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Comment by sameerds | Hacker News Reader

Why do drones need visual aids when flying to the destination? I can imagine an autonomous car needing to "look" at things because humans and human-defined conventions are involved. Can the drone simply not position itself using GPS, mobile networks, wifi access points etc? The camera might be required only when it is time to slow down and drop the parcel.

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Aircraft need to be able to see other aircraft so as not to collide with them. Especially so if you foresee a future where delivery drones are as common as cars.

They also need to avoid obstacles that aren't on their digital maps, like newly erected cranes, and moving things like birds, parachutists and gliders.

Of course, you could argue they don't need to store the videos they take, or transfer them off the drone, other than a last-60-seconds-flight-recorder for crash investigation.

I'm guessing the camera isn't used for aircraft separation since nearly everything has ADS/B now.

ADS-B out is only required for manned aircraft flying in and out of controlled airspace.

There are some other exceptions as well IIRC for gliders, ultra lights and some others.

>Aircraft need to be able to see other aircraft so as not to collide with them. Especially so if you foresee a future where delivery drones are as common as cars.

Cameras are not being used for this job.

>They also need to avoid obstacles that aren't on their digital maps, like newly erected cranes, and moving things like birds, parachutists and gliders.

Cameras can be used for these, however it's better to use other sensors as the primary means of detection.

You are correct, these particular aircraft do not rely on cameras for navigation.

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