Today, the US-based drone maker Skydio introduces a new version of their two-year-old drone, the Skydio 2+ with improved range, increased flight time, a new KeyFrame option, and Skydio Care.
Skydio 2+ drone launched with new KeyFrame option
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DJI drones banned for use by government agencies in Florida
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It seems that Skydio’s aggressive lobbying is working in favor of the so-called Blue sUAS manufacturers as DJI drones have been banned for use and acquisition by government agencies in Florida.
DJI Mavic 3 Active Track 5 test versus Skydio 2
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Ray, aka DC Rainmaker, puts the DJI Mavic 3 against the Skydio 2 in an Active Track test. If you have a few minutes you should watch Ray’s video below, but in case you are in a rush, here are the highlights.
Skydio 2 in stock and ready to ship. But who cares when DJI Mavic 3 is expected soon?
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US dronemaker Skydio told its customers in an email to: ‘stop waiting and start doing.’ The company said that the Skydio 2 is now in stock and ready to ship. However, who cares when the new DJI Mavic 3 is expected to arrive this fall?
Blue sUAS purchased by Pentagon ‘8 to 14 times’ more expensive than DJI drones
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Drones labeled “Blue sUAS” approved by the US Department of Defense are 8 to 14 times more expensive to purchase than the Chinese DJI drones they replace. In addition, users complain about the less broad usability of the Blue sUAS alternatives. This is evident from an internal government memo that has come into the hands of the Financial Times.
FAA approves BNSF Railway use Skydio drones for remote inspections
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US rail company BNSF Railway has received approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to conduct drone inspections out of the pilot’s line of sight (BVLOS). The exemption is partly based on the advanced obstacle detection and a high degree of autonomy that the Skydio drones offer. The drones will be deployed from strategically placed docking stations.
DJI loses market share in US to Autel and Skydio, says Skywatch
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DJI’s market share in the United States has declined by 7% since 2018 in favor of competitors Autel Robotics and Skydio. That reports the American insurance company SkyWatch, based on a recent survey among customers. In 2018, 94% of commercial drone pilots insured with SkyWatch still used DJI devices. By mid-2021, that percentage has fallen to 87%.
Skydio 2 price increases 35% to $1,349
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The Skydio 2 price shot up a substantial 35%, from $999 to $1,349 to reflect the increased costs of the components that go into the drone, said a company official.
Skydio simplifies creating “digital twins” with 3D Scan
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Collecting source data for a digital 3D model of a situation or building by means of drones can be a time-consuming process. Depending on the size and complexity of the scene, multiple complex flight trajectories may sometimes need to be programmed to obtain photos from all angles. Dronemaker Skydio claims to have fully automated this process with the new 3D Scan software package.
OBX bridge inspected by Skydio drones for first time
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The State of North Carolina has been at the forefront of using drones over the last couple of years. Now the NCDOT will be using Skydio drones to inspect the OBX bridge for the first time.