Aerial vehicles with proximity sensors for safety

A method comprising:

• determining, by a circuit component of a system, a first capacitance of a conductive component provided on an external surface of a housing of the system at a first time, wherein the conductive component is coupled to at least a first terminal of the circuit component by at least a first line, wherein a motor of the system is rotating a bladed element of the system within the housing at a first speed at the first time;
• determining, by the circuit component, that a difference between the first capacitance and a second capacitance of the conductive component determined at a second time exceeds a predetermined threshold, wherein the second time precedes the first time;
• and
• in response to determining that the difference between the first capacitance and the second capacitance exceeds the predetermined threshold:
• causing the motor to operate at a second speed at a third time.

A system comprising:

• a housing having at least one opening;
• a circuit component;
• a conductive component provided in association with the at least one opening, wherein the conductive component comprises a metal coupled to a first terminal of the circuit component by a first line;
• a capacitor, wherein the capacitor is coupled to the first terminal by a second line, and wherein the capacitor is coupled to a second terminal of the circuit component by a third line;
• and
• a motor;
• a rotatable element provided within the housing, wherein the motor is configured to rotate the rotatable element within the housing at one or more speeds;
• a control system in communication with at least the motor and the circuit component, wherein the control system comprises one or more computer processors;
• and
• one or more computer readable media storing one or more sets of processor-executable instructions thereon.