Overview
The first consumer drone that could genuinely fly itself through forests while following a person, using 12 cameras and an onboard Jetson. It was expensive and slow, but proved the approach that Skydio 2 refined a year later.
- Type
- Drone · Autonomous & developer drones
- Maker
- Skydio (USA)
- Released
- 2018
- Price
- Was $2,499 (2018)
- Status
- Discontinued · used/leftover only
- Best for
- Ages 16+
- Programming
- Limited SDK
Price and shipping
$2,499 Frontier Edition launch price. Cut to $1,999 in September 2018 (one battery, extras $149).
Shipping: Rare. Discontinued. Used units surface only occasionally on eBay.
Specifications
| Category | Drones · Autonomous & developer drones |
|---|---|
| Released | 2018 |
| Country | USA |
| Availability | Discontinued · used/leftover only |
| Programmability | Limited SDK |
| Built-in autonomy | Navigates · Goes to places on its own, such as mapped rooms, waypoints or its charging dock |
| LLM support | Possible via SDK · No built-in LLM. Its SDK lets software on a computer control it. |
| MuJoCo simulation | None found · Nothing found. |
| NVIDIA Isaac simulation | None found · Nothing found. |
| Gazebo simulation | None found · Nothing found. |
| Best for | Ages 16+ (estimated) |
| Vision sensors | Camera, Depth camera |
| Actuators | Brushless / direct-drive motors |
| Audio | No audio |
| Compute type | NVIDIA Jetson |
| Remote control | Via SSH / web / bridge |
| Size | ~33×40×4 cm, ~1 kg |
| Drive | Quadcopter |
| Compute | NVIDIA Jetson TX1 |
| Vision | 12 navigation cameras + 4K main camera |
| Lidar | None |
| Sensors | IMU, GNSS, 360° stereo vision |
| Runtime | About 16 min |
| Speed | Up to 25 mph (about 11 m/s) |
| SDK | Skydio Skills SDK (Python), part of the Skydio Autonomy Platform launched for R1 in September 2018 |
Common questions
How much does Skydio R1 cost?
It sold for $2,499 (2018). $2,499 Frontier Edition launch price. Cut to $1,999 in September 2018 (one battery, extras $149).
Can Skydio R1 be bought today?
It is discontinued, though used or leftover units still turn up. Discontinued. Used units surface only occasionally on eBay.
Who makes Skydio R1?
Skydio R1 is made by Skydio (USA). It came out in 2018.
Can Skydio R1 be programmed?
Limited SDK. Skydio Skills SDK (Python), part of the Skydio Autonomy Platform launched for R1 in September 2018.
Does Skydio R1 have AI chat or LLM support?
Possible via SDK. No built-in LLM. Its SDK lets software on a computer control it.
What age is Skydio R1 for?
Ages 16+ (estimated).
Ratings & reviews
Ratings and reviews load on the live site.
Related guides
- Robot Vision and Depth Sensors · cameras, lidar and other distance sensors
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Image credits
- Image 1: source (official Skydio image)