Skydio 2+ Over Water Flying - Raw Run - Tips and Tricks

[paularity]

If you’re watching this tips and tricks video you’ve maybe come across some of my Skydio drone content online

For some context If you haven’t already I suggest you check out the feature article links and videos on my my landing page - paularity.com

Here are the cliff notes:

Day 1 pre-order on the S2 back in October 2019 and I’ve had a drone in my hands in Western Australia since March 2020

Lost count of how many hours worth of over-water flight time, but I estimate it to be in the vicinity of 140 hours

2 x RedBull Illume 2021 - Best of Instagram Moving Image - Semi-Finalist, putting me twice in the top 256 of 47447 entries

I initially bough the S2 to film kiteboarding, but Covid was the catalyst of change and I pivoted to riding my eFoil from Fliteboard and haven’t looked back

Nuking winds, big waves, glassy water - you name it and I have probably had a crack at attempting to film it

I’ve pushed limits, had malfunctions and probably encountered most scenarios, so I fell pretty qualified to comment on this topic

My main reason for filming this (aside from regularly getting peppered with the same 5 questions) is that there seems to be a LOT of keyboard warriors online who complain about the Skydio crashing and that it cannot be flown over-water

Even if people are whinging that it was the drone’s fault - more often it is operator error and a a lack of understanding the limitations of the tech and how the drone ‘thinks’ and not planning accordingly

That’s not to say I haven’t had my fair share of issues over the past few years - I most definitely have, but hopefully you get some insight into how I use the S2+ to create content solo!

Any queries shoot me a DM on IG @paularity_

 

[MileHi_Skydio]

Thanks, just saw this on Discord

 

[Ridefreak]

Well said Paul, many of the problems I see are from unfamiliarity with the drone's capabilities and unrealistic expectations. Don't trust the videos posted online as the same experience you'll have as a new user. It took most of us quite a few flights to get good at using this drone. Best advise I can give is work up to the difficult filming tasks, don't expect that performance right off the bat.

 

[Ridefreak]

Thanks, just saw this on Discord

I couldn't swallow that forum's format. It looks exactly like it was designed, built for kids to discuss video games. IMO it's unfortunate that SD decided on that as their platform.

 

[ETdronehome]

If you’re watching this tips and tricks video you’ve maybe come across some of my Skydio drone content online

For some context If you haven’t already I suggest you check out the feature article links and videos on my my landing page - paularity.com

Here are the cliff notes:

Day 1 pre-order on the S2 back in October 2019 and I’ve had a drone in my hands in Western Australia since March 2020

Lost count of how many hours worth of over-water flight time, but I estimate it to be in the vicinity of 140 hours

2 x RedBull Illume 2021 - Best of Instagram Moving Image - Semi-Finalist, putting me twice in the top 256 of 47447 entries

I initially bough the S2 to film kiteboarding, but Covid was the catalyst of change and I pivoted to riding my eFoil from Fliteboard and haven’t looked back

Nuking winds, big waves, glassy water - you name it and I have probably had a crack at attempting to film it

I’ve pushed limits, had malfunctions and probably encountered most scenarios, so I fell pretty qualified to comment on this topic

My main reason for filming this (aside from regularly getting peppered with the same 5 questions) is that there seems to be a LOT of keyboard warriors online who complain about the Skydio crashing and that it cannot be flown over-water

Even if people are whinging that it was the drone’s fault - more often it is operator error and a a lack of understanding the limitations of the tech and how the drone ‘thinks’ and not planning accordingly

That’s not to say I haven’t had my fair share of issues over the past few years - I most definitely have, but hopefully you get some insight into how I use the S2+ to create content solo!

Any queries shoot me a DM on IG @paularity_

Nice adhoc instructional video!

Describing best practice while actually performing the function really helps the viewer get the what and why at the same time.

I noticed something else in many of your vids and in particular this one is that your board speed is very consistent and the turns are broad smooth arcs. Do you think that “predictability” aids the aircrafts ability to perform well? Can you let us know what your board speed was?

 

[paularity]

Well said Paul, many of the problems I see are from unfamiliarity with the drone's capabilities and unrealistic expectations. Don't trust the videos posted online as the same experience you'll have as a new user. It took most of us quite a few flights to get good at using this drone. Best advise I can give is work up to the difficult filming tasks, don't expect that performance right off the bat.

exactly!

 

[paularity]

Nice adhoc instructional video!

