How to use Scout Flight Skill on Skydio X10D

1. Determine Whether Scout Is Suitable for the Mission

Scout is intended for missions in which the controller is moving, and the aircraft must maintain a selected position or orientation relative to the controller. Because the aircraft autonomously responds to controller movement, consider:

• Nearby obstacles and structures
• Changes in terrain elevation
• Low-flying aircraft
• Applicable altitude restrictions
• The expected speed and direction of travel
• Suitable recovery locations along the route
• The aircraft’s anticipated battery state at the end of the mission

2. Set a Safe Home Location

Set a Home location on the map before beginning the mission. During a Scout mission, the controller and aircraft may travel a significant distance from the launch point. Returning to the original launch location may not be suitable if a return is triggered by:

• Low battery
• Loss of communication 
• A pilot-commanded return

Select a safe Home location based on the mission plan. This may be:

• The intended destination
• A location near the middle of the planned route
• Another safe and accessible recovery area

When Auto Return is enabled, the aircraft will return to the selected Home location. If no Home location is set, it will return to the launch point.

3. Open Scout

1. Select Fly Now
2. Select the Skills menu (3 × 3 grid button) in the upper-right corner of the Flight Deck screen
3. Select Scout

All Scout settings are listed under the Scout function in the Skills menu.

4. Configure Altitude Behavior

Use Ignore Subject Height to determine whether the aircraft responds to changes in the controller’s elevation.

Follow Controller Elevation

Disable Ignore Subject Height when significant changes in controller elevation require the aircraft to adjust its altitude. When disabled:

• The aircraft climbs and descends in tandem with the controller
• The configured height ceiling remains in effect
• If the required climb would exceed the height ceiling, the aircraft will stop climbing

Set a height ceiling that accommodates expected terrain and elevation changes while remaining within applicable altitude restrictions.

Maintain a Fixed Altitude

Enable Ignore Subject Height to maintain the aircraft’s current altitude as the controller’s elevation changes. When enabled:

• Changes in controller elevation are ignored
• The aircraft will not automatically climb or descend with the controller
• This setting may help the aircraft remain below terrain features or low-flying aircraft

5. Select Relative or Fixed Behavior

Choose how the aircraft maintains its position in relation to the moving controller.

Relative maintains a consistent orientation based on the controller’s direction of travel.

For example, use Relative behavior so the aircraft remains in front of a moving convoy, even as the convoy changes direction. Relative heading changes require the controller to move at approximately 2 m/s (4 mph) or faster.

Fixed maintains the aircraft at a fixed geographic heading or position relative to the controller’s location.

For example, use Fixed behavior so the aircraft remains north of the controller and does not make large sweeping movements when the controller turns.

6. Poor GPS Behavior

Select either Cancel Tracking or Wait for GPS (Default); the X10D will hover until GPS is regained.

7. Configure a Range Limit

The Range Limit specifies the maximum distance the aircraft may travel from the controller during Scout. To configure the Range Limit:

1. Toggle Range Limit on
2. Enter the desired maximum distance

The pilot may manually move the aircraft away from the controller until it reaches the configured limit. The aircraft will then synchronize its movement with the controller to remain within that distance. This behavior functions similarly to a moving geofence centered on the controller.

[info text="The Range Limit is not enforced while Scout is paused or while the aircraft is performing a commanded or automatic return."] 

8. Configure Subject-Location Tools

Show Subject in AR - Enables the display of a purple augmented reality box above the controller’s location in the camera view. The AR box is displayed at the aircraft’s altitude.

Show Find Subject Button - Enables adding a control to the lower-right corner of Flight Deck. Select Find Subject to yaw the aircraft toward the controller’s current position. Find Subject:

• Rotates the aircraft toward the controller
• Does not adjust camera pitch
• Does not automatically center the controller vertically in the camera view

9. Start Scout

After configuring the desired settings:

1. Select Start
2. Begin moving the controller

Relative behavior begins when the controller is moving faster than approximately 4 mph or 2 m/s. Continue monitoring the aircraft, controller position, environment, battery level, and communication status throughout the flight.

10. Reposition the Aircraft During Scout

While the controller is moving, use the flight controls to manually reposition the aircraft along any axis. When the sticks return to neutral, the aircraft resumes the configured Scout behavior. Manual repositioning may be used to:

• Adjust the aircraft’s distance from the controller
• Change its altitude
• Move around an obstacle
• Improve the camera perspective
• Reposition the aircraft for changing mission conditions

11. Pause or Stop Scout

Select Stop or Play/Pause to pause Scout autonomous flight.

When Scout is paused:

• The aircraft stops and hovers in place.
• The aircraft no longer follows the controller.
• The configured Range Limit is not enforced.

Resume Scout when ready to continue autonomous tracking behavior.

13. Access Flight Controls During Scout

The following controls remain available during Scout:

Return and Landing Options - Press the Home/Land button to display available landing and return options.

Scout Settings - Select the Skills menu in the upper-right corner of Flight Deck to:

• View Scout settings
• Change between Relative and Fixed behavior
• Adjust the Range Limit
• Toggle subject-location tools
• Change other Scout parameters

Global Flight Settings - Select the Global Settings menu in the upper-left corner of Flight Deck to change:

• Flight limits
• Height ceilings
• Auto Return settings
• Other global flight parameters