Drone recommendations for Confined space inspections.

[Range Aerial]

I'm a newbie at this, but I've been asked by my employer if it would be possible for me to do an inspection in a confined space.
Question is what would be the best drone for this application?
I work for a large mining company, the inspection would be the underside of their crushers. A room about 40x40 20 ft high. 3 stories underground, lined with metal wear plates so gps signal is unavailable. It's a dark and dusty environment. I'd have to be able to see straight up to see the crusher.
What drone setup would you use in this situation?

 

[LivinLarge]

I'm a newbie at this, but I've been asked by my employer if it would be possible for me to do an inspection in a confined space.
Question is what would be the best drone for this application?
I work for a large mining company, the inspection would be the underside of their crushers. A room about 40x40 20 ft high. 3 stories underground, lined with metal wear plates so gps signal is unavailable. It's a dark and dusty environment. I'd have to be able to see straight up to see the crusher.
What drone setup would you use in this situation?

Skydio 2
It does not have a compass so metal is not a problem. It can fly without GPS. it has 360 degree obstacle avoidance. The camera can look up.

 

[Meta4]

Question is what would be the best drone for this application?
I work for a large mining company, the inspection would be the underside of their crushers. A room about 40x40 20 ft high. 3 stories underground, lined with metal wear plates so gps signal is unavailable. It's a dark and dusty environment. I'd have to be able to see straight up to see the crusher.

You'd be needing a specialised industrial drone to work in that environment.
It's going to be a lot more expensive than a consumer drone.
Depending on how often the company wnats to use it, it might be more cost-effective to hire someone that does this professionally.
Here's an inspection drone that might be suitable:

Elios - Inspect & Explore Indoor and Confined Spaces — Flyability

Discover the first collision-tolerant drone, designed for the inspection and exploration of the most inaccessible places. Allowing for the first time to fly in complex, cluttered or indoor spaces. Learn more!

www.flyability.com

 

[Range Aerial]

You'd be needing a specialised industrial drone to work in that environment.
It's going to be a lot more expensive than a consumer drone.
Depending on how often the company wnats to use it, it might be more cost-effective to hire someone that does this professionally.
Here's an inspection drone that might be suitable:

Elios - Inspect & Explore Indoor and Confined Spaces — Flyability

Discover the first collision-tolerant drone, designed for the inspection and exploration of the most inaccessible places. Allowing for the first time to fly in complex, cluttered or indoor spaces. Learn more!

www.flyability.com

Thanks for the reply, I did look into the elios 2. I got a quote to purchase one. Are you sitting down... $48,000!!!

 

[Meta4]

I got a quote to purchase one. Are you sitting down... $48,000!!!

That's why I suggested hiring an operator as an option.

 

[Range Aerial]

Skydio 2
It does not have a compass so metal is not a problem. It can fly without GPS. it has 360 degree obstacle avoidance. The camera can look up.

Thanks, I'll definitely look into the skydio 2!

 

[brettbrandon]

Thanks, I'll definitely look into the skydio 2!

If I remember right, the Skydio 2 can only look up at a 45 degree angle. The Parrot Anafi can aim its camera straight up.

EDIT: It even has zoom...

 

[MAvic_South_Oz]

Thanks, I'll definitely look into the skydio 2!

Won’t work as good as it does outdoors, you specified dark environment, the cameras will be next to useless.
Same with Parrot drones.

 

[brettbrandon]

You could always mount a led light on the drone aimed up...

 

[LivinLarge]

If I remember right, the Skydio 2 can only look up at a 45 degree angle. The Parrot Anafi can aim its camera straight up.

EDIT: It even has zoom...

I believe there is an enterprise model of the Skydio which can look straight up. The Anafi would likely have problems with the metal and of course has no obstacle avoidance.
You would need to provide enough light for any drone to work. You could not mount it on the Skydio though. It would have to be stationary.

 

[anotherlab]

Thanks for the reply, I did look into the elios 2. I got a quote to purchase one. Are you sitting down... $48,000!!!

