Skydio X2D QGC Starter Kit User Manual

: June 9, 2024
: Skydio

Skydio X2D QGC Starter Kit

WARNING: Please read all documentation provided with your Skydio X2D including but not limited to the Safety & Operating Guide found here: www.skydio.com/getstartedX2

Overview

Skydio Ground Control (QGC)

Skydio QGC is an alternative application available for the Skydio Enterprise Controller for full flight control and access to X2 autonomy features.

Skydio Autonomy Enterprise Software

Skydio QGC supports a subset of the Skydio Autonomy Enterprise features:

Feature	Description	Main us cases	Key benefits
Close Proximity Obstacle Avoidance	Fly closer to obstacles. **Close
(~11”) Minimal (~4”) Disabled Standard (~34”)**

Situational awareness
Inspection

| Allows closer flight for indoor navigation e.g. through large doorways and up-close inspection of detailed assets
Superzoom| Blends the six 4K navigation cameras to create an omnidirectional view. Allows the user to zoom digitally with algorithmic image stabilization|

Situational awareness

| See farther, and in all directions without moving the drone – reduces pilot cognitive load
Vertical View| Gimbal can vertically look straight up above the drone| Inspection| Allows for overhung inspections such as ceilings, bridges, and canopies
Rang finding| Provides rang finding using the augmented reality MGRS grid on the controller UI|

Situational awareness
Inspection

| Increases operator situational awareness and reduces time to vectoring maneuvering forces.

Pre-flight

Launch QGC

To access Skydio QGC, power on the Enterprise Controller:
Step 1 – Select the INFO menu
Step 2 – Select Launch QGC

3 Skydio X2D – QGC Operator Manual
© 2022 Skydio, Inc. All rights reserved.

Offline maps

Skydio QGC requires a specific map file that can only be generated using the QGC application on a device with access to the Internet. To generate map files:
Step 1
– Using a computer or devices download the QGC application to your desktop

visit http://qgroundcontrol.com/downloads

Step 2 – Select the QGC icon in the top left corner
Step 3 – Select Application Settings
Step 4 – Select Offline Maps

Step 5 – Launch QGC · select the QGC icon in the top left corner · select Application Settings

Step 6 – Select Offline Maps
Step 7 – Select Add New Set

navigate to your desired map location. You will need to zoom into a specific area.
set the zoom levels for offline maps
choose your preferred map provider
name the location of your map
select Download
select the tile sets you want to export and select Export
Step 8 – copy the file with the extension qgctiledb to a USB-C flash drive

Offline maps

Import map to Skydio Enterprise Controller:

Step 1 – Power on your Skydio Enterprise Controller
Step 2 – Select the INFO menu
Step 3 – Select Import Skydio QGC Maps
Step 4 – Insert the USB-C flash drive containing the QGC map file

select Maps
navigate to My Files
select the USB storage device
select the map file
select Done

Your QGC map tiles will then import to the Skydio Enterprise Controller map directory.|

After completing the final step, you will only have 24 seconds to import the maps to QGC before your map files are deleted.

NOTE: If an import fails, select and hold Import Skydio QGC Maps and clear the imported map directory when prompted. Any maps not yet imported to Skydio QGC will need to be imported again.

Import maps to QGC:

Step 1 – Select Open Skydio QGC

Step 2 – Select the QGC Icon in the top left corner of the screen to bring up the menu
Step 3 – Select Settings

Step 4 – Select Offline maps

select Import and then Import again
tap on the tile set to import

Ensure your map provider and map types match

Step 1 – Select General

Step 2 – Select Miscellaneous

Step 3 – Choose the correct options from the Map Provider and Map Type menus
Step 4 – Navigate back to the main screen

QGC Flight

Media Encryption

When your vehicle is provisioned for encryption, your media will be encrypted when flying with Skydio QGC. Skydio QGC will indicate the state of your media encryption in the X2 status bar:

Media is not encrypted – your vehicle is not provisioned for encryption.

Media is encrypted – your media is currently encrypted. If you have provisioned your vehicle for encryption, your media will always be encrypted when flying with Skydio QGC.

Encrypted media unlocked – displays when you insert the security key into X2 while it is powered on. You will be able to view and access your decrypted media until you power off the drone or fly again.

Waypoint Mission

Missions allow X2 to fly to designated waypoints without requiring you to manually fly. As X2 reaches each waypoint, X2 can execute a number of operations before proceeding to the next waypoint. Missions can be planned pre-flight and loaded onto the vehicle.

Step 1 – Select the Plan button to display the Map view

Step 2 – Select the parameters to set X2D behaviors while executing a mission
Step 3 – Select the Waypoint button to begin marking waypoints

tap on the map to set the waypoints
continue tapping on the map to set waypoints until your mission plan is complete

Step 4 – Adjust parameters and behaviors in the right sidebar, such as:

altitude
hold duration (in seconds)
where X2 will loiter before proceeding
changing the gimbal pitch angle
planned photo

Selecting the hamburger icon allows you to set a different command for that point in the mission.
To delete a waypoint, select the point you want to delete, and the trash icon.

