Skydio: $1k Skydio 2 drone launch takes aim at DJI • Hacker News Board

Re: Skydio: $1k Skydio 2 drone launch takes aim at DJI

#11

Post by deep_playa » Tue, Oct 01, 2019, 5:43 PM UTC

madmax96 wrote: post #8

I wonder what autopilot this uses? One of the open source ones or a custom implementation?

If you read through the tech specs everything is developed in house probably using some form of SLAM using the 6 cams - appears to run on TX2 chip

Re: Skydio: $1k Skydio 2 drone launch takes aim at DJI

#12

Post by LASR » Tue, Oct 01, 2019, 5:43 PM UTC

probablyexists wrote: post #7

notus wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think even if it is not that great it still beats DJI from a price point and technical specs perspective.

It is always good for DJI to have some competition. They have been spending too much time going after GoPro cameras instead of advancing their quadcopters.

Honestly I am glad they went after the GoPro. The GoPro is now a buggy piece of shit.

I switched over to an OsmoAction and I finally realized how many annoyances I was putting up with GoPro.

Re: Skydio: $1k Skydio 2 drone launch takes aim at DJI

#13

Post by yumraj » Tue, Oct 01, 2019, 5:44 PM UTC

mtb2718 wrote: post #10

tekknolagi wrote: post #5

This seems like an ad. Title reads like one and link just points to homepage. This is the poster's only submission. cc dang

Full disclosure: this is a friend's startup. Not intended to be an advert. We've worked together on computer vision problems in the past, and there is some serious tech under the hood here. Happy to change the title if you have a better suggestion.

You may want to add a "Show HN:" to the title

Re: Skydio: $1k Skydio 2 drone launch takes aim at DJI

#14

Post by samfisher83 » Tue, Oct 01, 2019, 5:45 PM UTC

notus wrote: post #4

Justin_K wrote: post #3

Looks really cool, but I'm skeptical of all the demo videos and whether or not a person or software flew the drone. Would like to see some independent reviews of their following capability.

I think even if it is not that great it still beats DJI from a price point and technical specs perspective.

DJI makes multiple drones at multiple price points. I think not making it fold-able is going to hurt them. I know some people use their drone to follow them, but a lot of people just to fly their drone. I don't see why they would have any advantage in that space. I feel this probably cool technology without a good market fit.

Re: Skydio: $1k Skydio 2 drone launch takes aim at DJI

#15

Post by deckar01 » Tue, Oct 01, 2019, 5:45 PM UTC

tekknolagi wrote: post #5

This seems like an ad. Title reads like one and link just points to homepage. This is the poster's only submission. cc dang

The home page has detailed information about the technology, UX, and full specs.

Re: Skydio: $1k Skydio 2 drone launch takes aim at DJI

#16

Post by roshanj » Tue, Oct 01, 2019, 5:46 PM UTC

Justin_K wrote: post #3

Looks really cool, but I'm skeptical of all the demo videos and whether or not a person or software flew the drone. Would like to see some independent reviews of their following capability.

TheVerge video has some good footage of their reporter testing out the functionality https://www.theverge.com/2019/10/1/20892377/skydio-2-drone-a...

edit: I work at Skydio -- all the footage you are seeing is real and filmed entirely on Skydio 2. In our launch video each clip is labeled with "Flying Itself - No Pilot" where it is totally autonomous and "Piloted with AI Assist" when a pilot is using Skydio Controller combined with on-board obstacle avoidance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imt2qZ7uw1s

Re: Skydio: $1k Skydio 2 drone launch takes aim at DJI

#17

Post by 1024core » Tue, Oct 01, 2019, 5:48 PM UTC

I've been keeping a casual eye on drones for a few years, and find it surprising that the flight time always stays between 20 and 30 minutes. Despite all the advances in every other department, the flight time has not changed. Why is that? I would have expected drones capable of flying for over an hour by now.

Re: Skydio: $1k Skydio 2 drone launch takes aim at DJI

#18

Post by [deleted] » Tue, Oct 01, 2019, 5:56 PM UTC

yumraj wrote: post #13

mtb2718 wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Full disclosure: this is a friend's startup. Not intended to be an advert. We've worked together on computer vision problems in the past, and there is some serious tech under the hood here. Happy to change the title if you have a better suggestion.

You may want to add a "Show HN:" to the title

[deleted]

Re: Skydio: $1k Skydio 2 drone launch takes aim at DJI

#19

Post by jpm_sd » Tue, Oct 01, 2019, 5:57 PM UTC

1024core wrote: post #17

I've been keeping a casual eye on drones for a few years, and find it surprising that the flight time always stays between 20 and 30 minutes. Despite all the advances in every other department, the flight time has not changed. Why is that? I would have expected drones capable of flying for over an hour by now.

Both the force of gravity and the energy density of lithium-ion remain more or less unchanged.

Re: Skydio: $1k Skydio 2 drone launch takes aim at DJI

#20

Post by anfractuosity » Tue, Oct 01, 2019, 5:58 PM UTC

"Utilizing 45 megapixels of visual sensing from six 200 degree color cameras, Skydio 2 can see everything in every direction with unprecedented resolution and clarity." - Just to clarify, that means the Jetson TX2 can capture and process data from all 6 cameras, simultaneously, at 4k each? At what framerate is that too out of interest?