Get to Know R1

What does it do? R1 is an autonomous flying camera combining artificial intelligence, computer vision, and advanced robotics. It was built from the ground up for full autonomy based on visual sensing. In a nutshell, R1 has the ability to: Fly itself while intelligently following you Capture amazing, cinematic 4K video Give you as much or as little control as you want through the mobile app Not run into stuff while doing all of the above How does it do it? R1 has been designed around the id...

Skydio, Inc.1 Year Limited Warranty - Skydio R1 LIMITED WARRANTY COVERAGE AND PERIOD OF COVERAGE The following limited warranty (“Limited Warranty”) is provided by Skydio Inc., (“Skydio”) and is applicable to your Skydio R1, including any Skydio-branded accessories provided to you with such device (collectively the “Product”). The Limited Warranty is effective upon Skydio’s receipt of your payment in full for such Products. We make no warranties, whether statutory, express or implied, regardi...

Many users tell us that their R1 footage seems "fuzzy" when played back on YouTube. Unfortunately, this is a common problem with YouTube due to its aggressive compression codecs. In this tutorial, you’ll learn the best export settings to use in your video editing application to avoid YouTube’s aggressive compression of your footage. Check out the video above, and don't hesitate to reach out to us if you need more help or have any additional questions.

Skydio R1 uses a two-axis gimbal to stabilize your footage as R1 flies and films you. However, if you want to stabilize or smooth out your footage even further, you can achieve this in two ways. The first method is by using the Skydio R1 App to export the clip after the flight. The second method requires that you import your footage into the non-linear editor of your choice to stabilize your footage (like Adobe Premiere). Check out the video above for details on these two options, and don't ...

R1 produces a somewhat "flat" image to allow for the greatest dynamic range when editing or color correcting in post-production. Although this low-contrast image allows for a greater degree of control in post-production, many users want to know how they can quickly generate the best possible image quality without having to spend a lot of time and effort.  This video will help you quickly generate professional results with your R1 footage using three simple adjustments found in most video edi...

Skydio footage (from both Skydio 2 and R1) has a wide-angle field of view which is similar to popular action cameras or wide-angle camera lenses. In the video above, we present two ways that you can remove this wide-angle "fisheye effect" from your R1 footage. Overall, we recommend using the Skydio app for this edit: it's quick, effective, and also stabilizes your footage at the same time. The other option for removing fish-eye distortion requires a computer with Adobe Premiere Pro. Check ou...

To assist our support team and better troubleshoot any issues or questions you may have, we may require you to send logs or other data from your R1 to Skydio. Check out our short video detailing how to send Skydio your flight logs: Here's a quick overview of the steps outlined in the video above: Open the Skydio app and connect to the R1 WiFi Tap Settings (in the lower right corner of the app) Tap Flight Logs Tap Upload Single Flight Select the affected flight Once you've completed the abov...

Skydio R1 has built-in GPS, which enhances the autonomous flight experience with features that enable it to return to your phone’s last-known location if needed. Here are some details around R1’s GPS capabilities: GPS Lock icon & Return to Phone If you see the green GPS icon near the top of the app screen, it indicates that your phone and R1 both have a good GPS signal. Note that if you don't see the green GPS icon in the Skydio app, it’s not currently safe to fly over water. At any time duri...

R1 tracks you using visual navigation. The Skydio app on your phone is used to control R1's modes of operation - takeoff, landing, cinematic skills, etc. - and R1 can use your phone's GPS signal to help it find you if visual tracking becomes challenging. Even if R1 moves outside of your phone's WiFi range, it will use your phone's GPS to continue flying, whether it is following you or not. Here's how it works: When following a subject: R1 will keep tracking the subject for 10-30 seconds and ...

The Skydio Autonomy Engine is always improving and adding new features to your R1. These improvements are enabled with periodic software updates to both the Skydio app and R1 itself. Software updates for your R1 are delivered via the Skydio app. When an update is made available, you’ll receive a notification within the app (this notification may not appear until you connect to your R1 via WiFi): To install the update, select your R1 in the list of vehicles within Settings and then follow the...

If your R1 has very little space left on its internal drive, you may wish to follow these steps to troubleshoot or clear up space: To delete individual flights When you need additional space, you can offload and backup your flights via USB-C to your computer (or external drive), and then delete individual flights from the Videos tab within the Skydio app. After your flights have been backed up, disconnect your R1 from your computer. From within the Videos tab, select Edit in the upper rig...

  We’re excited for you to get started with R1. Before you fly, please check out all of the guidance and suggestions at skydio.com/safety, as well as the Safety and Operating Guide in your R1 box (the card labeled “READ BEFORE FLIGHT”), where you’ll find best practices, links to additional content, and regulatory information to enhance safety as well as your overall experience with R1. What’s in the box? Here’s what’s included in the box alongside your R1: R1 Safety and Operating Gui...

You can offload the video footage from your R1 in one of two ways: Clip creation - Instantly create and share a clip within the Skydio app after completing your flight. Offload via USB - Attach your R1 to a computer via the provided USB-C cable. Let’s look at each method: 1. Clip creation using the Skydio app The Skydio app gives you the ability to wirelessly edit and create ready-to-share clips of your flights right on your phone. See our article How to create & share video clips for more ...

Here’s a quick video on how to replace the R1 propellers: Here are the replacement steps as outlined in the video: Remove propeller nuts. Two nuts are threaded clockwise, and two threaded counterclockwise. The tightening direction is indicated via the word "TIGHTEN" and an arrow on top of the nut. Loosen and remove by twisting in the direction opposite the arrow with your hand.Grey ring = turn clockwise to loosen. No ring = turn counterclockwise to loosen. Remove and replace propellers. Eac...

Launching R1 from your hand is a quick and convenient way to get it in the air (particularly if you can’t find a clear flat spot to take off) - but it should be done with caution for your safety. Be sure to always follow all of our best practices and guidelines on skydio.com/safety, and check out our article Where can I fly my R1? for more suggestions and usage guidelines. Follow these steps to hand launch safely: Find a clear spot to launch your R1. When hand launching, the area 10 feet ...

Here’s a quick video tutorial on how to hand land your R1: Hand landing can be dangerous, so please be sure to watch the entire video (with audio on) before attempting it. We don't recommend that you try hand landing the first time that you fly R1 because you'll want to be familiar with the product before you attempt it. Before hand landing, first make sure that you have safe landing conditions, including low winds. Ensure that R1 is hovering stationery within a few feet of you and is no lon...