1.
Best Multi-Purpose Asset Inspection Drones
1.1.
Voliro
1.2.
Skydio X10
1.3.
Evo II 640T Enterprise
2.
Best Indoor Drones for Industrial Inspections
2.1.
Scout 137
2.2.
Elios 3
2.3.
Dronut X1 Pro
3.
Best Tethered Drones for Asset Inspection
3.1.
Khronos
3.2.
WATT 300
3.3.
Bonus: UAV tethering system
4.
Innovate Industrial Inspections with Drones
Drones are changing the way industrial inspections get done. Structural assessments and non-destructive tests that previously required several people and obstructive scaffolding are now done with one pilot in a day.
Inspection drones are advanced robotic systems that enable contact-based structural thickness measurements, corrosion under insulation inspections, thermal scanning, and radiography measurements.
Whether you’re looking for an all-purpose asset inspection drone or a specialized drone for inspecting confined spaces, some really great options are on the market today.
Purpose-built inspection drones provide new vantage points for assessments: bird-eye site snapshots, close-up surface zoom, and even contact-based interactions. Apart from featuring HD, high-resolution inspection cameras, the best industrial inspection drones offer thermal, ultrasonic, and pulsed eddy current testing tools to the boot.
Voliro was designed for non-destructive testing (NDT) at heights. The combination of thrust vectoring, 6DoF control, and onboard navigation sensors allows Voliro T to approach industrial assets from any direction and apply stable force. Dynamic thrust provides better control over the drone’s movement and altitude, making it more stable even in turbulent conditions. Semi-autonomous flight mode also provides backup for the pilot during proximity structural inspections, even in GPS-denied environments.
Voliro offers several interchangeable payloads for ultrasonic testing. An ultrasonic transducer with Echo-to-Echo and Pulsed Echo modes provides thickness measurements at 4-150 mm. The frequency and diameter range are adjustable. An equivalent high-temperature UT payload operates on hot surfaces up to 260 C (500 F). It allows inspections of fire stacks and chimneys without downtime. An electromagnetic acoustic transducer (EMAT) doesn’t require direct contact with the surface to inspect corroded, rough, and dirty surfaces.
A dry film thickness (DFT) gauge inspects protective coatings with two modes – magnetic induction and eddy current – at a range of 0 to 1500 um / 700 um respectively. A pulsed eddy current (PEC) payload for thickness measurements of aluminum jackets and low-carbon steel assets will be available in Q4 2024. A specialized needle probe is also available for testing lighting protection systems. The open payload architecture allows custom payloads to be added.
By design, Voliro T is a versatile solution, adaptable to various asset management scenarios, including storage tank inspections, fire chimney thickness measurements, cement kiln inspections, and LPS testing on wind turbines.
Key Features
Skydio X10 is compact but capable. It can fly in 40 seconds and stay in the air for up to 40 minutes (thanks to an 8419 mAh lithium-ion polymer battery), covering large industrial sites and scanning assets from every vantage point.
With a triple sensor array, featuring a narrow, telephoto, and radiometric thermal camera, you can capture HD footage even in low light conditions, thanks to extended HDR capabilities. One of the payload sensors includes a flashlight with 22 lux. The onboard FLIR Boson+ sensor has a thermal sensitivity down to 30 mK and produces images in 640 x 512 px resolution, making it the most powerful on the market.
Another advantage of using the Skydio X10 for asset drone inspection is its semi- and fully autonomous modes for photogrammetry missions. Using the available 3D modeling up, you can scan assets autonomously and easily export data for supported photogrammetry software. An on-screen workflow assistant helps set up the optimal flight path for 2D/3D scanning and the drone autonomously captures the scene. You can also assess all collected data in the field to verify its competence.
Key Features
Autel Robotics had several successful enterprise releases. The latest Evo II 640T Enterprise V3 has incremental upgrades: Better imaging, an extended transmission range of 15 km (9.3 miles), and new accessories. Extended thermal vents prolong flight time to 42 minutes, while carbon fiber arms and longer propellers provide flight stability.
The new Sony 1-inch CMOS image sensor offers 144%~233% more surface area coverage than its predecessor and supports up to 6K video resolution with higher sharpness due to increased frame rates. RYYB technology provides 40% higher light sensitivity. Although, the new thermal camera is a bigger attractor with a 13mm focal length lens, 16x digital zoom, and various temperature measurement modes. It also features new people and object detection modes with auto-recognition, useful for security patrolling.
With native integration with Pix4D, DroneDeploy, and SkyeBrowse, mission planning is easy. A powerful navigation sensor array will keep the drone far away from obstacles, even with spotty connectivity.
Key Features
Indoor drone inspection of facilities reduces the risks of sending personnel down narrow tunnels, confined spaces, and other hazardous areas. Equipped with top collision-avoidance systems, indoor drones can safely approach assets from different angles, collect measurements (thickness, temperature, radiation, emissions), and stream real-time 3D data for maps and asset models.
Encased in a reinforced crash-proof cage, Scout 137 is a dependable drone for industrial inspections lacking a foolproof flight plan. The onboard 3D LiDAR array generates real-time maps with sub-centimeter accuracy, even in GPS-compromised environments. The drone autonomously corrects pilot inputs and smoothers environmental impacts, enhancing stability and dexterity to navigate irregular surfaces and safely sweep through narrow passageways at the optimal distance. A 40m tether and ground system are available for stationary operations.
Sensors provide automatic location tagging to all collected inspection data from the drone’s 4K video camera, mounted on a 2-axis stabilized gimbal with a pitch of 90-degree pitch. A 10,000-lumen light array helps capture the tiniest details in poor lighting.
