Skydio rolls out dock for remote drone ops

Drone manufacturer Skydio unveiled a new docking and software system it says will make its aircraft virtually autonomous, a critical capability for the remote tasks the San Mateo, California-based company’s drones are designed to complete.

The new product line includes Skydio Dock and Skydio Dock Lite, both of which are run by Skydio’s new Remote Ops software and are “the smallest, lightest and smartest cloud-connected base stations for drones available on the market today,” the company said.

The system is primarily aimed at commercial and enterprise customers with remote or hard-to-reach assets that require inspection or monitoring. While drones have reduced the need for labor-intensive, dangerous inspections by people, they still require manual flight by on-site pilots.

A Skydio Dock, on the other hand, can be set up once and left on site, where a drone can recharge, sync data and remain protected from the elements when not in use. The Remote Ops software allows the drone to fly pre-programmed missions autonomously, with the data feed monitored by an off-site operator. Skydio Dock Lite is similar to the Dock, except it is intended for indoor use and does not have a weather-proof shell.

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