Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle is described herein. The unmanned aerial vehicle includes a fuselage body, a lift mechanism coupled to the fuselage body, and a depth sensing and obstacle avoidance system coupled to the fuselage body. The depth sensing and obstacle avoidance system includes a platform assembly, a pair of stereovision cameras coupled to a platform assembly, and a motor assembly coupled to the fuselage body and to the platform assembly. The platform assembly includes a support member extending between a first end and an opposite second end along a longitudinal axis. The pair of stereovision cameras includes each stereovision camera positioned at an opposite end of the support member. The motor assembly is configured to rotate the platform assembly with respect to the fuselage body about a rotational axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the platform assembly.

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle is described herein. The unmanned aerial vehicle includes a fuselage body, a lift mechanism coupled to the fuselage body, and a depth sensing and obstacle avoidance system coupled to the fuselage body. The depth sensing and obstacle avoidance system includes a platform assembly, a pair of stereovision cameras coupled to a platform assembly, and a motor assembly coupled to the fuselage body and to the platform assembly. The platform assembly includes a support member extending between a first end and an opposite second end along a longitudinal axis. The pair of stereovision cameras includes each stereovision camera positioned at an opposite end of the support member. The motor assembly is configured to rotate the platform assembly with respect to the fuselage body about a rotational axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the platform assembly.

Abstract: An aerial system having an obstacle detection and avoidance system is described herein. The obstacle detection and avoidance system includes a pair of ultra-wide angle lens cameras orientated coaxially along an optical axis. Each ultra-wide angle lens camera includes a field-of-view lens having a vertical angle of view greater than 180 degrees. The pair of ultra-wide angle lens cameras is orientated such that a portion of each corresponding camera field-of-view overlaps to define a viewable region of interest including overlapping vertical field angle.

Abstract: An aerial system having an obstacle detection and avoidance system is described herein. The obstacle detection and avoidance system includes a pair of ultra-wide angle lens cameras orientated coaxially along an optical axis. Each ultra-wide angle lens camera includes a field-of-view lens having a vertical angle of view greater than 180 degrees. The pair of ultra-wide angle lens cameras is orientated such that a portion of each corresponding camera field-of-view overlaps to define a viewable region of interest including overlapping vertical field angle.