WHAT DOES AN OPTICAL FLOW SENSOR DO ON A DRONE?

You'll come across the term optical flow sensor on many drones, but what exactly is this? And what use is it to you. On this page, we try to explain this briefly. We will also show you which Killerbee drones you can buy with optical flow sensor.

A drone with an optical flow sensor is a sensor that measures the environment and uses this data to determine speed and position. The drone does this using the camera on the underside of the drone. The image between consecutive frames is compared, this difference is then used to calculate the drone's movement.

The software of the drone uses the drone's software to detect the movement of features in the image. For example, features such as corners or edges, from one image frame to another. The software then calculates the difference in the position of these features relative to the environment the drone is in. By determining the speed and direction of this movement, the optical flow sensor can determine the drone's new position. The software then sends a signal to the drone's engines so that it corrects itself.

Therefore, the optical flow sensor is useful because it allows the drone to remain more stable and fly without depending on GPS signals. This also allows the drone to be used in areas where GPS signals are not available or not accurate enough.