqft= |disk loading note= |power/mass= |more performance= *'''WiFi range:''' 300 ft (91.44 m)
|avionics= }}
== See also == {{aircontent |see also= * History of unmanned aerial vehicles |related= |similar aircraft= * DJI Air * DJI Mavic |lists= * List of unmanned aerial vehicles }}
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == {{Commons cat|Skydio R1}}
{{Skydio aircraft}}
Category:Unmanned aerial vehicles of the United States Category:Quadcopters Category:Electric aircraft R1