Skydio, maker of the pioneering autonomous Skydio 2 drone, has announced they are fully withdrawing from the consumer market to focus entirely on enterprise and public sector customers. Despite the Skydio 2's best-in-class autonomous flight, the company will shift resources to commercial and government clients utilizing drones for critical operations.
By many metrics, the Skydio 2 represented the most advanced consumer drone available. Its effortless obstacle avoidance and reliable subject tracking remained unmatched, enabling fully hands-free flight. Skydio's autonomy marked a rare achievement in robots reliably navigating real-world environments without human intervention.
As CEO Adam Bry stated, their commercial impact became too compelling to not devote full attention towards. While no longer selling consumer drones directly, Skydio has promised continued support for existing users regarding warranty, repairs, parts and accessories.
The last available Skydio 2 kits retailed for $2,400, while the enterprise Skydio 2+ runs around $5,000 due to additional software and services. Some unused consumer models appear available through third-party sellers, though supply is very limited following the company's strategic shift.
According to Skydio's FAQs, they have not ruled out future consumer offerings but cannot share product roadmap details presently. For now, their focus will remain entirely on enabling drone autonomy for public safety, infrastructure inspection and other critical operations.
By pivoting from the consumer space, Skydio aims to bring its category-defining autonomous flight where it can make the biggest real world impact. Their technology could unlock drone capabilities previously requiring expert human pilots, saving lives and resources across security, inspection and emergency services.
While early customers benefited from Skydio's consumer drones, the company's shift underscores the immense potential of their autonomous platform for specialized commercial applications. Skydio's robotics innovations seem poised to transform public and enterprise drone operations as profoundly as their groundbreaking consumer products.
