[note] These updates will be released gradually over the next few weeks. Do not update your system while the drone is in flight. Release notes were updated after the initial release date to reflect updated version numbers and add clarity. [/note]

[accordion heading="Operational Summary"]

These release notes provide notice of new capabilities, behavior changes, and operational considerations introduced in the Cayley software release for Skydio X10 Flight Systems. All Skydio operations conducted under this release must adhere to the guidance below to maintain compliance and ensure continued airworthiness.

All personnel must review applicable items prior to flight operations to ensure continued operational safety and data compliance under the Cayley software release. Configuration verification should be completed before the next scheduled mission cycle.

Required Review by Role

ORGANIZATION ADMINS

Organization Admins are responsible for validating system configurations, encryption management, and flight policy updates before flight operations under Cayley.

Review and configure the following new features:

• Cloud-Managed Encryption 
• Fusion+ Attachment 
• Faster Launch Times
• Export Pre-planned  Map Captures in Cloud to X10 Controllers

PILOTS IN COMMAND (PIC)

Pilots and mission operators must review changes affecting autonomy behavior, link reliability, and field procedures.

Review and familiarize with the following updates:

• Shadow Track and Follow (Beta
• Faster Launch Times
• Power Optimization for IR NightSense
• Flight Envelope Protection
• Faster Fly Here Now Flights with Obstacle Avoidance
• Improved Video Stability and Connectivity
• Export Pre-planned  Map Captures in Cloud to X10 Controllers
• Improved Map Library for Planning and Custom Mapping
• No Hand-Wave Calibration Required for GPS Night Launches
• New Return Option: Backtrack

Skydio X10 Flight System Update

[note] These updates will be released gradually over the next few weeks. Do not update your system while the drone is in flight. Release notes were updated after the initial release date to reflect updated version numbers and add clarity. [/note]

1. Update your X10 Controller
2. Update your Skydio X10 drone

Read How to update Skydio X10 for step-by-step instructions.

[/accordion]

NEW CAPABILITIES 

Skydio Shadow: Subject Track and Follow

Shadow enables your X10 to act like a true teammate, autonomously maintaining a consistent visual lock on people and vehicles, making it easier to track and capture critical details on moving subjects.

• Predictive reacquisition enables Shadow to reacquire tracking even when the subject is briefly hidden behind obstacles.
• Responsive following keeps the subjected centered, maintaining distance and altitude while dynamically responding to the environment, avoiding obstacles—even while flying backwards.
• Clearer follow controls, including the option to automatically begin following after selecting a subject.
• Operate day or night by seamlessly transitioning between color and thermal sensors to track subjects at night or in low-visibility environments.
• Each tracked subject appears on the Map View—helping operators communicate position and assign coverage.

Shadow Track and Follow continues to provide two modes for tracking subjects:

Track in Place

Maintains lock on a subject and keeps them framed in the camera, even through brief occlusions by predicting subject movement.

Follow

When enabled while tracking, the drone automatically adjusts its position, speed, and heading to maintain visual contact while moving with the subject. Obstacle avoidance must be enabled to use Follow, allowing the drone to automatically pause if a collision risk is detected.

[note] Shadow cannot run simultaneously with VPS or 3D Scan due to system constraints. Performance may be reduced in very low light conditions without NightSense.

Follow cannot be used when Obstacle Avoidance is off. Follow only operates above approximately 60 feet AGL. Below this altitude, the drone will maintain track in place rather than follow in motion. Maximum speed for Follow is 36 mph (16 m/s). [/note]

Shadow: Track and Follow Best Practices

To maintain reliable tracking performance and reduce the likelihood of interruptions or tracking loss, Pilots should review the best practices below during Shadow Track and Follow operations:

Expanded Incident Management on X10 Controllers

DFR Command Incidents have been expanded to provide Pilots with more control when responding to active calls, matching much of the core functionality that can be found in Remote Flight Deck (RFD).

Building on top of viewing and responding to Incidents on the map, Pilots can now access the entire list of Incidents directly from the controller, making it easier to review, prioritize, and select Incidents during active operations.

• View the full list of active Incidents, organized by status (e.g., Open, Drone Responding, Closed)
• Search, filter, and sort incidents to quickly identify relevant calls
• View the incident details pulled from your organization’s CAD integration

Quick Shot: Pitch and Quick Yaw for Faster, Repeatable Shots

New Quick Pitch and Quick Yaw shortcuts help you reposition the camera or drone more quickly during operations such as inspection workflows. Instead of fine-tuning angles manually, you can make large, repeatable pitch or yaw adjustments in fixed increments, making it easier to capture consistent viewpoints across passes.

