Data Collection
Skydio - Area Mission Planning
This guide offers a clear, step-by-step overview of planning a mission with Skydio on the Skydio App, designed to bring out the best of your mapping capabilities.
The principles of data capture covered here are adaptable. These foundational steps will set you on a course for success.
Download the Skydio X10 Mission Planning Procedures with the PDF Below
📄 Skydio X10 2D Mission Planning.pdf
2D Mission Planning
1. Power on your Drone and Remote Controller
Start by powering your controller on, if you like you can also power your drone on as then you won’t have to select the drone type and sensor in the map mission settings
2. Connect the Remote Controller to WiFi or a Mobile Hotspot
Connect your remote controller to a WiFi network or mobile hotspot for seamless mission planning. This connection ensures that base maps load properly, providing essential context for your route planning. To connect, pull down from the top of the screen and tap the WiFi icon.
3. Switch Modes
From within the Skydio App main screen, Select Switch Modes and Select on “3D Scan”, Followed by the ‘Fly Now Button” to bring you to the Planning Menu . See below:
4. Scan Mode - Map Capture
When selecting out Scan mode we always want to ensure we’ve selected on Map Capture. After selected you can adjust the Name of your Mapping Mission
5. Selecting the Area Route and Boundary Points
From within out “Map View” we can select various Boundary points to create our Area Route
6. Overview and Edit Scan Settings
All the information prompted within this screen is extremely important to ensure we capture high quality Data. Select on Edit Scan Settings.
7. Scan Settings - Settings
Settings Steps | Recommendation’s | Pro Tips |
Height over Launch | Personal Preference | Height over launch - set to desired height. Recommend 400ft in forested areas, but can be lower for urban environments. |
Overlap | RGB = 80 IR = 80 | This will set the forward overlap for the RGB (EO) sensor, For RGB missions only, set the overlap to 80. For IR missions, you need to adjust the overlap while referencing the “IR Overlaps” at the bottom of the screen. |
Side Lap | RGB = 70 IR = 80 | This will set the forward overlap for the RGB (EO) sensor, For RGB missions only, set the overlap to 70. For IR missions, you need to adjust the overlap while referencing the “IR Overlaps” at the bottom of the screen. |
Gimbal Pitch Down | 90 deg | When the Gimbal is at 90 Deg (Nadir) we can confirm the Field of view to ensure proper geo-referencing |
Cross Hatch | Disabled / (Off) | |
Perimeter | Disabled / (Off) | |
Diagonal | Disabled / (Off) | |
Speed | 11-20mph | Depending on flight height (higher you fly, faster you can fly) |
Geofence Strict Boundaries | Disabled / (Off) | |
Stop for Photo | Disabled / (Off) | |
Custom Flight Direction | Disabled / (Off) | |
Perpendicular Camera Heading | Disabled / (Off) | |
Wide or Narrow | Wide | On L models - wide vs narrow is the RGB sensor. Use wide if only capturing RGB, not IR. If capturing IR, use either, but the IR overlaps if using the Wide will be much lower then if using Narrow. You have to increase overlap higher for wide RGB to get proper IR overlap. |
8. Review Map Settings
To edit your Map Settings select on the icon with a Gear and Map on the right hand side of your screen.
Map Settings | Recommendations | Pro Tips |
Layers (Base Map) | Satellite | |
Information (Show Coordinates) | Enabled / On | Will ensure proper georeferencing based on coordinates |
Information ( Show Crosshairs) | Disabled / Off | |
Coordinate System | MGRS |
9. Thermal Camera Settings
To edit your Thermal Settings select on the icon with a Gear and Flame on the right hand side of your screen. You will then be prompted with 3 Drop down Tools, Settings and Parameters
Thermal Camera - Tools
Thermal Camera - Tools | Recommendations | Pro Tips |
Isotherm | Disabled / Off | |
Spot Measuring | Disabled / Off | |
Region of Interest | Disabled / Off |
Thermal Camera - Settings
Thermal Camera - Settings | Recommendations | Pro Tips |
Color Palette | White Hot | Best for visualization for our Hotspot tool |
Thermal Mode | Recon | |
Temp Range | Narrow | |
Capture Thermal Photo | Enabled / On | If capturing Infrared Photos we always want this to be enabled, if were only capturing RGB data we can disable this setting |
RJPG | Enabled / On | The RJPG will ensure we have the radiometric data within that photo |
Thermal Camera - Parameters
Thermal Camera - Parameters | Recommendations | Pro Tips |
Emissivity | Auto | |
Humidity | Auto | |
Distance | Auto |
10. Photo Settings
To edit your Photo Settings select on the icon with a Gear and Camera on the right hand side of your screen.
