Skydio X10 Asimov Early Access Program (EAP) Release Notes

 

Release date	April 24, 2025
Skydio X10 Controller software version	Asimov (39.154)
Skydio X10 drone firmware version	Asimov (39.216)

Flight System Update Procedure

Required Equipment and System Access

[note] After updating your controller and drone to the above release versions, you will be required to re-pair them using a USB-C cable. Additionally, X10 Controllers must be claimed in Skydio Cloud in order to fly using Connect 5G. [/note]

For step-by-step instructions on how to update, read How to update Skydio X10.

Prior to conducting flight system maintenance, ensure you have:

1. Skydio X10 Drones
2. Skydio X10 Controllers
3. Charged X10 Batteries
4. USB-C to USB-C cable to re-pair the drone and controller after updating (included in the Skydio X10 kit)
5. Access to your organization’s WiFi network/Internet
6. Access to your organization’s Skydio Cloud account

[note] If an update fails, reboot both the drone and the controller before attempting again. [/note]

Update Features

This release brings powerful updates that improve flight awareness, image capture, controller usability, and post-mission support — all designed to help you fly smarter, document more reliably, and manage your fleet with less friction.

Intelligent Connectivity Skydio Connect Fusion - The drone now automatically switches between Connect 5G and Connect SL during flight, selecting the strongest connection for uninterrupted video and flight control Improved Situational and Airspace Awareness ADS-B Alerts on X10 Controllers - Visual and audible alerts for nearby aircraft support safer BVLOS operations FrameLock - Keep close-range subjects steadier in frame when hovering; ideal for inspections or DFR missions New DroneSense Mission Setup DroneSense Mission Selection - Pilots can select and update DroneSense missions or call signs directly on the X10 Controller, without needing the CoPilot app Streamlined Controller Setup and Shared Access Multi-User Login during Setup - Pilots can now enable shared controller access during out-of-box setup, without needing assistance from Org Admins SSO Login on X10 Controllers - Pilots can log in using their organization’s SSO credentials for a more secure and streamlined login experience Clearer Media Organization Custom Folder Updates - Easily switch back to the default system folder for improved organization of mission-specific imagery Audible Shutter Sounds - A new toggle in the Photo settings enables an audible confirmation when capturing photos, reducing uncertainty during inspections Image Framing Tools - Add Centerpoint, Gridline, or Diagonal guidelines to the screen to better frame images during flight Enhanced Navigation High-altitude VIO - Maintain Visual Navigation at altitudes up to 984 ft (300 m) for better performance in GPS-denied environments Navigation Health Indicator (previously called VIO/GPS Indicator) - New visualizations more clearly communicate the state of navigation source health Support Log Upload Enhancements Individual File Status - View upload progress, success, or errors for each file in a Flight Log Flight Log Upload Status - Better visibility into upload progress by seeing if a log is complete, partially uploaded, or not started; upload only the missing files if needed

This release includes updates that impact different roles within the Skydio ecosystem. To help you quickly identify what matters most to you, we have grouped updates by role. Use the definitions below to identify which sections apply to your responsibilities:

Pilots	Pilots are individuals actively operating a Skydio X10 in the field using the X10 Controller. They are responsible for tasks such as flying missions, capturing imagery or video, and responding to live conditions. Examples of relevant updates: drone behavior, image capture tools, controller UI improvements
Remote Pilots	Remote Pilots conduct missions via Remote Flight Deck (RFD) or DFR Command, operating drones remotely rather than in-person. This could include tasks such as managing autonomous flights, overseeing Drone as First Responder (DFR) responses, monitoring live video feeds, and maintaining mission oversight from a command center or dispatch location. Examples of relevant updates: autonomous flight stability, real-time subject tracking and situational awareness, live video reliability for mission oversight
Organization Admins	Organization Admins manage system-level settings in Skydio Cloud. They are responsible for tasks such as maintaining fleet and equipment readiness, managing integrations, assigning user roles, and ensuring compliance within regulatory and organizational policy. Examples of relevant updates: log in and authentication (SSO), user access, DroneSense settings

 

PILOTS

Intelligent Connectivity with Skydio Connect Fusion

Pilots no longer need to manually manage radio links as Skydio X10 and the X10 Controller now optimize inflight connectivity by automatically switching between Connect 5G (cellular) and Connect SL (point-to-point), ensuring the best available connection is always in use.

Connect Fusion provides continuous, high-quality video by encoding separate streams for both Connect SL and Connect 5G, then dynamically selects the strongest feed in real-time. Fusion is set as the default Flight Connection and appears as a new telemetry item that indicates automatic switching.