Describing best practice while actually performing the function really helps the viewer get the what and why at the same time.

I noticed something else in many of your vids and in particular this one is that your board speed is very consistent and the turns are broad smooth arcs. Do you think that “predictability” aids the aircrafts ability to perform well? Can you let us know what your board speed was?

cheers

I'll do some more videos with some 'dont's' probably demonstrating in action why I don't use motion tracking / orbit and magic wand over water and maybe another just using dronie skill and showing how I 'call' the drone back when it reverts to GPS

on the foil it shows more than anything why fixed angle tracking is smoother than motion tracking really and certain angles are even better - i.e. side on / rear

Like I said when it follows from the front and is essentially flying backwards the drone gains a bit of altitude as a safety precaution to aid tracking and becomes a bit more delayed in it's movements and predictions

Obviously cruising at lower speeds helps too, and I ride with enough thrust to not backstall and come off the foil which is around 18-22kph - rarely would I go faster than 30kph with the drone chasing me

 

[Hawaii73]

Hi Paul,

great stuff - just lost my skydio 2 over flying over water some weeks ago. I did buy the Skydio to do kiteboarding, foil, surf, waterki&wake videos too, so I like to learn how to avoid the same again with my new new Skydio2+.

Post in thread 'Skydio 2+ went for a swim'
Skydio 2+ went for a swim

Using the beacon - will this help the drone from dropping lower then my “attitude” or any other observations you can share? Or do you just avloid glassy conditions??
/Jens, Denmark

 

[paularity]

Hi Paul,

great stuff - just lost my skydio 2 over flying over water some weeks ago. I did buy the Skydio to do kiteboarding, foil, surf, waterki&wake videos too, so I like to learn how to avoid the same again with my new new Skydio2+.

Post in thread 'Skydio 2+ went for a swim'
Skydio 2+ went for a swim

Using the beacon - will this help the drone from dropping lower then my “attitude” or any other observations you can share? Or do you just avloid glassy conditions??
/Jens, Denmark

Ouch, that's unfortunate!

I haven't really dabbled with keyframes that much TBH so can't comment

When the height floor is on using the Beacon it shouldn't automatically fly lower than 9ft - sometimes when returning from a dronie it comes in a bit hot, so that is something to be mindful of!

Glassy reflections or really clear water confuse the sensors and is something their warranty doesn't cover so fly at your own risk

I'd recommend getting insurance if you are outside of the US since it's a hassle to purchase and import Skydio drones internationally

 

[paularity]

Just shot a part 2 tips and tricks video with some good in flight examples of the idiosyncrasies of the Skydio and how to deal with them and also focusing on the dronie skill

 

[paularity]

and I just shot part 3 of my over water raw tips and tricks flights - this time focusing on high winds and setting up for success in wind sports

 

[paularity]

part 4 - taking the robot out in some waves and demonstrating the best tips while using frontal follow

 

[Downunderwonder]

If you’re watching this tips and tricks video you’ve maybe come across some of my Skydio drone content online

For some context If you haven’t already I suggest you check out the feature article links and videos on my my landing page - paularity.com

Here are the cliff notes:

Day 1 pre-order on the S2 back in October 2019 and I’ve had a drone in my hands in Western Australia since March 2020

Lost count of how many hours worth of over-water flight time, but I estimate it to be in the vicinity of 140 hours

2 x RedBull Illume 2021 - Best of Instagram Moving Image - Semi-Finalist, putting me twice in the top 256 of 47447 entries

I initially bough the S2 to film kiteboarding, but Covid was the catalyst of change and I pivoted to riding my eFoil from Fliteboard and haven’t looked back

Nuking winds, big waves, glassy water - you name it and I have probably had a crack at attempting to film it

I’ve pushed limits, had malfunctions and probably encountered most scenarios, so I fell pretty qualified to comment on this topic

My main reason for filming this (aside from regularly getting peppered with the same 5 questions) is that there seems to be a LOT of keyboard warriors online who complain about the Skydio crashing and that it cannot be flown over-water

Even if people are whinging that it was the drone’s fault - more often it is operator error and a a lack of understanding the limitations of the tech and how the drone ‘thinks’ and not planning accordingly

That’s not to say I haven’t had my fair share of issues over the past few years - I most definitely have, but hopefully you get some insight into how I use the S2+ to create content solo!

Any queries shoot me a DM on IG @paularity_

You answered the question I had regarding ND filters - thanks.