Photo Settings | Recommendations | Pro Tips |
File Type | JPG | |
Resolution | 1/4 | We was 1/4 resolution because full resolution will vastly increase your File size and reduce processing speed |
Camera Mode | Standard | |
Interval | Disabled / Off |
11. Step by step Chart and PDF
Below is a full walk through of everything covered, Select the Link to Download the S.O.P as a PDF
Drone Setting (Skydio X10) | Set To | Pro Tips | |
Scan Mode | Map Capture | This mode will ensure we are capturing a 2D mapping mission | |
Boundary Points / Mapping Area | Personal Preference | ||
Scan Settings (Settings) | |||
Height over Launch | Personal Preference | Height over launch - set to desired height. Recommend 400ft in forested areas, but can be lower for urban environments. | |
Overlap | RGB = 80 IR = 80 | This will set the forward overlap for the RGB (EO) sensor, For RGB missions only, set the overlap to 80. For IR missions, you need to adjust the overlap while referencing the “IR Overlaps” at the bottom of the screen. | |
Side Lap | RGB = 70 IR = 80 | This will set the forward overlap for the RGB (EO) sensor, For RGB missions only, set the overlap to 70. For IR missions, you need to adjust the overlap while referencing the “IR Overlaps” at the bottom of the screen. | |
Gimbal Pitch Down | 90 deg | When the Gimbal is at 90 Deg (Nadir) we can confirm the Field of view to ensure proper geo-referencing | |
Cross Hatch | Disabled / (Off) | ||
Perimeter | Disabled / (Off) | ||
Diagonal | Disabled / (Off) | ||
Speed | 11-20mph | Depending on flight height (higher you fly, faster you can fly) | |
Geofence Strict Boundaries | Disabled / (Off) | ||
Stop for Photo | Disabled / (Off) | ||
Custom Flight Direction | Disabled / (Off) | ||
Perpendicular Camera Heading | Disabled / (Off) | ||
Wide or Narrow | Wide | On L models - wide vs narrow is the RGB sensor. Use wide if only capturing RGB, not IR. If capturing IR, use either, but the IR overlaps if using the Wide will be much lower then if using Narrow. You have to increase overlap higher for wide RGB to get proper IR overlap. | |
Map Settings | |||
Layers (Base Map) | Satellite | ||
Information (Show Coordinates) | Enabled / On | Will ensure proper georeferencing based on coordinates | |
Information ( Show Crosshairs) | Disabled / Off | ||
Coordinate System | MGRS | ||
Thermal Camera - Tools | |||
Isotherm | Disabled / Off | ||
Spot Measuring | Disabled / Off | ||
Region of Interest | Disabled / Off | ||
Thermal Camera - Settings | |||
Color Palette | White Hot | Best for visualization for our Hotspot tool | |
Thermal Mode | Recon | ||
Temp Range | Narrow | ||
Capture Thermal Photo | Enabled / On | If capturing Infrared Photos we always want this to be enabled, if were only capturing RGB data we can disable this setting | |
RJPG | Enabled / On | The RJPG will ensure we have the radiometric data within that photo | |
Thermal Camera - Parameters | |||
Emissivity | Auto | ||
Humidity | Auto | ||
Distance | Auto | ||
Photo Settings | |||
File Type | JPG | ||
Resolution | 1/4 | We was 1/4 resolution because full resolution will vastly increase your File size and reduce processing speed | |
Camera Mode | Standard | ||
Interval | Disabled / Off |
