A system for automatically adjusting a baseline of an imaging system for stereoscopic imaging and methods for making and using same. The imaging system includes a plurality of imaging devices that cooperate via a baseline adjustment mechanism. The imaging devices can acquire images of an object of interest and ascertain an object distance between the stereoscopic imaging system and the object of interest using triangulation. Based on the object distance, the baseline adjustment mechanism automatically adjusts a baseline between any pair of imaging devices. The baseline can be reduced when the object of interest is proximate to the imaging system and can be increased when the object of interest is distal. Once the baseline has been adjusted, one or more extrinsic parameters of the imaging devices are calibrated using a two-step optimization method. The imaging system is suitable for use aboard a mobile platform such as an unmanned aerial vehicle.