• Remain focused on flying as the system automatically selects the strongest connection
• Ensures a smoother flight experience, less interruptions, and more reliable video
• Select FUS in the telemetry bar for detailed connection status and health

ADS-B Awareness on the X10 Controller for Safer Flights

While flying with the X10 Controller, pilots will see and hear alerts for nearby air traffic, supporting safer operations.

Allows you to maintain full situational awareness and comply with waiver requirements for visual and audible air traffic alerts. When an aircraft enters the set alert radius, a notification will appear on the controller:

• Aircraft icon – Displays either a fixed wing aircraft or rotorcraft, along with the altitude relative to your drone; select this icon to view more flight details (e.g., vertical/horizontal speed, ground distance relative to your drone)
• Visual notification – An alert appears in the top right of the screen and displays Incoming Aircraft
• Audible alert - When an aircraft enters your alert radius, the X10 Controller will play an audible beep, along with a spoken “Traffic”; mute this alert using the speaker icon within the visual notification

[note] Configure ADS-B settings under Global Settings > Display > Air Traffic. [/note]

Select and Update DroneSense Missions on the X10 Controller

Pilots are now able to assign flights to an active DroneSense Mission, both before launching or during flight. This eliminates the need for the DroneSense CoPilot app and allows for seamless mission management.

• Track missions more easily by selecting a Mission/call sign before launching, ensuring that flights are properly categorized
• Maintain clear communication and situational awareness with the flexibility to update callsigns live

Improved Battery Notifications for Safer Flight

Skydio X10 now provides enhanced battery notifications to help you return and land safely—even in high-stakes or low-visibility scenarios.

Audible alerts have been added to the following drone battery warnings:

• Return Battery Capacity Reached
• Drone Battery Low
• Land Immediately

These beeps play through the controller and can be muted from the notification or you can mute all notifications via Global Settings > Sound.

Additionally, a new set of controller battery notifications have been introduced:

• At 10%, you will receive a Controller Battery Low warning
• At 5%, a Controller Battery Critical alert appears with an audible tone
• If the controller powers off mid-flight, the drone will follow the Lost Connection behavior you have configured

These improvements give you clear audio and visual cues to stay ahead of low battery situations and maintain control during return or emergency descent.

Easily Enable Multi-User Login during Controller Setup

Pilots can now enable Shared Controllers directly during the out-of-box controller setup, making it easier to configure a shared controller from the start. Previously, enabling this feature required a request to apply it organization-wide, but it can now be configured per controller during onboarding.

• Pilots can enable this feature when setting up a controller for the first time
• Once enabled, each user sets up a PIN for quick access

Org Admin View: Admins can enable shared controllers at any time

 

Log into your X10 Controller with SSO

If your organization uses Single Sign-On (SSO), you can now log into your X10 Controller using your corporate credentials, eliminating the need to remember additional passwords or rely on email verifications.

• Secure authentication that complies with organizational IT policies
• After entering your email, you will be given the option to continue with your SSO provider

Audible Shutter Sounds for Photo Confirmation

When enabled, pilots will hear a shutter sound when capturing photos, providing instant confirmation that an image has been taken. This is especially useful for visual inspections and detailed documentation tasks where confirming photo capture is critical.

• Ensure key photos are documented during inspections such as infrastructure surveys or asset monitoring
• Shutter Sounds are ON by default (enable or disable within Photo Settings)
• Sound only plays through the controller speakers, not through connected headsets

Improved Photo Folder Management

Easily switch back to the default media folder after using a custom folder for photo storage, making file organization more flexible.

For example, you are inspecting a substation and you create a Custom Folder to store mission-specific photos. After completing the job, select Revert to Media to ensure future photos save to the default folder.

• After creating a Custom Folder via Photo Settings, you will see a new Revert to Media button
• Quickly return to the default system folder after saving photos to a custom folder
• Clearer notifications confirm when a folder is successfully created

[note] Custom Folders do not appear in Skydio Cloud after Media Sync. [/note]

Updates to the Navigation Health Indicator Improve Navigation Awareness

A more informative Navigation Health Indicator (previously called VIO/GPS Indicator) provides clearer insight into the navigation source of the drone and its reliability. This update helps you quickly assess whether the drone is relying on Visual Navigation (VIO) or GPS and take action if navigation quality degrades.

These improvements help reduce the risk of entering Attitude Mode by providing clearer visual cues on navigation health.

• 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.

Nominal state (GPS is primary)
White status bars
Yellow highlight and yellow compass

New Tools for Precise Image Framing

Enable on-screen framing guides to improve image composition during inspections and video capture. These visual guides help to center and frame subjects, making it easier to capture consistent, high-quality images.