It may seem high, but you have to consider the factors that went into the price

• It's not a mass market product, it doesn't have the economies of scale that bring prices down
• It's a relatively hardened device. You could fly it into a smoke filled building and use the thermal imaging camera to locate an injured person.
• It will bounce off obstructions.
• It uses DJI's Lightbridge technology, that probably was not a cheap license.

 

[BigAl07]

It's possible you could pull this off with a Mavic Mini. We've seen some very impressive INDOOR test for Law Enforcement with this particular aircraft even in a very metal heavy environment. You'll need to add some LED lights to it to help enhance the stability (it uses visual sensors to maintain position when GPS is not possible).

Here's one test that was done inside a hospital and even down into their basement. It's pretty impressive what a sub $500 system is doing right now:

If this is all done INDOORS you won't need to worry about FAA regulations but if any portion is outside you'll need to follow FAA rules and have Part 107. From your initial post it sounds like it would be potentially OUTSIDE unless the crushers are indoors. I honestly don't know LOL.

 

[Range Aerial]

It may seem high, but you have to consider the factors that went into the price

• It's not a mass market product, it doesn't have the economies of scale that bring prices down
• It's a relatively hardened device. You could fly it into a smoke filled building and use the thermal imaging camera to locate an injured person.
• It will bounce off obstructions.
• It uses DJI's Lightbridge technology, that probably was not a cheap license.

Thanks for the reply, and I understand for specialty applications that may be a viable drone to purchase. However I'll be flying in a big open room, I think there must be a more affordable option.

 

[Range Aerial]

It's possible you could pull this off with a Mavic Mini. We've seen some very impressive INDOOR test for Law Enforcement with this particular aircraft even in a very metal heavy environment. You'll need to add some LED lights to it to help enhance the stability (it uses visual sensors to maintain position when GPS is not possible).

Here's one test that was done inside a hospital and even down into their basement. It's pretty impressive what a sub $500 system is doing right now:

If this is all done INDOORS you won't need to worry about FAA regulations but if any portion is outside you'll need to follow FAA rules and have Part 107. From your initial post it sounds like it would be potentially OUTSIDE unless the crushers are indoors. I honestly don't know LOL.

Yes they are indoors, I've got my 107 anyway. Thanks for the advice.

 

[Range Aerial]

Yes they are indoors, I've got my 107 anyway. Thanks for the advice.

I don't see that the mini is able to see straight up.

 

[BigAl07]

I don't see that the mini is able to see straight up.

Oh I missed that portion of the requirement. You're going to have to go with some other option to get upwards facing camera. Sorry about missing that part of the requirement.

 

[Geofff]

Would mounting a gopro on top of a mavic pro with lens facing up do the business?

 

[Meta4]

the inspection would be the underside of their crushers. A room about 40x40 20 ft high. 3 stories underground, lined with metal wear plates so gps signal is unavailable. It's a dark and dusty environment. I'd have to be able to see straight up to see the crusher.
What drone setup would you use in this situation?

Here's another suitable machine. Price unknown

Interactive Aerial | Confined Space Drone | Internal Inspections

interactiveaerial.com

 

[Range Aerial]

Here's another suitable machine. Price unknown

Interactive Aerial | Confined Space Drone | Internal Inspections

interactiveaerial.com

Thanks, I emailed the company, I'll see what the price is. ?

 

[Bret Column]

I'm a newbie at this, but I've been asked by my employer if it would be possible for me to do an inspection in a confined space.
Question is what would be the best drone for this application?
I work for a large mining company, the inspection would be the underside of their crushers. A room about 40x40 20 ft high. 3 stories underground, lined with metal wear plates so gps signal is unavailable. It's a dark and dusty environment. I'd have to be able to see straight up to see the crusher.
What drone setup would you use in this situation?

It is possible try the DJI Mavic 2 Enterprise. If you are planning to use multiple drones then you would require a software solution like FlytNow. The solution will allow you to control multiple drones from a unified dashboard.