Skydio has begun delivery of its first X10Ds, the company’s new flagship drone for defense and government applications, to customers across the U.S. and Allied Nations.
This follows the success of its predecessor the X2D, which is a defense drone of choice for U.S. and allied government customers with thousands of systems delivered.
Skydio also announced dynamic channel switching to monitor signal interference and move to a clearer channel to improve wireless transmission signal quality during flight, ensuring troops maintain communication with the drone to accomplish their mission.
The introduction of Skydio X10D – an offline variant of Skydio’s X10 platform – marks a pivotal advancement in organic intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance drone capabilities, along with a wide range of situational awareness use cases.
Dynamic channel switching enables the X10D to provide adaptable communications between the drone and its accompanying controller in both contested and congested environments, unlocking reliable command and control and real-time data feeds in crowded airspace or under electronic warfare conditions. Skydio also plans to offer dynamic channel switching soon to customers already using the X10.
The X10D has been optimized for ISR applications critical to defense and government agencies and delivers the best of human-machine teaming with unparalleled sensor technology, advanced autonomous navigation, and a modular, open architecture that is critical for the dynamic nature of military needs.
Skydio’s onboard AI and autonomy for sUAS delivers impressive obstacle avoidance and autonomous flight. Skydio Autonomy is now even more powerful with NightSense, with the company claiming the X10D to be the first sUAS capable of 24/7 operations, enabling autonomous obstacle-avoidance in zero-light environments.
It is also reportedly the first Group 1 sUAS to integrate a Teledyne FLIR Boson+ sensor, achieving very high thermal imaging quality to improve operational outcomes at any time, day or night.
Skydio X10D delivers enhanced compliance with federal standards, including the Robotics and Autonomous Systems – Air (RAS-A) Interoperability Profile (IoP), and an open, modular platform that supports third-party applications. RAS-A compliance and open MAVLINK protocol enable the use of third-party and government-owned flight application software.
For example, Skydio has partnered with Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) to design and develop the Artificial Intelligence for Small Unit Maneuver (AISUM) system, which enables a single operator to simultaneously manage a heterogeneous fleet of drones. Lastly, modular ports on the X10D allow operators to quickly swap attachments for maximum in-field versatility.
Mark Valentine, President of Global Government at Skydio, said; “The arrival of X10D to customers is truly a milestone moment for Skydio and the allied defense and government community.
“There is no doubt that the advantage in future conflict favors a decentralized application of small, many, and agile systems over fewer, larger exquisite systems. The X10D, with dynamic channel switching and onboard AI & Autonomy, is a force multiplier for warfighters that helps them see the unseen, increasing awareness, precision, and safety.”
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