If there is one universal truth about flying drones, it's that there's a good chance you're going to smash it into something. The key is to limit those learning experiences as much as possible, and the obstacle avoidance feature is designed to do just that. Continue reading to understand what to look for when shopping for a drone with obstacle avoidance, as well as the many different technologies that are involved in making this such an important and effective safety feature.
A Mind of Its Own
Obstacle avoidance, collision avoidance, obstacle detection… You'll find this feature under multiple names, but obstacle avoidance is the most common, so we'll run with that. Just know that they all refer to the same thing: a system to help drone pilots automatically prevent crashes. For a drone to perform this magic trick, it needs to have eyes of its own, which is where cameras and sensors come in. Those are the tools drone manufacturers use to look out into the distance and see the dangers ahead. When it works as intended, the data and algorithms will come together to determine if it's on a collision course with an object or person and automatically slam on the brakes.
Pretty much every type of pilot can benefit from obstacle avoidance, especially those piloting indoors or dense urban areas. When shopping for a drone with this feature, there are three key things to keep in mind. First, does the drone even have the feature? The cheaper the drone, the less likely you'll see it available. The second thing is the type of obstacle avoidance. Is it based on cameras, sensors, or both? What kind are they? The answers to those questions will give you a good idea of the quality of the system. Lastly, the number of cameras and sensors are essential. For example, the DJI Neo offers only forward-facing avoidance using binocular vision and infrared, while the higher end DJI Air 3S has omnidirectional binocular vision, plus forward-facing infrared and LiDAR.
Seeing Is Avoiding
Obstacle avoidance requires the drone to be able to see objects and determine their distance. This list includes the most common technologies in use today, along with information on how they work and key details on their functionality.
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Binocular Vision: Dual cameras are used to see like we do with our eyes. They compare images from both cameras to calculate depth and distance. The high latency of these cameras requires significant light and reflective objects, so night flying or flying over smooth surfaces could affect reliability.
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Infrared: Just like your TV remote, this sensor emits infrared rays and calculates the distance of objects based on how long it takes to receive the reflected rays. The delay of this sensor type results in lower accuracy and a shorter range than others, such as LiDAR.
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LiDAR: Distance calculation is done the same as infrared but uses lasers to greatly improve accuracy and the ability to function over larger distances.
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Ultrasonic: This sensor uses sound waves to perform its detection. It has the advantage of not being disturbed by light, dust, and smoke, but it can be less effective if the obstacle reflects the waves in a different direction or absorbs them.
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ToF: This stands for Time-of-Flight and is also known as a depth camera. It captures depth information that allows for precise distance and detection calculations but is sensitive to sunlight and reflective surfaces.
As you can see, not all obstacle avoidance technologies are created equal, but we hope you can now make a much more informed purchasing decision when picking up your next drone. Has obstacle avoidance ever saved you from a costly crash? Do you have any questions about this or other drone features? Leave us a comment below. As always, you can find a full range of drones and accessories at B&H.
