Understanding telemetry on Skydio X10

Battery Indicator

The Battery Indicator dynamically updates during flight based on your altitude and distance from the return location. Monitor the indicator to understand how much battery is:

• Available for flight
• Required to return
• Required to land

Green indicates the battery capacity for nominal flight before the time limit required to safely return and land.

Yellow indicates how much battery is required to return safely

Red indicates how much battery is required to land

The lightning bolt indicates the battery is connected and charging

Three dashes indicate the battery is disconnected

[note] For detailed Low Battery behaviors, read Understanding Skydio X10 contingency behaviors. [/note] 

Signal Strength Indicator

Displays the current strength of the signal connection between the X10 Controller and your X10.

FUS - Skydio Connect Fusion (default)

• Optimizes inflight connectivity by automatically selecting the strongest signal between Connect SL and Connect 5G, eliminating the need for manual switching

SL - Skydio Connect SL

• Optimized point-to-point wireless link between X10 and the controller
• With line-of-sight distances up to 7.5 miles or 12 kilometers, SL offers robust performance for most autonomous flight missions

5G - Skydio Connect 5G

• Allows you to fly Skydio X10 anywhere with a stable cellular connection
• With the addition of Skydio Remote Flight Deck (RFD), you can also operate your Skydio drones through an internet browser via Skydio Cloud
• You will also be able to remotely operate your drones from any Skydio X10 Controller that is connected to your 5G network

Select this icon to view the current link quality between the drone and controller. Select Settings (gear icon) to switch connection types and view signal strength (in dBm) and bitrate.

• Always maintain a direct line of sight between the controller and Skydio X10 for maximum wireless performance. Point the controller cover toward the drone, especially when flying at close range high altitude.
• Signal strength and maximum control range may be affected when flying in areas with electromagnetic interference.

Navigation Health Indicator

The telemetry bar will display the navigation system actively in use, the status level, and the backup system:

• VIO - Vision navigation
• GPS - GPS navigation
• ATTI - Attitude Mode

Reference the Navigation Health Indicator section below for information about the health indicator states.

Attitude Mode

If GPS and VIO fail during flight Skydio X10 will enter Attitude Mode.

• A red border will display, and a notification will warn you that you have Entered Attitude Mode.
• Manually control flight using the joysticks, the drone will not hold a position using VIO or GPS.

[note] Monitor your GPS and VIO health in the telemetry bar. If VIO and GPS both drop below 2 bars of health, your drone will enter Attitude Mode. Visit How to Fly in Attitude Mode for more details. [/note]

Altitude (required)

The flight altitude indicates the drone’s height above the launch point.

Heading

The direction in which the longitudinal axis of the drone is pointed, expressed in degrees from North.

Groundspeed

Displays movement of the drone relative to the ground. It is true airspeed corrected for wind.

• For example, with a true airspeed of 100 knots and a tailwind of 20 knots, you would be flying at a ground speed of 120 knots.

Gimbal Pitch

Tilts the sensor camera 90° up and down.

Distance from Controller

The straight line distance coverage of the drone from the controller signal.

Satellite Count

The GPS signal strength depends on the number of available satellites.

Satellites
This represents the count of GPS satellites from which the drone is currently receiving signals. A greater number of satellites results in a more accurate position, as well as greater safety and reliability during flight. Establishing a strong GPS connection is important:

• Connection to 13 or more satellites is considered healthy
• Recommend 18 or more satellites before flying over water

Step 1 - Select the Global Settings menu and the Display tab

Step 2 - Select Telemetry

Step 3 - Select the blue check to enable or disable the corresponding telemetry data

• Altitude is required

The source with a light gray background is the primary navigation source.

White status bars show whether or not VIO/GPS is stable or degraded.

• One white bar indicates a degraded state that may be close to failure, meaning you must fly with caution and ensure the other navigation source is in a healthy state
• Zero bars means the navigation source has failed and is relying completely on the backup source

Yellow compass indicates GPS is awaiting heading.

• If GPS heading hasn’t converged yet, you will receive a notification prompting you to move the drone laterally to establish heading

Yellow highlight means your active navigation source is weak and your backup source is unavailable.

• If the highlighted source fails, the drone will enter Attitude Mode and you will have to manually fly