UST delves into five standout case studies featured on Unmanned Systems Technology in 2024. These projects underscore how drones, unmanned surface vessels, and advanced robotics are driving efficiency, precision, and safety in some of the most demanding operational environments.
2024 has been a landmark year for the application of unmanned systems in solving complex, real-world challenges. From high-altitude industrial inspections to groundbreaking underwater surveys and critical data collection for marine ecosystems, these case studies illustrate the power of innovation in advancing safety, precision, and sustainability.
Voliro Drones Enhance High-Altitude Industrial Inspections
Bilfinger’s Voliro T drone team was deployed at a client’s facility in Missouri to perform an inspection of a 400-foot stack. Bilfinger’s client conducts yearly Ultrasonic Testing (UT) inspections of their stacks as part of their asset integrity checks.
UT is a non-destructive testing method that employs high-frequency sound waves to evaluate material properties and take precise measurements. UT is particularly suited for inspecting large industrial structures such as flare stacks, wind turbines, storage tanks, or pipes.
The Bilfinger team employed the Voliro T drone, equipped with a UT payload specifically designed for high-altitude inspections of stacks and chimneys.
Enhancing Bathymetric Surveys with USVs & Multibeam Echosounders
SatLab Geosolutions took part in an innovative project to map the underwater terrain of an important waterway near a cargo terminal, leveraging its HydroBoat 1500 USV integrated with the HydroBeam M4 multibeam echosounder.
SatLab conducted an underwater survey to map the seabed of a key waterway, delivering topography data to ensure safety for large cargo vessels.
Efficient Camera Integration for Autonomous Robots
Ross Robotics successfully integrated BotBlox networking hardware to enhance the functionality of its autonomous, modular robots, streamlining power and data transfer for high-performance cameras.
Ross Robotics designs modular, autonomous ground robots for renewable energy applications, particularly for HVDC converter halls. This case study explores how BotBlox hardware, specifically the PoEBlox and GigaBlox Nano, helped Ross Robotics solve critical networking challenges in their camera integration process.
Ranger Pro Drone Enhances Surveying for U.S. Construction Firm
WISPR Systems explores the impact of the Ranger Pro drone on Dan Williams Company, a highway construction firm based in Texas. The conversation highlights how this technology is transforming their operations and offering a competitive advantage.
Raul Garcia, head of the surveying department, highlights the Ranger Pro’s substantial impact on efficiency. Traditionally, surveying a mile-long road involved a crew of 2-3 people and took 2-3 days, followed by an additional 2-3 days for data processing and design. With the Ranger Pro, this entire process has been reduced to just two days.
Autonomous Imaging Drives Critical Data Collection in the Labrador Sea
SubC Imaging has established a longstanding collaboration with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), with both organizations sharing key objectives centered on protecting marine environments and promoting economic development in the marine and fisheries industries.
For years, SubC Imaging’s subsea cameras and equipment have played a vital role in providing reliable data to support the health and sustainability of aquatic ecosystems.
SubC’s autonomous subsea camera system contributed to DFO’s biophysical and ecological assessment of the Labrador Sea Frontier Area (LSFA). Data from the LSFA indicates that it serves as a habitat year-round for migratory marine mammals and fish.
