Sensors for drones and eVTOL

Sensors for drones and eVTOL: how the vehicle knows its state

Updated November 3, 2026

Every decision the flight controller makes depends on what the sensors measure: attitude, position, airspeed, height and the state of the engines and fuel. Sensor quality sets how precisely the vehicle can fly, how far it can navigate without satellites and how early it can detect a problem.

Sensor families

Sensor	Measures	Subcategory
IMU / INS	Angular rate, acceleration, attitude and dead-reckoning position	IMUs
GNSS receiver	Absolute position, velocity and time	GNSS (GPS) receivers
Air data	Airspeed, pressure altitude, angle of attack and sideslip	Pitot tubes and air data
Altimeters	Height above ground or pressure altitude	Altimeters
Fuel sensors	Fuel level, flow and pressure	Fuel sensors
Magnetometers	Magnetic field for heading or surveys	Magnetometers

What to compare

Accuracy, noise and stability over temperature and time, not only the best-case figure.
Update rate and latency, which affect control performance.
Integrity and fault detection: can the sensor tell when it is wrong?
Robustness: vibration, shock, temperature and EMC; GNSS sensors also need resistance to jamming and spoofing.
Interfaces: CAN, serial, Ethernet or ARINC 429.
Export controls: high-performance inertial sensors can be subject to export licences.
Size, weight and power.

The fusion of these measurements happens in the flight controller or in an integrated INS.

Frequently asked questions

Which sensors does a drone need to fly?

At minimum an IMU (gyroscopes and accelerometers) and, for outdoor navigation, a GNSS receiver and usually a barometer and magnetometer. Fixed-wing aircraft add airspeed sensors; larger aircraft add altimeters and engine sensors.

What is sensor fusion?

Combining measurements from several sensors, usually with a Kalman filter, to obtain an estimate that is more accurate and robust than any single sensor alone.

Why are some inertial sensors export-controlled?

High-performance gyroscopes and accelerometers can be used in missile guidance, so many countries control their export. This affects lead times and paperwork for some IMUs.