Today’s drones depend on sophisticated sensing platforms to read their surroundings, capture and stream high-quality imagery, and fly autonomously. Pairing image sensors with depth sensing and on-board intelligence lets a drone take in a sweeping aerial view, spot obstacles, chart its surroundings, and keep operating in cluttered or low-visibility conditions. onsemi’s imaging and sensing portfolio lays the groundwork for dependable perception - making flight safer, more accurate, and more autonomous.

Inside a Drone’s Sensing Stack

Each drone sensing system brings together several sensing and imaging layers that work in concert to deliver perception, video streams, and navigation.

Navigation System

• Arrays of cameras give the drone spatial self-awareness
• Depth sensing handles obstacle detection and range measurement
• Sensor fusion blends vision with GPS and inertial data
• Drives collision and obstacle avoidance while supporting autonomous navigation and SLAM

Vision System

• High-resolution video capture paired with purpose-built imagery
• Bandwidth-optimized streaming of that video to ground control

Advanced Sensing Technologies

• Depth sensors (iToF) that generate 3D maps and spatial awareness
• SWIR imaging that keeps working in low light, fog, or obscured settings
• Thermal imaging that sees past normal visibility and through opaque surfaces
• Thermal imaging that sees past normal visibility and through opaque surfaces