As drones are increasingly used in industrial inspection, logistics, mapping, and autonomous navigation, obstacle avoidance systems have become a critical part of UAV design. Among the many components involved, the camera lens plays a fundamental role in how reliably a drone can perceive its surroundings.

This article focuses on the role of ultra-wide-angle lenses in drone obstacle avoidance systems and explains how optical design influences detection performance in real-world flight scenarios.

The Role of Vision in Drone Obstacle Avoidance

Most vision-based obstacle avoidance systems rely on cameras to detect nearby objects, estimate distance, and support path planning. Unlike aerial imaging or photography, obstacle avoidance focuses on short-range perception, requiring the camera to capture as much of the surrounding environment as possible.

For this reason, obstacle avoidance cameras typically use ultra-wide-angle lenses, which provide a broader field of view compared to standard lenses. A wider field of view helps reduce blind spots and allows the system to detect obstacles earlier, especially during low-altitude or indoor flight.

Why Ultra-Wide Field of View Matters

An obstacle avoidance lens must balance coverage and accuracy. Lenses with an ultra-wide field of view can capture a larger scene within a single frame, making them well-suited for detecting nearby structures such as walls, trees, cables, or building edges.

However, extreme wide-angle optics also introduce challenges such as distortion and edge image degradation. For drone navigation, controlled distortion and stable edge performance are essential, as inaccurate geometry may affect spatial judgment and obstacle localization.

Optical Design Considerations for Obstacle Avoidance Lenses

When selecting a lens for drone obstacle avoidance, engineers typically consider several optical parameters:

• Field of View (FOV): A wide horizontal and diagonal FOV improves environmental awareness.

• Distortion Control: Lower distortion supports more accurate distance estimation and object positioning.

• Compact Structure: Lightweight and short total track length (TTL) help reduce payload weight.

• Image Stability: Consistent image quality across the frame supports reliable vision algorithms.

• Environmental Protection: Outdoor drones often require lenses with dust and moisture resistance.

Lenses such as the YT-6047P-C1, designed with ultra-wide-angle optics and compact mechanical structure, aim to meet these requirements for close-range drone vision systems.

Sensor Compatibility and System Integration

Obstacle avoidance lenses are typically paired with CMOS image sensors used in automotive or industrial vision systems. Sensors such as SC120AT, commonly applied in vehicle vision applications, offer stable image output and reliability, making them suitable for certain UAV vision systems as well.

While these sensors are not exclusively designed for drones, their performance characteristics allow them to be integrated into industrial or autonomous UAV platforms, especially where robustness and consistent output are prioritized.

Application Scenarios

Ultra-wide-angle obstacle avoidance lenses are commonly used in:

• Forward or downward obstacle detection cameras

• Indoor or low-altitude autonomous flight

• Industrial drones operating in structured environments

• Navigation assistance for autonomous or semi-autonomous UAVs

In these scenarios, the lens does not aim to produce cinematic images, but rather to provide predictable and reliable visual input for perception algorithms.