A system to determine a distance from an automated aerial vehicle to a surface, the system comprising: an automated aerial vehicle, including: a plurality of motors; a power supply connected to the plurality of motors and configured to provide power to the plurality of motors; and a sensor system for providing an output that indicates a distance to a surface; and a computing system, including: one or more processors; and a memory coupled to the one or more processors and storing program instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to at least: receive an output from the sensor system that indicates a first distance to the surface; determine a second distance to the surface based at least in part on a level of a parameter that is influenced by a ground effect, wherein the parameter is related to an amount of power that is supplied to at least one motor of the automated aerial vehicle for flying the automated aerial vehicle; and determine that there is an issue related to the output of the sensor system based at least in part on a difference between the second distance and the first distance. an automated aerial vehicle, including: a plurality of motors; a power supply connected to the plurality of motors and configured to provide power to the plurality of motors; and a sensor system for providing an output that indicates a distance to a surface; and a plurality of motors; a power supply connected to the plurality of motors and configured to provide power to the plurality of motors; and a sensor system for providing an output that indicates a distance to a surface; and a computing system, including: one or more processors; and a memory coupled to the one or more processors and storing program instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to at least: receive an output from the sensor system that indicates a first distance to the surface; determine a second distance to the surface based at least in part on a level of a parameter that is influenced by a ground effect, wherein the parameter is related to an amount of power that is supplied to at least one motor of the automated aerial vehicle for flying the automated aerial vehicle; and determine that there is an issue related to the output of the sensor system based at least in part on a difference between the second distance and the first distance. one or more processors; and a memory coupled to the one or more processors and storing program instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to at least: receive an output from the sensor system that indicates a first distance to the surface; determine a second distance to the surface based at least in part on a level of a parameter that is influenced by a ground effect, wherein the parameter is related to an amount of power that is supplied to at least one motor of the automated aerial vehicle for flying the automated aerial vehicle; and determine that there is an issue related to the output of the sensor system based at least in part on a difference between the second distance and the first distance. receive an output from the sensor system that indicates a first distance to the surface; determine a second distance to the surface based at least in part on a level of a parameter that is influenced by a ground effect, wherein the parameter is related to an amount of power that is supplied to at least one motor of the automated aerial vehicle for flying the automated aerial vehicle; and determine that there is an issue related to the output of the sensor system based at least in part on a difference between the second distance and the first distance.