• Each button press adjusts pitch or yaw by a set angle increment; repeated presses continue stepping in the same direction
• Supports both positive and negative directions, allowing you to use two different controller buttons to quickly step up/down or rotate clockwise/counterclockwise
• Designed for manual flight, enabling fast, one-touch orientation changes while keeping full control of the camera and drone
• Assign Quick Pitch or Quick Yaw to customizable buttons via Input Mapping (Global Settings > Flight Controls > Controls)

[note] Quick Shot is available in Manual Flight only and does not apply to Flight Skills. [/note]

Share Pre-planned Map Capture Missions in Skydio Cloud to X10 Controllers

You can now pre-plan Map Capture missions in Skydio Cloud, sync them to X10 Controllers, and fly them in the field. Easily set up repeatable inspections and mapping workflows by planning missions ahead of time, with the ability to fine-tune and fly them onsite.

• Share pre-planned missions with specific pilots in the organization
• Edit mission boundaries or settings on the controller as-needed before flying and changes automatically sync to Skydio Cloud
• No UI changes, fly the mission using the existing controller-based Map Capture workflow

Always verify the drone’s Height Ceiling before starting a Map Capture mission.
If a pre-planned mission in Skydio Cloud is set above the configured Height Ceiling within the X10 Controller settings, the mission will still load, but the scan altitude will automatically adjust to 3 ft (1 m) below the Height Ceiling.

• Review the Skydio X10 Operator Manual for more guidance

Improved Map Library for Planning and Custom Mapping

The Map Library has been reorganized to better support mission planning and custom mapping workflows, especially for online users preparing for field operations. Clearer separation makes it easier to combine downloaded base maps with custom overlays (such as GeoTIFFs, GeoPDFs, or KML/KMZ files) when planning missions.

Three distinct galleries help you manage maps:

• Imported - Base maps added from a USB-C drive
• Downloaded - Base maps added using the Download Maps controller feature
• Layers - Map overlays added from a USB-C drive that always render above base maps

[note] Base maps and layers are limited to 15 files to prevent excessive storage usage on the controller. [/note]

Cloud-Managed Encryption

Skydio X10 now supports Cloud-managed SD card encryption using organization-level asymmetric encryption keys (AEK) provisioned through Skydio Cloud. This eliminates the need for physical encryption hardware (e.g., Yubikeys) while maintaining secure, identity-based access control. FIPS 140-3 validated encryption simplifies key management for large fleets.

• On the controller, encrypted systems display a locked gate screen. Authorized users can unlock the drone to fly or access encrypted media
• Encrypted media and support logs remain hidden until unlocked

GET ON SCENE FASTER

Faster Fly Here Now Flights with Obstacle Avoidance on X10 Controllers

Fly Here Now transits on X10 Controllers will now reach 45 mph (20 m/s) without disabling obstacle avoidance. Respond to incidents and cover distance faster while maintaining full obstacle detection and safety features.

• The drone will always fly at this maximum speed while executing a Fly Here Now mission

[note] At higher speeds, battery temperature may increase, meaning performance limits may automatically adjust to preserve flight safety and efficiency. [/note]

Faster Launch Times

Launch times have reduced by approximately 10 seconds, helping teams respond more quickly, especially during time-critical operations.

• Faster response across all mission types, including emergency calls, inspection workflows, and routine dispatch
• This improvement is automatic and applied to all Dock for X10 Flight Systems (no setup or setting configurations required)

Power Optimization for IR NightSense

Night flights benefit from improved endurance through intelligent power management of the infrared (IR) NightSense modules. The IR LEDs now strobe in sync with the navigation cameras instead of running continuously, cutting energy use while preserving full obstacle avoidance performance.

• Reduces battery draw from IR illumination, extending mission duration by up to 5-7 minutes during night operations
• Maintains the same level of obstacle detection and visual navigation accuracy
• Enabled by default (no setup or setting configuration required)

[note] This optimization applies only to IR NightSense modules. Visible NightSense behavior is unchanged. Strobing occurs in infrared light and is not visible to the human eye. [/note]

Flight Envelope Protection

Flight Envelope Protection (FEP) introduces a new power management system that dynamically manages speed, thrust, and battery output to deliver a smoother, more predictable flight experience. By optimizing available power in real time, even when the drone has a full set of attachments, FEP enables the drone to reach and maintain true top speeds more consistently across a wider range of conditions.

• Automatically manages power draw in cold temperatures, at high altitudes, or when carrying a full set of attachments enabling more consistent achievement of top speeds while preventing brownouts or early landings
• Longer flight times - Increases flight times by 3-5 minutes due to faster returns and greater predictability
• On-station time - Provides 2-10 minutes of increased time on scene based on distance to scene and configuration

[note] Top speeds may be slightly impacted in extreme cold or with high loads. [/note] 

No Hand-Wave Calibration Required for GPS Night Launches

Launching at night with GPS-only no longer requires hand-wave calibration. Pilots can launch directly from the ground, even in dark or low-light environments, without enabling NightSense or Low Light mode. This allows for safer, more consistent launches in challenging environments.

