Inspection drones provide visibility without the need for expensive equipment like cherry pickers or scaffolding. That’s why these more affordable and omnidirectional aerial vehicles have become a staple across industries.
With many drone companies on the market (and over a hundred different model ranges), there are a lot of technicalities to sift through.
As a drone development company, Voliro evaluated dozens of models during our R&D process. You can’t build a viable product without surveying the market landscape and sizing the competition.
Now, we’d like to share our field notes with you. Here are the top picks for different categories:
From bearing columns to flare chimneys and storage tanks, many industrial assets require timely monitoring to ensure safe and compliant operations. Industrial inspection drones bring extra efficiencies to condition-based maintenance.
With AI-assisted flight automation and enhanced stability, inspectors can collect precise measurements, reducing the margin of error. Drone-based inspections also take 2X to 4X less time and cost less compared to traditional methods like rope climbing and scaffolding.
Equipped with advanced sensing technologies, these inspection drones can navigate remote areas and collect qualitative and quantitative data — capture visual defects, scan for subsurface cracks, measure radioactive exposure, or collect thermal footprints.
Voliro T is an inspection drone, purpose-built for close-to-surface work at height. The drone has four flight modes, including an AI-powered interaction assistant for performing different non-destructive tests. Inspectors can use specialized payloads for ultrasound, EMAT, eddy current, and dry film thickness inspections.
That’s the biggest selection of drone-mounted NDT inspection tools offered by any drone company in one subscription. Pricing also includes a 3-day operator training package, all-risk insurance, part replacements, plus annual hardware rotation.
Equipped with a VGA camera, six LiDAR sensors, and six vision-based velocity sensors, the drone boasts high maneuverability. Voliro T has no orientation limitation — you can tilt and interact with it in any direction to inspect complex shapes and narrow cavities. An automation mode helps position the drone at the right angle and auto-fix its position to perform inspection work.
Advanced sensing abilities, paired with tiltable rotors and optimized airframe design, enable omnidirectional flight mode and high stability. Voliro T can apply up to 30 N of stable force and several Nm of torque to inspected structures. All the collected data is streamed to a connected inspector tablet in real-time for analysis.
One of the newest releases, DJI Matrice 350 RTK, is designed for commercial use beyond photography. It’s a powerful piece of equipment with a maximum flight time of 55 minutes, wind resistance of 12 m/s, and a payload capacity of 2.7kg.
Matrice 350 RTK can carry up to three payloads on a setup of downward and upward gimbals, including the Zenmuse H20 range from DJI — integrated sensor systems with zoom, wide, and thermal cameras and a laser rangefinder, suitable for high-precision visual asset inspection. Alternatively, you can add custom payloads through DJI Payload SDK.
With the new DJI O3 Enterprise Transmission, users get 1080p HD live feed transmission for up to 20 km in the US and 8 km in the EU. The four-antenna transceiver system selects the best two antennas for transmitting signals and the other two for receiving, leading to significant improvements in anti-interference capabilities.
A six-directional binocular vision system and an infrared sensing system give Matrice 350 RTK six-directional awareness, advanced positioning, and obstacle detection capabilities for increased safety during the flights.
Elios 3 is the third generation of Flyability’s confined-space drone model, designed to navigate complex geometries. Meshing SLAM-based stabilization with state-of-the-art computer vision algorithms, Elios 3 can float still even in harsh operating conditions and maneuver through the narrowest cavities. Advanced indoor navigation is supported by a combination of sensors, LIDAR, computer vision, and a 3D visualization engine that creates real-time 3D maps of indoor spaces for high location awareness for pilots, including a real-time 3D view of the drone’s trajectory.
Advanced indoor navigation is supported by sensors, LIDAR, computer vision, and a 3D visualization engine that creates real-time 3D maps for high location awareness, including a real-time 3D view of the drone’s trajectory. Elios 3, however, does require high piloting skills since there isn’t an assisted autonomy flight mode, apart from the return-to-signal feature.
Equipped with a 4K and a thermal camera, Elios 3 helps perform close-up visual asset inspections to detect cracks, pitting, and signs of corrosion. Users can further extend the drone’s capabilities with add-on payloads.