Waypoint Mission

Select Upload Required to upload the mission. A Done notification will display if the mission upload is successful Return to the flight screen and begin the mission by sliding from left to right on Slide to confirm.

While a mission is executing, tap the Pause button in the left Toolbar and slide from left to right on Slide to confirm to pause the mission.|

Slide from left to right again to resume the mission.

Launch

Select the Megaphone icon to display system notifications and status information for flight readiness. Dismiss this screen by tapping the X button in the top right corner.

Flight status is displayed in the top left corner of the flight screen:

Step 1 – Select the Takeoff button to begin the takeoff process.

Step 2 – Slide to Arm the drone and start the Skydio Autonomy Engine.
Step 3 – Swipe to take off. The propellers will begin to spin and the vehicle will launch.

Flight

Flight Controls

Left joystick
Right joystick
Menu/back button
Directional pad (D-pad)
C1 Button – toggle Obstacle
Avoidance
C2 Button – toggle Lights
Return to Home button
Power button
Launch/Land button
Pause button
Controller clamshell embedded antennas
User interface screen
R1 button – shutter/record
Right wheel – zoom
L1 button – boost
Left wheel – gimbal tilt
R2 button – toggle map
L2 button – color camera
Reset button
USB-C port
Cooling fan
Neck strap/tripod (¼-20 mount)

CAUTION: Skydio Enterprise Controller is not weatherproof. Do not operate in any precipitation, including rain, fog, snow, or similar environments. Do not rest the controller in sand, dirt or on similar terrain where particles can get trapped in the fan. Do not use batteries if the magnets or connector pins are damaged.

You have the ability to modify the controller button mapping as needed. Button mapping in Skydio QGC will not change the button mapping in the Skydio Enterprise Controller.

Step 1 – Select the QGC
Step 2 – Select Vehicle Setup
Step 3 – Select Joystick
Step 4 – Select Button Assignment

Pressing on each button on the controller will highlight the corresponding button number in the Skydio QGC app, allowing you to verify your button assignments.

button action	Behavior
NO ACTION	Button will not be mapped to any behavior
ARM	Starts autonomy engine and gets ready for takeoff
DISARM	Stops autonomy engine not ready for takeoff
TOGGLE ARM	Switch between the armed and disarmed states
CONTINUOUS ZOOM IN	Holding down the button will continue to zoom in
CONTINUOUS ZOOM OUT	Holding down the button will continue to zoom out
STEP ZOOM IN	A single zoom step is taken each button press
button action	Behavior
---	---
STEP ZOOM OUT	A single zoom step is taken each button press
TRIGGER CAMERA	Captures a photo
TRIGGER VIDEO	Starts/stops recording
THERMAL ON/OFF	Toggle the thermal overly.
THERMAL ON	Turn the thermal overlay on
THERMAL OFF	Turn the thermal overlay off
THERMAL NEXT PALETTE	Cycle between the thermal color palettes
TOGGLE OBSTACLE AVOIDANCE	Toggles obstacle avoidance settings Standard

Close/Reduced > Minimal > Disabled
TOGGLE RGB LEDs| Toggles RGB lights on/off
TOGGLE RTL| Initiate a return to launch (or rally point)
TOGGLE SUBJECT HIGHLIGHTING| Toggles subject detection on/off
SENSOR SLEW| Reset the zoom level and center gimbal pitch
TOGGLE ILLUMINATION MODE| Switch between modes (none, visible strobe, ir strobe)
DISMISS PROMPTS| Dismiss any blocking prompts (required for night takeoff). Also cancel landing/takeoff
GIMBAL DOWN (FINE)| Pitch the gimbal up (scales with zoom)
GIMBAL UP (FINE)| Pitch the gimbal down (scales with zoom)
YAW LEFT (FINE)| Yaw the vehicle to the left (scales with zoom)
YAW RIGHT (FINE)| Yaw the vehicle to the right (scales with zoom)
START TRIANGULATION| Initiate the triangulation skill. The first button push enters the skill and a subsequent push starts ranging
LAND| Initiate a landing.
TAKEOFF| Initiate a takeoff.

Flight Screen

Media Controls
Media controls to capture video and photos:

Photo/Video icon allows you to toggle between video and photo mode.
Record/Shutter icon to start/stop recording or take still photos, depending on your capture mode.
Settings icon to access the video/photo settings for both color and thermal camera By default, Skydio X2 will not automatically record video or photos.

Switch to your desired capture mode and tap the shutter button to record a video or take photos

Choose between the three different views and the thermal camera palette options.
From left to right:

Color Camera
Picture in Picture
Thermal Camer
Thermal Camera Palette

Flight Information Bar

The Flight Information menu displays live flight telemetry from Skydio X2.

Double-tap the Flight Information to display a limited menu for more space to view the map or live video.

NOTE: No GPS indicates the Skydio Enterprise Controller does not have a GPS position. This is normal.

Status Bar

The Status Bar menu offers more information about the status and health of Skydio X2.

