One Operator, Multiple Drones: Is This a Game Changer for Public Safety?

At its annual user conference in Aptos, California, Skydio announced two new platforms—the indoor-focused R10 and the long-range F10 fixed-wing—that expand its Drone as First Responder (DFR) ecosystem. More than just new hardware, these announcements highlight a fundamental shift: enabling a single operator to manage multiple drones at the same time.

For public safety agencies, this development could represent one of the most significant changes in how drones are deployed since the introduction of DFR itself. The ability to conduct simultaneous indoor and outdoor missions, or to combine long-range monitoring with local situational awareness, marks a turning point in the value proposition of drones for emergency response.

Building on the Autonomy Platform

Skydio’s previous launches laid the foundation. The X10 quadcopter, introduced in 2023, was designed as a mid-size, AI-powered aircraft for public safety, infrastructure, and defense. In 2024, Skydio released Dock for X10, which allowed pre-positioned drones to launch autonomously, cutting 911 response times to under a minute in some communities.

The X10 and its dock system opened the door for wide adoption of Drone as First Responder programs, but the quadcopter had natural limits. Its 30-minute flight time made it ideal for urban and suburban coverage but less suited to long-distance operations. And while it could maneuver indoors, its size made it impractical for clearing rooms or navigating tight spaces.

The new R10 and F10 directly address those gaps.

Skydio R10: An Indoor Drone for Everyday Patrol

The R10 is a compact (10” x 10”, 1.7 lbs.) indoor drone built specifically to extend DFR indoors. Its size, protective frame, and composite materials allow it to be flown aggressively through windows, hallways, or stairwells without fear of damaging a costly asset.

Key features include:

• Onboard lighting for dark environments

• Two-way audio for negotiation and de-escalation

• Multi-hour perch capability for sustained overwatch

• Seamless live streaming to provide a common operating picture

• Automatic evidence upload directly into digital systems

What makes the R10 significant is not that it is the first indoor drone—competitors like the BRINC LEMUR specialize in SWAT and tactical scenarios, and consumer FPV models like the DJI Avata are often adapted for indoor use. Instead, the R10’s differentiator is its integration into the Skydio ecosystem. It works with the same controller and software as the X10, making it accessible to patrol officers and not just specialized teams.

This design effectively democratizes indoor drone use. Instead of requiring a SWAT unit to deploy high-end tactical systems, an officer responding to a domestic disturbance or burglary alarm could launch the R10 directly from a patrol vehicle. In a combined scenario, an outdoor X10 might monitor exits while an R10 clears the interior—both managed by the same operator.

Skydio F10: Extending the Reach

While the R10 brings drones inside, the F10 fixed-wing expands operations outward. Targeted to fly faster than 80 mph for more than 90 minutes, the F10 provides coverage across dozens of miles.

Its innovation lies in Robotic Takeoff and Landing (RTOL), a system that allows the fixed-wing drone to operate autonomously from a dock without skilled pilot intervention. This mirrors the automation philosophy behind the X10 Dock and ensures that agencies can scale long-range operations without expanding staff.

For rural counties where deputies may be 45 minutes away from an emergency call, the F10 could deliver immediate intelligence across large areas. Other potential applications include monitoring high-speed pursuits—where ground chases can be dangerous—or inspecting linear infrastructure such as power transmission lines.

Early access for the F10 is expected in 2026.

Multi-Drone Operations in Action

The combined effect of the R10, X10, and F10 is a step toward multi-drone operations. Imagine a late-night burglary alarm:

• An X10 launches from a dock, circling the building and monitoring exits.

• An officer deploys an R10 indoors to clear hallways and rooms.

• In rural settings, an F10 could provide long-distance overwatch, ensuring fleeing suspects are tracked.

All three drones can be controlled within the same ecosystem, enabling one operator—or a small team in a command center—to manage multiple aircraft simultaneously.

This capability not only improves situational awareness but also enhances officer safety by allowing machines to enter high-risk environments first.

Toward Drones as Shared City Infrastructure

The evolution toward multi-drone operations also aligns with a broader trend: the use of drones as city infrastructure. In this model, fleets of drones are not owned and operated by a single department but shared across police, fire, traffic management, and even city planning.

Being able to deploy multiple drones at once makes this vision more realistic. A single drone might provide traffic monitoring while another surveys a fire scene, and yet another clears a building for law enforcement—all feeding data into a shared operating picture.

Market Context

The announcements also come at a pivotal moment in the drone industry. DJI platforms, long dominant in public safety, are becoming harder to source in the U.S. due to both supply chain challenges and increasing government scrutiny. Agencies are searching for accessible, domestically available alternatives.

By expanding its ecosystem with both indoor and fixed-wing platforms, Skydio positions itself as a U.S.-based competitor ready to meet a range of mission needs. The company has emphasized making its systems affordable for everyday patrol, a key consideration as agencies grapple with tight budgets.

Is This a Game Changer?

The introduction of the R10 and F10 does more than fill operational gaps. It signals a move away from single-drone, single pilot deployments toward coordinated, multi-drone ecosystems. For public safety agencies, that could mean faster response times, safer operations, and a more integrated approach to managing emergencies.

The response from public safety attending the conference was positive. “Skydio’s ASCEND presentation was impressive in transparency, innovation and transformation,” said Chief Charles L. Werner (Ret.) and director of DRONERESPONDERS. “Skydio’s willingness to share its flaws publicly and their planned solutions, the innovation through the introduction of the R10 (inside drone), F10 (fixed wing drone) all operating on the same platform simultaneously and the move to multiple aircraft with one remote pilot creates a paradigm shift for DFR.”

Whether this shift will prove to be a game changer depends on adoption. But by lowering barriers to use, expanding mission sets, and integrating indoor, outdoor, and long-range drones into one platform, Skydio has put forward a model that could redefine how drones support public safety in the years ahead.

Read more:

• Skydio Delivers First X10D Systems for U.S. Army’s SRR Program as U.S. Manufacturers Race to Scale Production
• Drones as City Infrastructure: AXON, Skydio, and the Next Leap for Drone in a Box Technology
• Axon and Skydio Launch Comprehensive Drone Solution for Public Safety