Drones for Inspection

Drones are used to perform inspection and lightinteraction tasks in areas that are difficult,
dangerous, or inefficient for personnel to access. In addition to visual inspection, modern
drone platforms can conduct limited contactbased measurements and minor surface
interaction, enabling tasks such as light cleaning or localized touching of components.

Typical applications include visual screening, targeted UT spot measurements, and light
cleaning or preparation tasks. Within industrial environments, drones help reduce the need
for working at height, scaffolding, rope access, and extended shutdowns.
Dronebased inspections are primarily suited for observation, screening, and documentation,
rather than detailed defect sizing or certificationlevel inspection.

Drones for Inspection – Pro’s & Con’s

Pro’s – What Drones Can Do
✔️ Visual inspection (VT, thermal, LiDAR)
✔️ Rapid screening prior to detailed NDT
✔️ Targeted UT thickness spot measurements
✔️ Light surface cleaning/preparation (dust, loose debris, salt, bird droppings)
✔️ Reduce scaffolding, rope access and shutdown time
✔️ Improve safety by avoiding hazardous access
✔️ Fast deployment and high inspection coverage

Con’s – What Drones Cannot Do
❌ Not suitable for fullscope UT scanning
❌ Limited defect sizing / no certificationgrade NDT
❌ Limited cleaning force and coverage
❌ Dependent on surface condition and stability
❌ Affected by wind, weather and lighting
❌ Payload and sensor capability are limited
❌Subject to regulatory and airspace restrictions

The Flyability Elios 3 is a collision-tolerant indoor inspection drone designed for visual inspection in confined, hazardous and hard-to-access environments. The drone is equipped with a protective cage and advanced […]