This test video of the small drone Skydio 2 shows how its visual recognition system works to record in 4K video at 60 fps people or cars from a distance. Just start it, start flying and select from which position you want to record (behind, left, right …) The drone “pursues” the target at a safe distance like a faithful dog without any problem. Fully autonomous mode.
This function, which today seems relatively common, is somewhat different in the Skydio from that of other drones, which use magnetic compasses and other systems to orient themselves and which fail in certain hostile environments such as those of these tests. In the demonstration a jogger is seen playing to avoid it through a dense forest and a car near a bridge; in both cases, the drone is unharmed and does not hit branches, wires and does not seem to be affected by interference from large metal structures. They say it is because the Skydio carries seven small video cameras with which it recognizes the terrain, makes a kind of 3D map of the environment and dodges all kinds of obstacles. So it doesn’t need a compass at all.
The tests are fun, although they have some bluff moments as it happens in this type of demonstrations: Neither the young woman makes a supreme effort to flee from the drone running for her life like a horror movie, nor the cargoes at full speed on a complicated road… basically they move little and move close. But there is indeed merit in not crashing into the branches of the forest and sneaking through the right place when the car passes under the bridge, although a more complete test would be appreciated. Apart from that, it serves to get an idea of the quality of the video and the montage is nice.
Exhibits aside, the test is entertaining, and if you’re thinking of buying one of these things you can see how it works. Its price is about $ 1,000 (with a lot of extras apart), which today we don’t know if it is much or little compared to other similar, because we have not followed much that field, but there it is for those who are interested.
As a bonus, we will give a +1 to the presenter of the Warped Perception channel for his futuristic glasses like Doc Brown in Back to the Future, also for the coolness of his Supra and how well he does the spins.
