5 Best Drones With Obstacle Avoidance In 2021
Ever since they came around, drones have been a great tool, evolving every step of the way. First, they were used mostly by military services, but slowly began to be accessible for everyone else too. From there on, the whole concept of drones started to expand: they were used for construction, photography, and even recreational purposes like FPV racing. In this context, where drones became so multifunctional, how can a certain type, or model, set itself apart from the rest? For us, the answer is quite simple: an obstacle avoidance function. Therefore, in the following article we will present to you the 5 Best Drones With Obstacle Avoidance In 2021, and hope you will find the information useful enough to meet your needs.
Yuneec Typhoon H
| Size | 53 x 46 x 31 cm |
| Weight | 5,45 kg |
| Camera | 4K, wide-angle, full 360 degrees of motion |
| Flight time | 25 minutes |
| Battery | 5400mAh LiPo |
| Charge time | Approx. 2 hours |
| Gimbal | 3-axis |
| Material | Plastic |
| Speed | 70 km/h |
The first one from our 5 Best Drones list is the Yuneec Typhoon H. Even though it is not mentioned in the specs table, it is clear that this drone not only has obstacle avoidance, it has the best one. As this is the main interest in this article, in this part we will provide further information about this part only.
Therefore, the reason why this type of drone stands in the first place is because it has two types of sensors: sonic and infrared. This means that it can register a better image of its surrounding environment than most other drones. Even more, in the eventuality of a crash, the Typhoon is saved by propeller redundancy. Meaning, if one rotor goes down, the drone is able to still use its other five to land safely. This way, you don’t have to worry about any possible crashes that might harm your drone, it is basically untouchable! Think about what the Pro version can do!
DJI Mavic 2 Pro
| Size | 8 x 9 x 21 cm |
| Weight | 907 gr |
| Camera | 4K |
| Flight time | 31 minutes |
| Battery | 3850mAh LiPo |
| Gimbal | 3-axis |
| Speed | 72 km/h |
This drone takes the second place thanks to the innovation that has been built with. The Mavic is one of the only drones to have obstacle avoidance sensors on every side, meaning a much higher sensitivity, plus the APAS system. The latter means that when the drone encounters an obstacle, it can figure out a path either through it, or around it, instead of just stopping in front of it. Of course, this happens only if the said obstacle does not completely block its way forward. All in all, a great technology!
DJI Inspire 2
| Size | 42 x 42 x 31 cm |
| Weight | 3,44 kg |
| Flight time | 27 minutes |
| Battery | 4280mAh LiPo |
| Material | Aluminium-magnesium alloy, carbon fiber |
| Speed | 94 km/h |
The collision avoidance system on this type of drone is based on two stereo vision sensors, therefore the quadcopter is able to scan to a distance of 9 meters ahead for any possible obstacles. One so-called ”downside” of this model is that it does not constantly register a map of its surroundings, the same way the Typhoon does, for example. Also, the functions aren’t so numerous, as there is no ”Follow Me”. Even so, this can’t be called anything close to a bad drone, as the specifications are still great and the avoidance system is good enough to find a place in a top 5.
DJI Mavic Air 2
| Size | 183 x 253 x 77 mm |
| Weight | 572 gr |
| Flight time | 34 minutes |
| Battery | 3500mAh LiPo |
| Camera | 4K |
| Gimbal | 3-axis |
| Flight time | 34 minutes |
| Speed | 68 km/h |
Alongside its already great specifications, this model has three-way obstacle sensing, which means that the drone perceives its surroundings from three points of view: forward, backward and downward. An extra here is the auxiliary light, which can provide better vision of these directions even in poorly lit environments. This way you can fly without any worries that you might not see or be able to avoid any obstacles in time, as the drone will perceive them quickly enough and be sure it is not harmed by them.
Walkera VITUS
| Size | 229 x 279 x 113 mm |
| Weight | 890 gr |
| Flight time | 28 minutes |
| Camera | 4K, wide-angle |
| Battery | 5200mAh LiPo |
| Charge time | Approx. 2 hours |
| Gimbal | 3-axis |
| Material | Plastic, metal |
The last drone in our 5 Best Drones list is Walkera Vitus. The Walkera, a model famous for the way it can integrate a lot of amazing functions and specifications in a small package, also has a great obstacle avoidance system. This is because it is based on three precision time-of-flight sensors, plus an infrared sensor on the bottom, which contribute to positioning and hovering. The three sensors offer great precision while allowing the drone to scan for obstacles for 5 meters, in three different directions. These are great numbers, but for our fellow pilots who plan to fly their drone in a bit more dangerous area, we would advise them to pick a better model, as we can not guarantee a flawless performance in such conditions. Either way, if they are not too harsh, the quadcopter will not have any problems in avoiding obstacles.
We hope this article brought some light forward regarding the drones with the best obstacle avoidance function in 2021 and that you found the model that best fits your needs. As you can see, every single drone presented here has great specifications, so it really depends on your flight style and requirements which one can become your partner. Have fun flying!
