Inspection drones are autonomous or remotely piloted devices that can be used to inspect and map infrastructure. Inspection drones could be used by government agencies and companies to inspect and map bridges, pipelines, roads, railway lines and other infrastructure.
Inspection drones are equipped with one or more cameras, laser scanners and GPS systems. The drones use ultrasonic sensors to detect objects on the ground, such as utility lines. When inspecting bridges, inspection drones may fly underneath the bridge deck to map out repairs that need to be done or structural issues that have already occurred. Inspection drones may combine data from different sensors to produce a complete 3-D map of the infrastructure.
Inspection drones can be used for a variety of purposes, including:
Maintenance Monitoring – Some drones will fly over a specific route and monitor structural problems that need to be dealt with. This is a more targeted way of inspecting bridges compared to ground inspections. Some drones will fly over a specific route and monitor structural problems that need to be dealt with. This is a more targeted way of inspecting bridges compared to ground inspections.
Condition Monitoring – Other drones are used by bridge inspectors to monitor the current state of the bridge just before traffic is allowed on it, or after it has been closed for a period of renovation. This is a good way to determine whether the structure is in proper condition before it has been allowed to deteriorate due to traffic or due to age-related wear and tear. Other drones are used by bridge inspectors to monitor the current state of the bridge just before traffic is allowed on it, or after it has been closed for a period of renovation. This is a good way to determine whether the structure is in proper condition before it has been allowed to deteriorate due to traffic or due to age-related wear and tear.
Bridge Management – Drones can be an integral part of bridge management, as the information gathered by the drones can be used to improve decision making and planning.
Inspection drones can be used to inspect other types of infrastructure, such as:
Railways: Drones may be used by railway inspectors to check tracks for any signs of wear and tear. This helps the inspector determine whether a track needs to be replaced or repaired. Drones can also be used to monitor repairs that are being done to tracks. Drones may be used by railway inspectors to check tracks for any signs of wear and tear. This helps the inspector determine whether a track needs to be replaced or repaired. Drones can also be used to monitor repairs that are being done to tracks.
Power Lines: The power industry is currently testing drones to monitor power lines. Drones may be able to identify problems with electrical grids more quickly than ground inspections. The power industry is currently testing drones to monitor power lines. Drones may be able to identify problems with electrical grids more quickly than ground inspections.
Pipelines: Pipeline inspectors can use inspection drones to check for potential ruptures and leaks.
Read more as we’ll tackle this topic on the use of drones for inspection and detection to allow companies to make work easier in today’s article.
Drones For Inspection And Detection As Used In Different Industries
One of the key features of drones is that they can be deployed to inspect long-distance pipes and structures, such as bridges. What this means is that drones can be purchased at a relatively low price for this application. The Uplift Aeronautics company, for example, has designed an inspection drone called the Insight. One of the reasons for this name is because it provides detailed data on structural integrity and safety. The data gathered by Insight can then be used to manage risk and monitor safety.
In the same way, the TransPort company has also developed a drone called SPARC which uses infrared scans and 3D imaging technology. This scan captures thermal images and creates a visual record of the inspected area that allows bridge managers to detect cracks in structures before they become major problems.
The Senso3D company also offers the StructEye drone for infrastructure inspection. This drone provides a visual documentation of both structures and metrology structures such as ties, rails, sleepers and points.
Moreover, inspection drones can be used to monitor power lines that are located in hard-to-reach areas which regular helicopters and planes may not be able to access. The DraganFlyer X6, for example, can fly at up to 300ft above the ground. This drone is also considered as the safest drone in its class as it has built-in safety features such as automatic return home, failsafe protection and no-go zones which ensure that this drone stays safe while it is being used for inspection purposes.
In addition, the DraganFlyer X6 drone has a flight endurance of up to 30 minutes. This long flight time provides engineers with ample time to fly this drone from one point to another and complete inspections in a timely manner.
Rail infrastructure inspectors use drones for infrastructure inspection purposes. By using drones, inspectors are able to access hard-to-reach areas of the track more quickly and easily. This cuts down on inspection times. Some drones can also be used to monitor repairs being done on tracks.
The Dartrail drone is a self-navigating drone for this purpose. A major advantage of this drone is that it can use the same track that trains are running on, allowing it to travel across long distances in a short period of time.
The UK’s Met Office has deployed drones to monitor power lines. This is part of its new program called ‘Hawk’ which stands for High Altitude Knowledge Transfer. The Met office plans to conduct research on how drones can be used as a reliable data-gathering tool to monitor weather patterns.
In this case study, the inspection drone is being used as a proxy for collecting meteorological information which includes temperature, wind speed and other weather factors.
These are just some of the common applications of drones in infrastructure inspection. There are actually a lot more. However, it is vital to remember that drones are still a relatively new technology and their full potential has not been fully realized yet.
The Benefits Of Using Inspection Drones
With a drone inspection, you can expect a less invasive kind of inspection. Drones are used to inspect roofs for damage and this takes nothing more than a couple seconds. It is also easy to use drones to check the status of your trees and have a good look at your yard. There are no safety concerns when it comes to using drones as they can effortlessly fly without any trouble due to their wings. With drones, you can expect to get aerial images of your homes for a small amount of money. Drones are an efficient way to check out areas like roof damage and other things you may not be able to check up on.
And if the idea of using drones makes you uneasy then it is best that you think about hiring someone who knows how to work it. Drones are not very hard to control and you can get the hang of it in less than a day, especially if you’re someone who’s familiar with using drones already. The best thing about using drones is that they don’t wear out and run out of charge like other devices do and can be used for several hours without any problem. It is also easy to maneuver drones without having to worry about any other machine or drone getting in the way.
Why Should Your Company Invest In Drones
Drones are the next phase in technology which allows you to have a birds-eye view of your business. It’s not unlike hiring an employee who has excellent business savvy, holds expert level knowledge about your company and is always readily available to answer any question you may have.
Drones are invaluable for checking roof or aerial views. You can use drones to monitor traffic, survey construction sites, film events from the sky…the list goes on! Safety-wise, our drones are tethered so they cannot fly out of range or be damaged by others if there were accidents near buildings that could cause injury to people below.
The truth is that drones enhance efficiency and allow us to provide better service with this emerging technology. Drones also allow us to get creative with certain aspects of our business. Aerial inspection using drones allows you to capture images that will show the state of your roofs and structures that cannot be seen when walking or driving around normally.
And if you want to go the extra mile with your field inspection, then it is highly recommended that you use drones. You can see many ways to reduce risk and protect property by adding a drone inspection service at your business. The only downside about using drones for inspections is that they should not be used during rain or storms as they could crash into other objects and cause damage.
All in all, inspection and detection drones are the hottest new trend in the sky, so if you want to get ahead of your competitors then now is a good time to start using drones as part of your business strategy.