LIDAR Surveyor payload captures spatial data for 3D maps and digital twins with a drift of 0.1% and precision of 6 to 12 mm. RAD Payload measures radiological dose fields on the fly, minimizing workers’ exposure. Both can be used simultaneously, thanks to a dual port payload bay.
Land surveying and asset mapping are two other popular use cases of commercial drones. The best models boast extended flight time of up to 90 minutes to cover large areas within a single flight.
Carrying a variety of photogrammetry payloads, mapping drones can collect HD data at a wide dynamic range for 2D and 3D asset reconstruction (e.g., to create digital twins, perform construction site surveying, or monitor resource extraction in mining).
The next three drones for mapping and surveying can be used for the above and adapted to multiple other use cases.
WingtraOne Gen II is a high-accuracy survey and mapping VTOL drone boasting an impressive flight time of up to an hour, subject to the flying conditions and mounted payloads. Boasting an impressive 61 MP camera and robust post-processing capabilities, WingtraOne allows you to cover more area with fewer image overlaps.
You can also easily swap cameras to an RGB, thermal, or multispectral one via a standard USB-C interface. Or try our Wingtra LIDAR — a new terrain mapping mode for scanning beneath vegetation.
Another substantial advantage is best-in-class positional accuracy. During a series of test flights across Switzerland and the US, WingtraOne demonstrated 1 cm (0.4 in) horizontal absolute accuracy with the correct base station configuration.
Helpful mission planning features like autonomous launch and landing, corridor mapping, geofencing, and automatic mission resumption after battery swap help further optimize mapping workflow efficiency. The company claims its drone collects geodata 11X faster flight than other multicopter drones and 2X faster than similar fixed-wing drones. A built-in PPK GNSS antenna from Septentrio and integrated image geotagging software also help ensure accurate geotag correction for map reconstruction, reducing the time in the field.
DJI Mavic 3 Enterprise is a strong contender if you’re looking for a compact land surveying drone. Measuring only 347.5 × 283 × 107.7 mm when unfolded, the 3T model boasts truly powerful hardware for photogrammetry.
The 3T model features a wide-angle camera with a focal length of 24 mm and 48 MP resolution, plus a hybrid 56X Max Zoom, enabling ultra-high detail precision. A mechanical shutter allows 0.7-second interval shooting and reduces blur. It also includes a DFOV: 61° 640 × 512 px thermal camera with a focal length of 40 mm, supporting point and area temperature measurement. Thanks to high-temperature alerts, you can easily detect areas of interest — be it heat loss, plant vigor, or human presence. You can simultaneously stream thermal and zoom camera footage side-by-side for more detailed analysis.
Despite its mini size, DJI Mavic Enterprise 3T boasts an impressive flight time of 45 minutes per flight. For greater efficiency, you can program corridor missions to follow highways, pipelines, or river valleys automatically. The mission control app will auto-create the optimal route for effective surveying. The real-time terrain follow feature, powered by vision and infrared sensors, auto-adjusts the drone’s altitude, reducing the risks of collisions.
Evo II RTK Series V3 is an upgrade from an earlier Autel Robotics model with higher-precision positioning, thanks to a new RTK Module. Large propellers and revised flight algorithms also provide a lavish flight time of 38 minutes to support longer surveying missions.
Planning a flight is easy with Autel Explorer software. You can create and save multiple NTRIP profiles for different locations for a faster start and automatically restart the flight from the exact position you’ve finished previously. Other handy features include double-grid mapping, non-stop turning on corners, and customizable course headings to meet orientation requirements. Evo II RTK shoots clean, low-noise visuals in all lighting conditions, thanks to the new 1-inch 6K CMOS image sensor with 20 MP. The adjustable aperture gives further flexibility to adjusting shutter speed control.
Arguably, the biggest advantage of Evo II RTK is its high-res thermal camera and Sony .8″ 50-megapixel RYYB sensor that enables precise infrared measurement at a distance of 2 to 20 meters. The camera includes a 13mm focal length lens and 16x digital zoom, allowing you to capture sharp thermal footage even at a distance. The new image processing algorithm further helps improve the visual quality, plus regulates temperature deviations within 3 degrees Celsius.
