What a drone can do is often defined by what a drone can see. 

The Skydio X10 is a new drone that pushes the limits of UAV sensors. It captures best-in-class visual data to help infrastructure operators, utility providers, telecom providers, and other enterprise users complete their toughest jobs. 

The X10 combines Skydio’s intelligent flight software with a sensor payload that includes ultra-high resolution visual and radiometric thermal cameras. 

These sensors put the whole scene into focus and detect details from a distance – capturing the right visual data for a variety of missions.

Imatest, an expert in image quality testing, recently evaluated the X10’s narrow and telephoto cameras in comparison to three other commercial drones in the same category: the DJI Matrice 30, the DJI Mavic 3E, and the Autel 4T. 

This image quality assessment included four performance categories—sharpness, noise, color accuracy, and dynamic range—that mimic real-life scenarios. 

The result? The X10 did exceptionally well in all four categories, displaying exceptional consistency. 
 

Sharpness

Sharpness directly influences the amount of detail a camera can capture. This detail is critical for use cases like inspections or mapping and surveying. 

The modulation transfer function (MTF) test found that the Skydio X10 excelled in daylight conditions and outperformed all competitor systems across lighting scenarios.

Noise

Noise measures the quality and clarity of an image. It is particularly prevalent in low light and mixed light conditions. To counteract noise, imaging systems often include unnatural smoothing effects and color aberrations. 

Imatest found that the X10 performs remarkably well in quarter resolution (binned) modes. It manages to retain important details without introducing distracting artifacts.
 

Color Accuracy 

Color accuracy indicates the difference between the color captured in a camera and the known color value of the target. Inspections and photogrammetry operations depend on accurate color representation to effectively interpret visual data. 

The X10 once again exceeded current standards—beating all three competitor drones in all lighting conditions. It displayed particular accuracy in daylight conditions. 
 

Dynamic Range

Dynamic range is measured in decibels (dB). It indicates a camera's ability to capture and reproduce details in both bright and dark areas of an image. High Dynamic Range (HDR) camera modes enable commercial users to confidently operate in mixed lighting conditions—seeing clearly despite shadows or bright highlights.  

Imatest’s evaluation found the X10 telephoto camera had the highest dynamic range (80.2 dB) of all four drone platforms. 
 

Conclusion

In a head-to-head comparison, the Skydio X10 sets a new standard for UAV imaging, with better optics than any other drone of its size. It delivers high-quality, balanced images in a variety of lighting scenarios that reflect the real-world conditions of commercial users. 

Ultimately, these detailed, accurate, and noise-free images will enable Skydio customers to run successful UAV operations in the most demanding environments.  

Learn more about the X10 at Skydio.com.