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

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

#81

Post by snovv_crash » Wed, Oct 02, 2019, 7:39 AM 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.

Expect that to jump to ~40-50 minutes in the next year or so as some new battery tech comes to market. I've personally seen an endurance-test video of a small quadcopter with almost an hour flight time using prototypes of the new battery tech.

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

#82

Post by bjtitus » Wed, Oct 02, 2019, 2:50 PM UTC

m463 wrote: post #78

HALtheWise wrote: post #24

I'm an autonomy engineer at Skydio, and while there are limits to what I can reveal publicly, I'm happy to answer any questions people have.

Can you just go fly your drone, or do you have to register your drone and so forth? I returned the DJI because you had to make an account and register your drone before you could fly with the controller. Additionally after I returned it, a friend showed me the appalling snooping they do on their customers and flights.

To be fair, there are strict FAA rules that tons of people completely disregard. It seems like it'd be in the companies interest to do its best to ensure their market doesn't collapse due to further regulation.

Seems like it could be an attempt to understand and police some of that activity rather than "appalling snooping".

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

#83

Post by tony2016 » Sat, Oct 05, 2019, 7:47 AM UTC

The R1 (first gen) propellers were protected by a plastic shield around them. Here they are exposed. What happens if the drone hits a tree or some branches? Won't the propellers easily break?

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

#84

Post by donquixote25 » Sun, Oct 06, 2019, 5:19 PM UTC

HALtheWise wrote: post #24

I'm an autonomy engineer at Skydio, and while there are limits to what I can reveal publicly, I'm happy to answer any questions people have.

Hi! Joining the party late, but why did you guys opt for the two propellers up/two propellers down design?