Each tool has a high-contrast design that adjusts for day and night visibility and are available in Photo and Video modes for both color and thermal cameras. When enabled, they display on-screen only, without appearing in captured media.

• Centerpoint - Displays a crosshair in the center of the screen to align subjects
• Grid - Adds a rule of thirds overlay for balanced framing
• Diagonal - Displays two intersecting diagonal lines from opposite corners, aiding in angular alignment
• Enable one, two, or all three overlays under Global Settings > Display > Gridlines

[note] If Crosshair Coordinates are enabled, the Centerpoint will automatically toggle on. [/note]

Centerpoint

Grid

Diagonal

Improved Subject Framing for Inspections and DFR Operations with FrameLock

Capture even steadier imagery with improved foreground stability that keeps your intended subject in frame. Reduces instances of unintentional drift, resulting in the need for more manual adjustments.

• Complete more efficient inspections by reducing the need for additional camera adjustments while capturing close-up details
• Confidently hover in place without losing focus on key details

Before:

After:

Smoother and More Accurate 3D Scans and Map Captures

Pilots conducting 3D Scans and Map Captures will experience smoother drone movements and automatic speed adjustments to improve imagery quality. These updates ensure that the drone itself does not appear in captured images and that scans remain sharp—even in low-light conditions or at higher speeds.

• The drone moves more fluidly between image capture points, reducing the number of abrupt movements that could cause image misalignment
• Even if parts of the drone appear in the frame of the live feed, it is not present in the final images

Clearer Support Log Upload Status and Ability to Upload Missing Data

Uploading Support Logs provides clearer status indicators, making it easier to track which files have uploaded successfully, which are still in progress, and which have failed. Additionally, if an upload was interrupted, pilots can now upload only the missing log data instead of retrying everything.

For example, if a flight log is marked as Partial, the pilot can go into the File Queue to see which individual files failed and retry uploading them.

Individual Flight Log Status Resume incomplete uploads by sending only the missing data Each log has a status indicator: Not Started – Log has not been uploaded Partial – Some data was uploaded, but the log is incomplete Complete – The log has been fully uploaded
Individual File Status Select the error icon in the top right to see which files failed Shows the status of individual files within a support log upload: Green – Upload successful White – Upload failed

Review How to upload Skydio Support logs for step-by-step instructions.

Launch in Smaller Spaces with Reduced Clearance Requirements

Skydio X10 is able to launch in more confined environments, both indoors and outdoors, thanks to a reduced minimum overhead clearance requirement. Previously, launching required 10 ft (3 m) of overhead space —now, only 6 ft 7 in (2 m) is needed.

• Enables launching from complex environments, such as dense forests or tight spaces

Reliable Visual Navigation at Higher Altitudes

Skydio X10 now maintains stable Visual Navigation (VIO) at altitudes up to 984 ft (300 m) — a major increase from the previous 164 ft (50 m) limit. This enhances flexibility when operating in GPS-denied environments, such as urban canyons or high-altitude tactical operations.

If GPS is lost, Skydio X10 maintains continuous navigation using Visual Navigation, which operates alongside GPS and can fully take over all navigation functions—even at high altitudes.

• Increased situational awareness with high-altitude perspectives in challenging GPS environments
• Operate reliably in cityscapes where GPS signals may be unreliable
• Maintain mission continuity even if GPS is lost

Always follow the aviation regulations in your country and jurisdiction. If you are flying in the United States, a waiver from the FAA is required to fly above 400 ft (~120 m). If you need assistance submitting a waiver for high-altitude missions, reach out to our Regulatory Services team.

[note] High-altitude VIO is optimized for daylight conditions. High Altitude VIO can be achieved at night under the right conditions. When flying at night, Visual Navigation will work best in urban and suburban environments where there are city and street lights that the drone can use for positioning. The higher you fly, and the fewer the lights there are, the more VIO will degrade, so please use caution. Be sure to monitor VIO and GPS health in the telemetry bar and make adjustments based on your environment to maintain healthy navigation sources. [/note]

REMOTE PILOTS

Intelligent Connectivity with Skydio Connect Fusion

For Remote Pilots flying with Remote Flight Deck (RFD), you will now see a FUS indicator in the telemetry bar. This represents Skydio Connect Fusion, a new default connectivity mode used by X10 and the X10 Controller.

Connect Fusion automatically manages the drone’s connection between Connect SL (point-to-point) and Connect 5G (cellular), selecting the best-performing link in realtime. This allows the system to maintain a more stable video feed and responsive controls, without requiring the pilot to switch manually between networks.

