A caged inspection drone offering enhanced inspection capabilities is said to reduce costs for power stations by reducing the need for human inspection services.

Developed to be more than just a robust drone, the Elios 3 from Steinmüller Africa is said to be the first indoor mapping and inspection drone capable of transforming asset data into digital insights.

“The drone is designed for inspections in dangerous, cluttered, and confined spaces. It’s a safer, more accurate way to gather information in hazardous areas,” says Steinmüller Africa Group QC/NDT manager Carel van Aswegen.

“Using this drone allows us to cut downtime for inspections — sometimes by as much as 50% — not only through the accurate data it provides but also thanks to its accessibility,” says Van Aswegen. “We can inspect damage in boilers once they cool down to around 50 °C, without waiting for permits required for human entry or installing scaffolding and sky climbers. The drone also identifies damage locations with greater accuracy.”

The drone’s carbon fibre protective cage, measuring 18.9" in width and 13.8" in height, provides 360° collision tolerance, allowing it to navigate tight, complex environments. Its advanced stabilisation system is designed to ensure smooth, stable flight even in turbulent conditions – crucial for capturing high-quality visual and thermal data.

Equipped with a 4K camera, flight control sensors, inertial measurement unit, magnetometer, barometer, thermal imaging sensor, three computer vision cameras, time-of-flight distance sensor, and light detection and ranging, or LiDAR, technology, the unit can deliver high-resolution imagery and enables precise 3D mapping, even underground. This allows for the creation of accurate digital twins of inspected assets, with intuitive reporting on a 3D model and real-time situational awareness built into the piloting app.

The drone also features advanced flight path detection, allowing it to autonomously navigate complex, global positioning system-denied environments. Real-time data transmission enables inspectors to monitor live feeds and make quick, informed decisions, while its modular payload capabilities offer additional flexibility.

 “The drone can be used almost anywhere it’s unsafe, impractical, or financially unviable for a person to go,” adds Van Aswegen. This includes coal storage tank facilities, grain silos, underground mines, manufacturing plants, warehouses, boilers, tunnels, cell phone towers, railway transport tankers, and bridges.