Two optional payloads are available. An IEC 60079-29-1:2016 gas sensor can detect Class 1 to Class 6 gases and capture temperature readings. This makes Scout 137 ideal for underground pipeline inspection. The newer ultrasonic thickness measurements (UTM) payload also makes the drone suitable for different NDTs.
All inspection data is saved on the device and can be uploaded to the proprietary data management system or integrated with another analytics system using the available API.
Key Features
Elios 3 by Flyability was among the first in the confined inspection market and remains a leader. The third-generation drone boasts SLAM-based stabilization and advanced computer vision algorithms for dynamic environment mapping. Like Scout 137, Elios 3 uses sensor and LiDAR data to provide exceptional situational awareness to pilots.
Elios 3 has the largest selection of payloads among indoor industrial inspection drones. Its embedded dual 4K and thermal camera provides unobstructed 180-degree visibility in low light and high-dust conditions, thanks to an oblique and dust-proof lighting system.
Mountable payloads include LIDAR Surveyor, RAD Payload, and the newly released ultrasonic thickness measurement (UTM) payload. LIDAR Surveyor captures photogrammetry data with 6 to 12 mm precision. RAD Payload takes radiation measurements. UTM payload collects steel thickness measurements from inside storage tanks, between pipe ranks, and other remote locations. Mounted on a specialized arm with a laser pointer, the payload allows precise manipulations. A couplant dispenser has been added for surface prep.
Flyability also updated its cloud inspection platform, adding an Asset Management suite for building digital twins using drone-collected data. Users can organize all data by asset or inspection type, rather than flight, and auto-merge multiple streams to build 3D models.
Key Features
Designed for indoor operations, the compact Dronut X1 Pro by Cleo Robotics is made out of carbon fiber composite material and has propellers hidden behind its chassis. The safe-to-touch design allows it to safely bounce off objects and people without damage.
Collisions are unlikely because Dronut X1 has top-notch autonomous navigation sensors based on the Qualcomm Snapdragon platform. A 3D LiDAR, paired with three cameras — main with 4K range, first-person-operations, and a secondary HD one — gives Dronut high situation awareness, even in GPS-denied environments. Four front-mounted LED lights improve video feeds in low-light conditions.
Despite its 420 g (15 oz) weight, the indoor asset inspection drone can pick up to 3 kg and navigate with high stability, thanks to robust thrust vectoring technology. It also eases the learning curve for new pilots, with little training required to safely fly Dronut.
Key Features
Tethered drones are connected to a ground power source through a cable, enabling extended flight time of up to a day. The tether also ensures ultra-stable, low-latency data transmission with minimal interference.
Long flight time and precise positioning make tethered drones ideal for inspecting large assets or monitoring production facilities. For example, perform visual inspections of bridge joints or examine high-rise buildings for structural integrity.
Similar to free-flying asset inspection drones, the best tethered models are packed to the brim with sensing technology for data collection and can lift heavier payloads for close-to-surface work. The downside of tethers, however, is restricted range and mobility within the allowed radius.
Available out of the box (quite literally), Khronos from Elistair can be ready to fly within two minutes, a major advantage over other tethered drones. The compact base station (102 x 90 x 57 cm) is compatible with any power source of 110 – 220 VA. The 70 m (230 feet) micro-wire tether provides a stable power supply and high-speed data transfer.
The two interchangeable camera payloads, Raptor and Dragon Eye, have dual day-night modes, combining infrared and regular feeds. Raptor has an X80 EO zoom and embedded AI algorithms for object recognition, categorization, and tracking, accessible through Elistair’s T-planner 2 software. The open software platform allows for additional capabilities for flight planning and mission control.
Khronos was designed for security and surveillance missions, but its visual capabilities make it suitable for industrial inspection.
Key Features
Drone Aviation Corp proved their mettle by developing tethered systems and lighter-than-air aerostats for the US government, and later transitioning to drone building. Their hardware — cable system and rugged drones — is extra reliable.
WATT 300 tri-copter features redundant rotors and an onboard battery backup for safe landing in case of power issues. The broadcast-quality HD camera provides a 360-degree view, with instant data transfer via the tether. It can also stream data to mobile devices or laptops wirelessly. The WATT 300 can carry up to 10 lbs (4.5kg) to heights of 200 ft (60 m), making it suitable for inspecting telecom towers, wind turbines, industrial chimneys, and other tall structures.
The FUSE tether system uses a military sUAS power system. It connects to a 110V shore power source, a DAC automobile adapter, or a Honda 2000i genset. Plus, it’s compatible with many other popular commercial inspection drones.
Key features
If you need a standalone UAV tethering system, Lifeline and Valofly have good offers.
Lifeline’s 8-lithium battery system is compatible with DJI models like the Phantom 4 Series and Mavic 3 Enterprise (a great wind turbine inspection drone by the way). The company can also customize the power system design for a specific drone. The definite advantage of Lifeline is its affordable price. The downside: the ground station only adds 3-4 hours of flight time.
German Valofly caters more to those running a drone asset inspection program. The company offers three drone tether systems. The compact 1400 W microTether works great with lighter industrial inspection drones like DJI Mavic and Grabbit G7 by Vectorbirds.
Avior has a 60 to 100-meter tether with 1200-1400 W and data transmission speed up to 200 Mbit. The largest ground station Antares can supply 2100-2400 W over an 80 to 100-meter tether with the same networking speed. Both models require a 230 V~ / 12 A power source.
Asset drone inspection brings extra operational-, cost-, and labor-efficiencies. With Voliro technology, storage tank inspections take just 75 minutes on average, and lighting protection system testing on wind farms is only 20-30 minutes. By eliminating the need for lifting equipment and scaffolding, industrial inspection drones also save asset owners over six figures in operating expenses, while inspection organizations benefit from low upfront investment costs in technology and staff training.
