Skydio, a local Redwood City startup, announced last month it is selling the self-flying R1 drone.
The drone, which is manufactured in Redwood City, uses 13 camera positions to avoid objects and people, according to a company statement. An app, Skydio Autonomy Engine, enables it to see and understand the world around it so that it can fly safely at high speeds while avoiding obstacles, even in dense and challenging environments.
The device sells for $2,499.
Skydio was started by former Google drone engineers and is backed by investors including Kevin Durant. The company was formed in 2014 and has raised about $70 million in funding, including from venture capital firms IVP, and Andreessen Horowitz and graphics chip maker Nvidia.
“The promise of the self-flying camera has captured people’s imaginations, but today’s drones still need to be flown manually for them to be useful,” says Adam Bry, CEO and co-founder of Skydio. “We’ve spent the last four years solving the hard problems in robotics and artificial intelligence necessary to make fully autonomous flight possible. We’re incredibly excited about the creative possibilities with R1, and we also believe that this technology will enable many of the most valuable drone applications for consumers and businesses over the coming years.”
Photo courtesy of Business Wire