Regular inspections are a compliance and safety requirement for wind farm operators. Operators must check blades for cracks and damage, inspect the gearbox for wear, test the lighting protection system, and check bearings for signs of fatigue.
Drones dramatically reduce the costs and complexities of wind turbine inspections. An average inspection takes less than 30 minutes, meaning less operational downtime. By providing real-time data on turbine conditions, drones optimize maintenance schedules and minimize unnecessary servicing, resulting in further cost savings.
Below are our best drone recommendations for wind turbine inspections.
Altura Zenith by Aerialtronics is a high-endurance drone with an IPX5 rating for water resistance. Eight motors and redundant Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) sensors provide extra protection for harsh conditions like offshore wind farms.
By design, Altura Zenith ATX8 is compatible with 35+ sensors and payloads, securely hoisted in an Altura Cardan — a durable gimbal adaptor. These include OEM-supplied and third-party tools, from HD cameras to thermal sensors and VOC monitors. The drone sustains a max payload of 3 kg.
Aerialtronics offers Pensar, a mountable dual-spectrum computer vision platform for inspections. It combines a built-in Sony 30X zoom camera and FLIR Boson camera to capture heat signatures and visual defects like dents, cracks, and corrosion on blades and pylons. Video and thermal screens are synched with an onboard AI-powered sensor fusion unit. The streamed video can be instantly uploaded to the cloud, too.
Voliro created a specialized drone-mounted lightning protection system (LPS) test probe, designed for full circuit resistance measurements. Using the Voliro T drone, pilots establish an electrical connection with the lightning receptors to test system components for electrical resistance. The probe complies with EN 62305-3, can apply a 30 N force, and supports a maximum voltage of 24 V.
With our LPS kit, inspections require one rotor stop and take 20-30 minutes on average. Our customers inspect 8 to 18 turbines per day — a much greater efficiency compared to conventional methods.
In addition, Voliro drones can be used for other types of inspections, including ultrasonic and pulsed eddy current tests for defects or discontinuities with interchangeable probes.
DJI Matrice 30 is a sturdy enterprise drone, proven to work well even in adverse weather and below sub-zero temperatures, thanks to IP55 protection. So, it’s a good option to consider for offshore wind farm inspections.
The built-in redundancy systems, including a dual inertial measurement unit, dual barometer, RTK Antennas + GNSS Module, and dual battery power supply, among other “doubles”, add a further layer of reliability. Six pairs of vision sensors and six infrared ToF sensors also lend Matrice 30 a comfortable obstacle-sensing range of 0.5-38 meters in every direction.
Otherwise, you have the traditionally great camera system featuring a 48M Zoom and a 12M wide-angle camera for collecting asset condition data.
Inspecting cell towers is a complex and demanding task that requires a lot of resources and entails significant risk to personnel. Inspectors must frequently check tower structure, electrical and lighting systems, antennas, anchors, and transmission lines for signs of damage, degradation, and wear.
By minimizing the need for specialized equipment and labor, drones make cell tower inspection more cost-effective and comprehensive. You can detect overheating equipment with thermal signatures, find tiny cracks with HD snaps, and collect spatial data for 3D asset reconstruction.
Below are our top rec drones for cell tower and telecom asset inspection.
Skydio X10 is one of the best commercial drones in terms of footage quality. You get not one, not two, but three cameras: Sony 1/1.7″ 64MP narrow, Sony IMX989 1″ 50.3MP wide, and Teledyne Flir Boson+ thermal camera.
The trifecta gives Skydio enviable shooting capabilities in sharpness, dynamic range, and signal-to-noise ratio. Skydio X10 can capture 0.1 mm cracks on photos and has thermal sensitivity down to under 30 mK. That’s handy for early detection of structural damage or electrical faults in telecom assets.
Skydio 3D scan app facilitates data collection through autonomous 2D or 3D scan flight modes. The app auto-builds flight routes of complex surfaces using contour-hugging motion planning. Specialized Tour Scanning mode is already included. You can generate models in the app or export data to platforms like Pix4D, DroneDeploy, or ESRI SiteScan.
