Public Safety Agencies Deploy Skydio X10 Drones
Government agencies are increasingly adopting Skydio's X10 drone for public safety and enterprise use. Washington County, Oregon, has launched a new drone responder program using the platform, while the state of Georgia has signed a contract for Skydio's unmanned vehicles and services.
- The Skydio X10's autonomous capabilities are powered by an onboard NVIDIA Jetson Orin system-on-chip, providing 10 times the computing power of the previous X2 model. This processor, combined with six 360-degree navigation cameras, enables real-time 3D mapping and obstacle avoidance, even in GPS-denied environments. - A key feature for public safety is "NightSense," which allows the X10 to navigate autonomously in complete darkness using its IR navigation cameras and illuminators. The drone is also IP55 rated for dust and water resistance, enabling operations in various weather conditions. - The Washington County Sheriff's Office "Drone as First Responder" (DFR) program operates by having licensed pilots remotely control the X10s from a central command station using Xbox controllers. The drones are deployed from secure charging docks and can autonomously follow deputies by tracking their body cameras. - The Georgia statewide contract makes Skydio's NDAA-compliant drones and services available to any state or local agency for direct procurement, simplifying the adoption process for public safety, inspection, and emergency response missions. This initiative is expanding with a partnership to establish a DFR training center at the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center. - In the public safety market, the X10 primarily competes with drones from DJI, such as the Matrice 30T. Skydio's main differentiators are its advanced AI-driven autonomy and obstacle avoidance, whereas DJI is often noted for its camera quality, stability, and broader accessory ecosystem. - The X10 features a modular payload system, allowing agencies to swap sensors based on mission needs. Options include the VT300-Z, which has a 48MP telephoto zoom camera, and the VT300-L, which combines wide and narrow cameras with a high-resolution 640x512 Teledyne FLIR Boson+ thermal sensor for seeing heat signatures. - Skydio's technology is central to obtaining Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) waivers for Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations, which are critical for the effectiveness of DFR programs. These waivers allow pilots to operate the drone from a remote location without maintaining a direct line of sight.