• Stay focused on flying as the system automatically selects the strongest connection
• Reduces interruptions and improves flight stability in environments with variable connectivity
• Select FUS in the telemetry bar to view more details about the current link health

Improved Mission Execution with Visual Navigation at Higher Altitudes

When conducting autonomous missions in Remote Flight Deck (RFD) remote pilots can now maintain stable Visual Navigation (VIO) at altitudes up to 984 ft (300 m) — a major increase from the previous 164 ft (50 m) limit.

This capability is critical for tactical and emergency response operations where GPS may be unavailable due to challenging terrain (e.g., mountains, dense forests) or other interferences.

• Increased situational awareness with high-altitude perspectives in challenging GPS environments
• Deploy drones in complex environments with fewer altitude constraints
• Maintain mission continuity even if GPS is lost

[note] High-altitude VIO is optimized for daylight conditions. High Altitude VIO can be achieved at night under the right conditions. When flying at night, Visual Navigation will work best in urban and suburban environments where there are city and street lights that the drone can use for positioning. The higher you fly, and the fewer the lights there are, the more VIO will degrade, so please use caution. Be sure to monitor VIO and GPS health in the telemetry bar and make adjustments based on your environment to maintain healthy navigation sources. [/note]

Updates to the Navigation Health Indicator Improve Remote Flight Awareness

A clearer and more informative Navigation Health Indicator (previously called VIO/GPS Indicator) makes it easier to understand the navigation state of the drone and ensure reliable autonomous flight. Quickly assess whether the drone is relying on Visual Navigation (VIO) or GPS and take action if navigation quality degrades.

These improvements help reduce the risk of entering an emergency landing by providing clearer visual cues on navigation health.

• 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.
• 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 warns that your active navigation source is weak and your backup source is unavailable. If the highlighted source fails, an emergency landing will initiate.

Nominal state (GPS is primary)
White status bars
Yellow highlight and yellow compass

More Stable Video for DFR & Security Operations

Improvements to foreground stability ensures that critical subjects remain steady in the frame even when the drone is hovering. Reduces instances of unintentional drift, resulting in the need for more manual adjustments.

• Helps DFR and security teams maintain a clear view of important subjects
• Confidently hover in place without losing focus on key details

Before:

After:

Improved Map Capture Autonomy for Remote Ops

Remote Pilots can expect smoother drone movements and automatic speed adjustments, improving scan accuracy and reconstruction quality. These enhancements allow for clearer, more consistent image capture—even in low light or high-speed operations.

• A Remote Pilot conducting a large-scale map capture at high speed benefits from automatic adjustments, ensuring high-quality images without excessive motion blur
• The drone moves more fluidly between image capture points, reducing the number of abrupt movements that could cause image misalignment
• Even if parts of the drone appear in the frame of the live feed, it is not present in the final images

Reduced Clearance Launching for Skydio Remote Ops

Remote Pilots have more launch flexibility, as the minimum overhead clearance required for launching has been reduced from 10 ft (3 m) to 6 ft 7 in (2 m).

• Unlocks more deployment locations as drones can now launch from complex environments, such as dense forests or tight spaces

ORGANIZATION ADMINS

Enable Multi-User Controllers for Shared Operations

Organization Admins can now enable a multi-user mode on controllers, allowing teams to seamlessly switch users without losing critical flight settings or logs. This feature is particularly useful for organizations that share controllers across shifts.

• Pilots have the ability to enable this feature during controller setup, but admins can enable it anytime via the Account/Profile menu on the controller
• Once enabled, each user sets up a PIN for quick access

[note] Reverting back to single-user mode requires a factory reset. [/note]

Configure SSO on X10 Controllers

Skydio Single Sign-On (SSO) login support is now available on the X10 Controller, ensuring compliance with organizational IT security policies. Admins can create and manage login methods at the organization or per-user level through the organization settings.

User login methods are managed by Organization Admins in Skydio Cloud. The login options available on controllers are determined by the login methods available to the user that is attempting to log in. For example, if you configure an SSO provider in Skydio Cloud, this will be available on all controllers associated with your organization.

• Controllers now comply with your organization’s IdP for streamlined user management
• Eliminates the headache of pilots maintaining extra passwords or entering email verification codes
• Per-user SSO disablement allows fallback to other authentication methods if needed

Allow DroneSense Mission Selection for X10 Pilots

Pilots using the X10 Controller can now select DroneSense Missions and call signs directly from the controller. To do so, ensure that mission selection is enabled in Skydio Cloud.

