Understanding Skydio 2/2+ Return Behaviors

Step 1 - Select the Settings icon  

Step 2 - Select the Drone tab

Step 3 - Select Return Behavior

The Return Behavior menu allows you to set:

• Return Height
• Height Behavior
• Drone Looks
• Return Speed
• Auto Return On Low Battery
• Lost Connection 

Return Height

Allows you to set the height to which Skydio should ascend before returning. By default, the Return Height is set to 32 ft (9.7 m). Skydio 2/2+ will ascend to that height before returning. 

Height Behavior

Choose between Absolute and Relative:

Absolute means your drone will ascend to the specified Return Height above the launch point before returning.

• For example, if the Return Height is 32 ft and the drone is at 20 ft at the time the return is commanded, Skydio will ascend to 12 ft before returning.

Relative means your drone will ascend to the specified Return Height above the current position before returning.

• For example, if the Return Height is 32 ft and the drone is at 20 ft at the time the return is commanded, Skydio will ascend 32 ft and then return at a height of 52 ft. 

Drone Looks

Skydio will either look toward or away from the return destination while returning.

Return Speed

Adjust the speed at which Skydio should fly when returning. 

Low Battery

You have two options when selecting a Low Battery Return Behavior:

• Always Ask (default) - When the battery is only sufficient to return and land, you will be asked to select the return behavior
• Return to Home Point - If you have a Home Point set, your drone will automatically return there when the battery is only sufficient to return and land

Enabling or disabling this feature persists across flights and power cycles. 

See Low Battery Auto Return below for more information. 

[note] You must have a Home Point set to use Low Battery Auto Return [/note] 

[caution] Low Battery Auto Return requires a GPS connection. [/caution] 

Lost Connection

Lets you choose how you want your drone to behave if the signal to your controlling device is lost

• Wait Before Return - Specify the amount of time that you want Skydio to wait before it initiates a return flight, allowing time to reconnect. 
• Land Once Returned - When enabled, Skydio will return, hover for a specified amount of time, then land.
• Wait Before Land - Specify the amount of time between 0 to 300 seconds (the default is 240 seconds) that you want Skydio to wait before landing. This setting is only enabled when Land Once Return is toggled on. 

When your battery is low, there will be a series of notifications and actions to ensure a safe landing:

• Skydio will assess your altitude and distance from the Home Point, then warn you when it is time to return home. It is recommended you initiate a return or land at this time, however you can choose to keep flying.
• Skydio will then notify you when it has 2 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.
• When the two-minute countdown is complete, Skydio will initiate an automatic landing that you will be unable to cancel. You will maintain the ability to nudge the drone in roll, pitch, and yaw to avoid any obstacles.