Drones: Moving from Reactive to Predictive Maintenance

The challenge in maintaining large-scale physical infrastructure is in minimising downtime and spotting problems early to avoid damage.??

Traditional maintenance processes are important for safety but are often reactive, expensive, and time-consuming. Inspections can be difficult or hazardous, putting technicians at risk.?

High-resolution camera-equipped drones are transforming the maintenance industry by making routine inspections more accessible and efficient. How? High res, high speed and low cost

High Speed, Low Cost: A New Era in Maintenance?

Lightweight, remote-controlled drones offer a new approach to predictive maintenance. Equipped with cameras, these drones provide visual data, allowing technicians to quickly and safely assess large, hard-to-reach structures like bridges, tall buildings and wind farms enabling technicians to address issues before they escalate.?

Manual inspections, which are prone to human error and require many resources like technicians, cherry pickers, and scaffolding, are becoming outdated. Drone imagery is moving maintenance from reactive to predictive, reducing costs and improving safety.?

For example, Pedernales Electric Cooperative used drones for power-line inspections, shortening inspection time per pole from 15 minutes to 10 seconds, improving efficiency by 88%, cutting costs by 80%, and reducing CO2 emissions.?

Since then, drone camera quality has greatly improved, as shown by HHLA Sky’s crane safety inspections. Cranes are so large that they distort radio signals, so images must be taken from at least 15 meters away.??

High-resolution cameras are crucial for collecting accurate data. By using Sony cameras, the maintenance team could cover larger areas with fewer images, detect tiny scratches, and complete inspections with fewer shots. This sets a new standard for time efficiency and cost-effectiveness in maintenance.?

Our ILX-LR1 camera is designed for drone applications and comes with a Camera Remote SDK compatible with Linux, Windows, and macOS, providing a comprehensive software library and demo code for control.?

Beyond the Human Eye: The Power of Drone Data?

Technicians can only address what they can see. Routine maintenance checks can miss small issues like leaks or installation faults, which can cause serious damage.??

Drone cameras provide a wide range of high-quality data and can do more than just magnify images. They can merge images to create detailed 3D models of structures and assets using a process called aerial photogrammetry.?

Aerial photogrammetry stitches together many images taken by a drone, covering all sides of the target object. This data allows technicians to create a 3D replica of the structure, providing insights beyond what manual maintenance can offer. This leads to precise defect detection and effective progress monitoring.?

Additionally, drone imagery can be combined with other technologies, like thermal imaging sensors, to detect temperature anomalies and issues such as condensation, dampness, and water ingress. AI integration further enhances these capabilities.

The Synergy of Drones, AI, and ML

Let's explore how drones can increase efficiency even more.?

AI and machine learning (ML) are changing drone-captured imagery. With AI, drones can identify tiny details like cracks and wear and tear. They can also adjust navigation paths to avoid collisions, especially in confined spaces.??

How does this work? AI uses data from images, flight logs, and 3D models to understand its surroundings.??

Through ML, AI learns to spot patterns and anomalies, continually improving its ability to recognise and interpret data. This helps in proactive maintenance by making data-driven decisions, reducing unnoticed faults and increasing drone reliability.?

AI/ML-enhanced drones not only detect issues early but are also scalable. They can process large amounts of data from multiple drones and sites, allowing technicians to complete many inspections quickly. This saves time, reduces labour costs, and minimises disruption. Drones can be used for various projects, from small areas to large landscapes.?

The Move to Predictive Maintenance?

The move from reactive to predictive maintenance is a significant change, leading to more proactive and reliable strategies. Drone technology is advancing, with cameras like the ILX-LR1 camera that offers excellent imaging capabilities and custom applications for specialised tasks.?

With AI, drone-based image capture is becoming even more promising. This combination enhances precision and efficiency, paving the way for a smarter, safer, and more cost-effective future in maintenance.?

Ready to move forward?

Our advanced aerial imaging solutions provide industries with powerful tools to capture and analyse data from above. With state-of-the-art drone cameras, we redefine data insights for agriculture, real estate, construction, and environmental monitoring. Connect with an expert now?

Article written by Christie Patel, Pan European Marketing Lead.