Skypix (drone photography service)

History

2025: Service Launch

At the end of February 2025, Japan's largest travel agency JTB launched an automated service for aerial photography using unmanned aerial vehicles. A system called Skypix is designed to increase the popularity of various tourist locations.

The platform was developed in partnership with Fly and Japan Airlines. The idea is that when visiting any picturesque places, tourists will be able to order their own photo and video shooting using a drone. To do this, in the location where the service is available, it is enough to scan the QR code on the corresponding plate using a smartphone. After activating the service, a drone will fly out of the docking station in the direction of the tourist: the device moves along a pre-programmed optimal trajectory, simultaneously carrying out video recording.

𝓲

Фото: Freepik

The stored materials are then processed using special artificial intelligence algorithms. As a result, the user receives a professionally mounted video in which he is captured from a bird's eye view from an ideal angle.

The cost of the service is 2000 yen, or $13.35 at the exchange rate as of February 27, 2025. It takes about 30 minutes to process the footage, after which they are sent to the client's mobile device: the duration of the generated video varies from one to two minutes.

At the first stage, JTB, Fly and Japan Airlines intend to launch a service in a national park on Shodo Island in Kagawa Prefecture in western Japan. A popular natural attraction here is the Kankakei Gorge. In the future, the geographic coverage of the Skypix service will expand, and by 2027 it is expected to work in all prefectures of the country.^[1]

Notes