• Log in to Skydio Cloud > Integrations > DroneSense > View Settings > Enable the Mission Selection toggle
• Allows for real-time mission adjustments when flying with the X10 Controller

More Intuitive LED Behavior during Drone Updates

Improvements to the drone LED behavior during updates reduces confusion, resulting in greater overall update reliability. The LEDs will now turn green after the full update is complete.

• Even if RGB lights are disabled in the Lighting menu, the LEDs will be enabled throughout the update to provide consistent visual feedback, and will automatically turn off once the update is complete

[note] When updating from 37.2.32 or earlier to Asimov, the green LEDs may flash twice. Once halfway through the update (old behavior) and again at the end (new behavior). From Asimov to future releases, the green flash will happen once after the update completes. [/note]

Control Automatic LRV Recording

[caution] Do not disable Low-Resolution Video (LRV) unless absolutely necessary. These video files are critical for troubleshooting any issues you may experience while flying. Disabling LRV will limit Skydio’s ability to investigate flight anomalies. [/caution]

Organization Admins can now disable automatic Low-Resolution Video (LRV) recording, ensuring that capturing video aligns with department policies and evidentiary procedures.

[note] This feature is only available with DFR Command. [/note]

FIXES

• Improved Time of Flight (TOF) sensor performance in fog and mist conditions
• Smarter landings with improved powerline and obstacle avoidance
• More accurate high wind detection for safer flights
• Enhanced motor vibration detection to prevent takeoff with damaged props
• Direct landing command options for more pilot control
• Improved media sync upload speeds for Scans and Photos by enabling parallel uploads for smaller files

• Controller disconnect issues - Some users experienced disconnect issues mid-flight, often accompanied by four red lights on the front of the controller

  • This update enables more robust logging to better understand the root cause of these issues and reduces internal input draw to help address the issues

KNOWN ISSUES

• The default Height Ceiling is set to 984 ft (300 m). To mitigate this, Factory Reset the X10 Controller to reset the default Height Ceiling to 400 ft (121 m).
• When using LiveU systems for controller connectivity (e.g., in patrol vehicles), ensure the LiveU is configured to Data Bridge > Multi-path mode, not Gateway mode.
  • Gateway mode blocks the cellular communication between X10 and the X10 controller. The controller may show that it has internet access or be able to load maps, but it will fail to connect to the drone over cellular, and Fusion will show a disconnected status in the 5G section of the menu. This issue is under active investigation.
• Map coordinate labels or ADS-B telemetry labels for nearby aircraft may remain visible (e.g., the aircraft has left the area but the text label remains on-screen).
  • This does not impact ADS-B functionality or alerting behavior. The issue is under investigation in collaboration with Mapbox.
• If the wireless connection between the drone and controller is lost, it may take several seconds longer than expected for the controller to reconnect over Ethernet.
  • This delay does not indicate a loss of connectivity—Ethernet remains active during this time.
• The Start ReadyLink button may appear as an option when using Connect SL, but pressing it has no effect.
  • This can occur when the drone's LTE modem is enabled but no SIM card is installed. To resolve this, disable the toggle called Drone Connect 5G in the Radio menu to allow Connect SL ReadyLinks to function as expected.
• The Drone Connect 5G toggle may flicker on and off when the drone contains an inactive or invalid SIM card.
  • This only affects the on-screen UI and does not impact actual functionality.
• In high-interference areas, the connection may be degraded for several seconds when switching from Connect 5G to Connect SL.
  • This occurs because ANI is temporarily lowered after switching to cellular. The issue resolves automatically after approximately 30 seconds.
  • Using Connect Fusion prevents this behavior by keeping both links active.
• Rapidly switching between Connect SL and Connect 5G may cause the controller to appear offline.
  • Wait at least five seconds between toggles to allow the new connection to fully establish.
• In rare cases, ReadyLink may be unavailable due to a failure to retrieve organization information from Skydio Cloud.
  • Ensure the controller is connected to the internet and that the pilot, controller, and drone are all part of the same Cloud organization.
  • If the issue persists, temporarily elevating the pilot’s role to Remote Pilot may help.
• Requests to send drone debug logs may occasionally fail without an error message.
  • This can happen if the drone is slow to respond or temporarily rejects the request.
  • If the logs do not appear, try sending them again.
• When piloting over Connect 5G, the Signal Strength Indicator may not update to reflect real-time link status.
  • This does not impact flight performance but may cause confusion when monitoring SL availability.
• If an Over-the-Air (OTA) update fails, reboot both the drone and the controller before attempting again.