An 8419 mAh Lithium Ion Polymer battery supports up to 40 minutes of flight time, subject to operating conditions. An in-built obstacle avoidance system, powered by AI, ensures high flight stability, even close to antennas. Skydio X10 glides seamlessly even in high EMI environments, thanks to a predictive AI algorithm trained on nearly a decade of flying hours.
DJI Mavic 3 Enterprise Series is truly an all-purpose workhorse. Apart from land surveying missions, its 3E model is a cost-effective, portable option for telecom asset inspection. Unlike the 3T model, the 3E only includes a wide-angle 20 MP camera, but it’s more than enough to capture sharp images, even when cruising at high speeds.
The Smart Oblique Capture feature also comes in handy as it automatically rotates the gimbal in three directions — front, middle, and back — allowing data capture for 3D modeling. A flight time of 30 to 45 minutes, subject to weather conditions, allows you to scan several cell towers during one mission,
On the maneuverability side, the Mavic 3E boasts 360-degree obstacle avoidance. With a dual vision and infrared setup, Mavic 3E can detect obstacles at 0.5-20 m range when moving forward, 0.5-25 m for backward motions, and 0.3m-25 m in all other directions. You can also customize proximity alerts and braking distances to better suit the mission.
ANAFI Ai is one of the best enterprise drones for autonomous photogrammetry. A 48 MP 1/2” CMOS sensor with a Quad Bayer color filter pattern provides sharpness for identifying minuscule details. ANAFI Ai captures detailed images with a wide dynamic range, delivering 55% more detail than standard 2D/3D reconstructions.
FreeFlight 7 pilot app includes three photogrammetry flight modes: Grid, double-grid, and circular missions. ANAFI Ai sensors (IMU, GNSS & ToF) determine the optimal flight parameters for 3D reconstruction. The system is also pre-trained to recognize certain types of assets. For example, cell tower features and extract their dimensions (height, down-tilt, azimuth, etc.).
The ANAFI Ai flight controller offers an intuitive and user-friendly piloting experience, requiring no prior training. Sensor fusion algorithms combine data from all sensors to estimate the drone’s attitude, altitude, position, and velocity, allowing for automated flight modes. The onboard omnidirectional sensing system, based on stereoscopic vision, also orients the drone’s movement and helps avoid obstacles.
| Model | Avg. flight time | Mobility | Autonomy | Payloads | Pilot training | Top use cases |
| Voliro T | 10-15 min | 360-degree (in any direction) | AI-powered interaction assistant for contact-based work | Ultrasonic transducer EMAT Dry Film Thickness gauge LPS tester Pulsed eddy current wall thickness measurement tool | ✅ Included in the subscription | Non-destructive testing of industrial assets Storage tank inspection LPS testing at wind farms Wall thickness and protective coating measurements |
| WingtraOne | 59 min | In six directions | Automated launch, landing, and mission plan following with the ability to overtake controls. | Sony RGB Cameras RGB Oblique Sony ɑ6100 LIDAR sensor MicaSense mulispector sensor | ✅ Available online and on-site | Autonomous photogrammetry Land surveying 3D asset modeling Orthophotography |
| Altura Zenith ATX8 | 40 min | In six directions | Design and pre-program automated flight paths via Altura GCS app | Pensar computer vision system Sony Alpha camera range VOC monitors Custom payloads | ❌ None available | Wind farm inspection Surveillance operations Accident mapping Volumetric measurements |
| Skydio X10 | 40 min | In six directions | 15 software-enabled autonomy features | ❌ None available | ✅ Online training academy | Cell tower inspections Distribution network inspections Site security Construction site monitoring |
If you’re looking for a versatile inspection drone, Voliro is the best choice. One omnidirectional drone can cover a variety of use cases and asset types: from visual external inspections of flare chimneys to crack detection in chemical storage tanks using ultrasound.
With a subscription model, you can seamlessly switch between payloads, get access to the latest product updates, and avoid the risks of obsolete, expensive tech. Redefine your inspection process with Voliro.
