Understanding Skydio X10 contingency behaviors
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While flying, always monitor your controller screen for in-app alerts relating to battery levels, signal quality, and other in-flight notifications.
[warning] Before flying, ensure you have set your Lost Connection Return Behaviors. This is a critical step that ensures your drone returns safely and lands in an accessible location. [/warning]
Low battery
Skydio X10 will assess the altitude and distance from the Launch or Home Point and alert you when it’s time to return and land. It is strongly recommended you initiate a return or land at this time.
- If you continue flying, Skydio X10 will notify you when it has two minutes of flight time left based on its current altitude and the battery indicator will begin a two-minute countdown. You may choose to continue flying, however, it is strongly recommended that you fly to a safe location and land.
- If you ignore the countdown and continue flying, when the two-minute countdown is complete Skydio will initiate an automatic landing.
[note] Before flying, configure return settings, such as an automatic return on low battery, in the Return menu (Global Settings > Return). [/note]
Lost GPS
If Skydio X10 loses GPS signal, the drone will continue flying using the vision system. Actions that require GPS will be disabled.
If visual navigation is also unavailable (i.e. high elevation missions), the drone will enter Attitude Mode, a mode of flying that relies on the drone barometer to maintain altitude. By default, if there are no joystick inputs for 5 seconds, the drone will begin emergency landing.
Example: If Skydio X10 loses GPS signal while flying in GPS Only mode (e.g., flying at night without NightSense) it will enter attitude mode. |
Lost Connection
If connection is lost, Skydio X10 will default to the Lost Connection settings. Select between Return (default) and Hover upon lost connection.
Return (default)
Wait Before Return - set the amount of time you want Skydio X10 to wait before it initiates a return flight, allowing time to reconnect Land After Return - when enabled, your drone will return, hover for a specified amount of time, then land. Wait Before Land - the amount of time between 0 to 300 seconds (default is 240 seconds) that you want your drone to wait above the landing location before landing. This setting is only enabled when Land After Return is toggled on. |
Hover
Land After Hover - when enabled, Skydio X10 will hover for a specified amount of time, then use visual navigation to find a safe area to land. Wait Before Land - the amount of time between 0 to 300 seconds (default is 240 seconds) that you want your drone to wait before landing. This setting is only enabled when Land After Hover is toggled on. |
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Skydio X10 will continue hovering as it tries to regain connection. If it fails to reconnect and reaches low battery:
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Controller Overheating
If the Skydio X10 Controller reaches critical temperatures and overheats in flight, it will shut down and lose connection to the drone, triggering the X10 Lost Connection behavior.
To mitigate overheating and reduce the risk of lost connection during flight, the controller will run through the following protocols:
X10 Controller Temperature | Behavior |
≥ 107°F (42°C) | “Controller Overheating” notification appears on screen. The controller screen will dim to protect itself and the user is recommended to move to a cooler location or shade the screen from the sun to continue operation. |
≥ 113°F (45°C) | “Controller Temperature Critical” notification appears on screen. User is warned that the controller is too hot and will shut down if not cooled immediately. If the drone is grounded, launch is prevented. |
≥ 122°F (50°C) | “Controller Shutdown Imminent” notification appears on screen. The controller will then shut down. If the drone is grounded, launch is prevented. If the drone is in flight and the controller shuts down, this will result in lost connection. |
Emergency Landing and Attitude Mode
If both GPS and the vision navigation system (VIO) become unreliable, Skydio X10 will enter Attitude Mode.
In this mode, the drone will use internal barometer readings to maintain altitude when the throttle joystick is centered.
The drone will drift, in which case you will need to adjust roll and pitch movements to maintain the drone’s position. The drone will not automatically hold position or automatically brake when the joysticks are centered.
For more information about Attitude Mode, visit How to fly in Attitude Mode with Skydio X10.
Flight Termination
[warning] Terminating a flight will cause your drone to crash. Damage resulting from Flight Termination is not covered under warranty and may result in injury or damage. Use only in extreme situations. [/warning]
In the event of an extreme emergency, you have the option to immediately terminate your flight. Simultaneously press and hold the C3 button and Launch/Return/Land button for three seconds while in flight to immediately stop the motors.
Explore More
How to set Return and Lost Connection Behaviors on Skydio X10
Skydio, Inc. A0409
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