Obstacle avoidance
Also known as: obstacle sensing, APAS, collision avoidance
Sensors and software that let a drone detect obstacles like trees and buildings and brake or steer around them. Coverage and reliability vary by model and mode.
Updated
What it means
Modern drones use vision cameras, infrared or other sensors to see their surroundings. Obstacle avoidance uses that data to stop the drone before a collision, or on some models to plan a path around the obstacle automatically. DJI calls its bypass system APAS on several models.
Coverage varies. Some drones sense in all directions, others only forward, backward and down. Sensors also have limits: thin branches, power lines, glass and water surfaces can be hard to detect, and vision sensors need light and texture.
Tracking features like ActiveTrack rely heavily on obstacle avoidance, because the drone moves on its own while following a subject.
How it works in practice
Leave obstacle avoidance on for most flying, especially near trees, cliffs and buildings. Learn which directions your drone actually covers, since sideways sensing is often limited, and plan sideways moves carefully.
Some flight modes, such as Sport mode, turn obstacle avoidance off, because the drone moves too fast to brake in time. Switch to normal or cine modes near obstacles.
When flying close to obstacles on purpose, for example through a gap or near a tree line, a slow approach gives the sensors time to react and the pilot time to correct.
What to watch out for
Obstacle avoidance can fail in low light, at night, in fog, against plain walls or over water. It also may not detect thin wires or bare branches in winter. Never treat it as a guarantee.
Avoidance braking can interrupt a cinematic move abruptly, ruining a shot in tight spaces. Plan routes with enough clearance, or understand when to switch modes for a deliberate close pass.
Dirty or scratched sensors reduce reliability. Clean them gently before flights, and update firmware, since manufacturers improve obstacle detection over time. The Return to Home path also depends on these sensors, so their condition matters even when you fly manually.
How RawClip handles it
Obstacle avoidance protects the drone, while your piloting and framing decide the shot. Upload your aerial clips with your ground footage, and RawClip picks the strongest moments for one highlight.