New collision avoidance system for drones uses radar

Collision avoidance systems are becoming a standard feature of many drones these days, but they do have some drawbacks. These systems use cameras to detect objects in front of the drone, which slows down once an obstacle is in sight. While the purpose is good, this can cause a drain on the battery. A new system from Arbe Robotics aims to eliminate such issues by using radar, preventing the other pitfalls of the camera-based approach.

This radar system comes in the form of a mountable band, which is said to work with any UAV. Currently, sophisticated collision avoidance systems are a selling point for high-end drones such as DJI's Phantom 4. The radar is able to scan a radius of 200 meters. The system moves the drone when it detects an object larger than a meter.

Arbe Robotics said this new collision avoidance approach only uses 5 percent of battery life. This, combined with the earlier detection of an object that allows drones to modify a flight trajectory without slowing, should make drone flight more efficient.

The company is in the news recently because it won TechCrunch's Pitch-Off in Tel Aviv. It has not yet announced any pricing or release date. Those looking to equip their consumer drones with a sophisticated radar system will have to sit tight.