Does the DJI Air 3 have obstacle avoidance?

Yes. The DJI Air 3 has omnidirectional obstacle sensing: binocular vision sensors facing forward, backward, sideways, up and down, plus a 3D infrared sensor underneath. It can brake or steer around obstacles in Normal and Cine mode using DJI's APAS system. It doesn't work in Sport mode, in the dark, or against thin wires and branches.

Air 3 obstacle avoidance — The Air 3 uses vision sensors all around plus a downward 3D infrared sensor. It needs light and textured surfaces, and it's off in Sport mode.

How the sensing system works

Direction	Measures obstacles at	Effective up to
Forward	0.5 to 18 m (detects up to 200 m)	15 m/s flight speed
Backward	0.5 to 18 m	14 m/s
Left and right	0.5 to 30 m	14 m/s
Up	0.5 to 18 m	6 m/s
Down	0.3 to 14 m	6 m/s

The downward 3D infrared sensor measures 0.1 to 8 m, which helps with landing and low flight. A bottom auxiliary light helps the downward cameras in low light.

Obstacle avoidance settings

Go to Settings > Safety > Obstacle Avoidance Action in DJI Fly:

Bypass: turns on APAS. The drone steers over, under or around obstacles while following your stick inputs. Choose Normal or Nifty. Nifty flies faster and closer to obstacles for smoother footage, at higher risk.
Brake: the drone stops and hovers when it senses an obstacle.
Off: no obstacle sensing. Use only when you have a specific reason, such as flying through a gap you've checked.

Turn on Display Radar Map to see obstacle distances on screen. Vision Assist shows a live view from the sensor cameras in the direction you're flying, which helps when backing up.

Landing Protection works when the setting is Bypass or Brake. If the ground looks unsuitable, the drone hovers at about 0.8 m and waits. Hold the throttle down for five seconds to land anyway.

When it won't protect you

Sport mode. The vision system is off. You need at least 30 m to brake at top speed.
Low light. Vision sensors need light and texture. DJI warns about very dark or very bright scenes.
Thin and see-through objects. Power lines, bare branches, glass and water are hard or impossible to see. DJI specifically lists cranes, transmission towers, power lines and suspension bridges.
Plain or reflective surfaces. White walls, mirrors and repeating patterns confuse the cameras.
Over water. The downward sensors may not avoid water when landing.
Propeller guard fitted. Nifty mode doesn't work normally with the guard.

Not working at all?

If the app shows obstacle sensing as unavailable, check the settings above, clean the sensor glass with a soft cloth (no alcohol), let DJI Fly run the vision sensor calibration if it prompts you, and update the firmware. Full steps in Air 3 obstacle avoidance not working.

Air 3 vs Air 3S

The Air 3S adds a forward-facing LiDAR that senses obstacles ahead in very dark conditions, below 1 lux, where the cameras stop working. If you fly at dusk or in cities at night, that's a real safety upgrade. See Air 3 vs Air 3S.

For daylight flying, the DJI Air 3 sensing is very capable. Treat it as a backup, not a replacement for watching the drone. Our drone flying tips cover safe habits.