Subject Detection – subject detection is enabled/disabled

Obstacle Avoidance – indicates which obstacle avoidance setting is active. Tap C1 to toggle between each obstacle avoidance setting

Encryption – indicates whether or not media on the SD card is encrypted. This feature is optional and requires the use of a security key. See the Media encryption section for more information.

Satellite – view live GPS telemetry from Skydio X2

-Signal Strength – displays the current strength of your radio link to the Skydio X2 while in flight

Signal Strength – displays the current strength of your radio link to the Skydio X2 while in flight

Megaphone – displays system notifications and status. This screen is the best location to find all information for flight readiness

Map View

The view in the bottom left of the screen displays the map.

Tap the Map picture-in-picture (PIP) to view the Map full screen and minimize the video stream. Tap the video stream in the bottom left corner again to make the video stream full screen and minimize the Map. Tap and drag the corner of the PIP to increase or decrease its size. Pinch with two fingers to zoom in on the map. Pinch out with two fingers to zoom out of the map. With one finger, drag on the map to move the map around.

Flight Settings

Select the Settings icon to adjust the video settings for both the color and thermal cameras.

Select Video Settings to adjust exposure, video resolution, and thermal camera settings.

restore Camera Defaults settings to default select Reset

Orbit a point of interest

Step 1 – Press and hold anywhere on the map
Step 2 – Select Orbit at location to begin orbiting around that point

adjust the orbit range by adjusting the vehicle’s pitch while in flight

Step 3 – Slide from left to right to start the mission

Rally Points

A rally point can be used as an emergency landing location And a point where the drone will travel upon completing a mission. The default rally point will be the takeoff location. To create and use a new rally point:

Step 1 – Select the Plan tab
Step 2 – Select the Rally icon

Step 3 – Tap on the map to place a rally point

edit a rally point by selecting it and then changing either its longitude, latitude, or relative altitude
move a rally point by holding down on it and dragging it on the map
delete a rally point, select the point you want to delete. Select the hamburger icon in the top right of the rally point panel and delete.

NOTE: although you can set multiple rally points, the drone will only use the first point set.

Select the Return button and confirm the return action by sliding from the left to the right when prompted.

the vehicle will first ascend 65 ft (20 m) before returning. Once it has arrived at the rally point, it will descend to 35 ft (10 m) AGL (above ground level)

NOTE: This same action can also be triggered using the RTH button on the Skydio Enterprise Controller.

Rally Points

Select the Return button and confirm the return action by sliding from the left to the right when prompted.

the vehicle will first ascend 65 ft (20 m) before returning. Once it has arrived at the rally point, it will descend to 35 ft (10 m) AGL (above ground level).

NOTE: This same action can also be triggered using the RTH button on the Skydio Enterprise Controller.

GPS Night Flight

Enable GPS Night Flight when flying in low-light conditions. Ostacle Avoidance is disabled, the vehicle will use GPS sensors, instead of its vision system, to navigate. Skydio X2 will notify you in QGC if the environment is too dark to fly using the vision navigation system and will prompt you to fly using GPS Night Flight.

WARNING: GPS Night Flight mode requires flying without obstacle avoidance. X2 may drift when in GPS Night Flight mode; take extra caution when flying in this mode and do not stand near the vehicle.

Step 1 – Disable obstacle avoidance
Step 2 – Select the C2 button to enable infrared or strobe light

Step 3 – You may be prompted to calibrate X2 before you can fly:
• select the QGC Menu and then Vehicle Setup
• select Sensors
• select Compass
• select OK to start calibration
• rotate X2 in all orientations mirroring the illustrations
• select OK when all of the calibrations are marked with green
• navigate back to the Fly tab

**NOTE:** Calibration will not be required for several weeks or even months, depending on the environment. You will be prompted when another calibration is necessary

Obstacle avoidance

When flying at night, Skydio X2 does not use the vision system and obstacle avoidance is disabled. Take extra caution when piloting the drone to avoid obstacles and stay clear of people.

Visibility

Improve visibility by enabling X2 infrared or visible strobe lights.

Return behavior

When returning, Skydio X2 will first ascend 65 ft (20 m) before returning. Once it has arrived at the rally point, it will descend to 35 ft (10 m) AGL (above ground level). Skydio X2 does not avoid obstacles when in GPS Night Flight mode, so keep the return behavior in mind before commanding a return. When landing, use the controller joystick to descend down to 15 ft (3 m) then once you’re ready to land, press and hold the LAND button on the screen or the controller.

WARNING: Never hand launch or land Skydio X2 when flying at night.

Land

When you are ready to land:

Step 1 – Descend down to 15 ft (3 m)
Step 2 – Select the Land button
Step 3 – Confirm the land action by sliding from left to right when prompted

Exit the QGC app

Step 1 – Disarm your Skydio X2

if armed after landing X2 will automatically disarm

Step 2 – Select the QGC icon
Step 3 – Select Exit
Step 4 – Select Yes to confirm
you will then return to the Skydio Enterprise app