Skydio X10 will use magnetometer-based heading estimation when Visual Inertial Odometry (VIO) is unavailable (e.g., night conditions, low-texture areas, or during GPS-only operations). The drone determines heading during its normal 360° launch spin using compass and GPS data.

• Removes the need for hand-wave calibration during nighttime GPS launches
• Reduces launch interruptions caused by limited visual data, ensuring reliable flight initialization even at night or in low-light environments
• Enabled by default (no setup or setting configuration required)

[note] Hand Launches still require hand wave calibration. [/note]

IMPROVED AUTONOMY

New Return Option: Backtrack

The X10 Controller now includes a Backtrack return option, providing more control over how the drone returns in complex, constrained, or GPS-denied environments.

When Backtrack is selected, the flight system attempts to return the drone along the previously traveled path. If backtracking is not possible, the drone will automatically use Up and Over.

• Backtrack – Drone retraces its outbound path to return
• Up and Over – Drone ascends to a set height before returning

BETTER CONNECTIVITY

Introducing the Fusion+ Attachment

The Fusion+ Attachment adds a second cellular radio to your Skydio X10, enabling dual-carrier connectivity for more reliable communication in challenging environments. With support for multiple SIM cards, Fusion+ lets you use your preferred carrier and provides seamless network failover, ensuring your video and control links remain active when it matters most.

• Maintain streaming and control through dual cellular radios, even if one carrier’s coverage drops
• Insert SIM card, connect the attachment, and it automatically claims to your drone in Skydio Cloud
• Fusion+ automatically selects the active SIM when only one is installed and allows preflight SIM selection when multiple SIMs are present

[note] The Fusion+ Attachment must be purchased separately and connected to an X10 with an active data plan. Only one SIM slot is supported. During firmware updates, avoid rebooting the drone. If a SIM is installed but inactive, you’ll see a SIM Not Activated alert. [/note]

Improved Video Stability and Connectivity

This release delivers a suite of under-the-hood improvements that make live video and connectivity more stable across Dock operations.

• Adaptive video streaming - New Fusion link management intelligently balances video data across all active connections, such as Skydio Link and cellular, to maintain smooth, high-quality streaming even when network conditions vary
• Improved cellular responsiveness - Updated rate adaptation ensures consistent video quality and faster recovery in weak or fluctuating coverage, reducing dropouts across urban, suburban, and rural environments
• Modernized communication firmware - Updated internal firmware improves overall link reliability and prevents transient connection issues, strengthening the foundation for future network resilience

Reduced Network Visibility for Direct Connections

The network name (SSID) used for the direct link between the drone and controller is hidden from nearby devices. This prevents the connection from appearing in WiFi network lists on phones, tablets, or laptops, helping reduce public visibility during operations.

• Less likely for nearby users to see an active drone connection
• Connectivity, encryption, and signal strength remain unchanged

OTHER IMPROVEMENTS

• Skydio X10 Dual Chargers now support firmware updates to improve long-term reliability.
• Regulatory information for the Fusion+ attachment is now available on the X10 Controller via Information > Legal > Skydio Regulatory.
• Skydio X10 Scout License and Skydio X10 Crosshair Coordinates License are now enabled on all X10 flight systems as part of the base licenses and no longer need to be assigned to individual drones. These licenses have been removed from Skydio Cloud.

FIXES

• Resolved an issue where the drone could begin landing earlier than expected during return at higher speeds with low battery. Improved battery state-of-charge (SOC) and voltage estimation.
• Resolved an issue where the drone could initiate an emergency landing at night when transitioning from lit conditions into darkness during launch. Improved heading estimation during GPS launches using magnetometer data, reducing reliance on hand-wave calibration.
• Resolved an issue where the EO/IR stream could appear black in Picture-in-Picture (PiP) views when switching streams or layouts.

KNOWN ISSUES

• Unlocking encrypted drones in 3D Scan mode may take longer than expected after flight — When using Cloud-managed encryption, the drone may take several seconds to unlock after selecting Unlock and Fly Now. In rare cases, the unlock screen may reappear and require a second selection. If the drone does not unlock after waiting, reboot and try again.
• Map Capture Return: Drone may climb back to scan altitude if a Return is initiated, paused, then restarted — If Return to Launch is paused and then restarted after a Map Capture mission, the drone will re-initiate the full return profile and climb back to scan altitude before descending again. To avoid this behavior, do not pause and re-initiate a Return.