Energy Drone & Robotics Brief | June 21, 2024

Robots & Data Science Power Up Plant Maintenance

Ready to see the future of power plant maintenance? Spoiler alert: it involves robots, data science, and a whole lot of efficiency!

Read our overview of an episode of the Energy Evolution Podcast with Gecko Robotics and Rho Impact. These pioneers are tackling maintenance challenges with cutting-edge technology, reducing emissions, and paving the way for a more sustainable future. Think reduced emissions, enhanced sustainability, and a tech-savvy approach that's transforming the game.

Discover how:

• Gecko Robotics' robots are taking on dangerous inspections, ensuring safety, and enhancing precision.
• Rho Impact's data-driven strategies are optimizing maintenance schedules and boosting operational efficiency.
• Collaborative efforts between these companies are making power plants greener and more reliable than ever before.

Read the full story and access the podcast episode

Robots on the Loose: AI's Wild New Frontier

Tired of hearing about robots stuck in the lab? Ready for some real action? Dive into our latest article and discover how AI and robotics are conquering the chaos of uncharted territories!

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From Field AI’s intrepid dune buggies exploring construction sites to Buzz Solutions’ grid-protecting drones, and Shearwater Aerospace’s wind-riding marvels, we’re talking about robots that thrive where maps and GPS dare not go.

Field AI, powered by ex-NASA and DARPA geniuses, is breaking barriers with robots that autonomously navigate unpredictable environments without prior models or human intervention. Imagine a robot exploring a construction site, adapting to changes in real-time, and operating without supervision. Sounds futuristic, right? It’s happening now!

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Meanwhile, Buzz Solutions is revolutionizing grid infrastructure with AI-powered inspections that prevent wildfires and power outages. Their drones capture vast amounts of data, while AI analyzes it to pinpoint maintenance needs. Utilities like New York Power Authority and Southern California Edison are already benefiting from this tech.

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And then there’s Shearwater Aerospace. Inspired by the incredible endurance of shearwater birds, they’ve developed Smart Flight? technology that optimizes drone operations, leveraging wind power and real-time weather data. These drones fly longer, faster, and smarter, whether for disaster response or commercial deliveries.

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Curious? Click here to read how these tech trailblazers are transforming our world, one unstructured environment at a time.

Digital Twins vs. Simulations: The Industrial Tag-team

Energy and industrial enterprises are elevating industrial operations using digital twins and simulations—two cutting-edge technologies driving innovation and efficiency in Industry 4.0.

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What’s the difference between digital twins and simulations? And how do they work together to help enterprises enhance efficiency, predict maintenance needs, and optimize operations?

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Digital twins provide a dynamic, real-time digital counterpart of physical assets. Imagine having a constant stream of data about your machinery’s performance, health, and efficiency. This real-time insight enables predictive maintenance, reduces downtime, and extends the lifespan of your assets. It's like having a 24/7 health monitor for your industrial equipment!

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On the other hand, simulations allow you to experiment with different scenarios in a risk-free virtual environment. Want to test a new production line configuration? Curious about how a change in process might impact your output? Simulations let you explore these "what if" questions without any real-world consequences, helping you optimize designs and prepare for various eventualities.

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In this article, you’ll learn:

• How digital twins and simulations differ in their approach and applications
• The benefits of real-time data integration with digital twins
• How simulations can save time and money during the design phase
• Practical examples of how these technologies are revolutionizing industries today

Discover how harnessing the power of both digital twins and simulations can lead to smarter, more efficient operations. Read the full story.

WHAT ELSE?

• The Energy Drone and Robotics Summit in Houston recently hosted attendees, exhibitors and speakers from around the world and most industrial sectors. ?At the DRONERESPONDERS co-located event, FAA experts were on hand to discuss the current environment in public safety, and what’s coming for first responder drone programs.
• Eye-bot, a provider of remote asset visualization, and Hextronics, the innovators behind the Atlas Drone-in-a-Box System, announced their strategic partnership. This collaboration aims to provide comprehensive managed service solutions combining advanced hardware and unparalleled expertise.
• NAVER 1784 is the world’s largest robotics testbed. The Starbucks on the second floor of 1784 is the world’s most unique Starbucks, with more than 100 service robots called “Rookie” delivering Starbucks drinks to meeting rooms and private seats, and various experiments with a dual-arm robot.
• Draganfly Inc. has entered into a strategic partnership with First Atlantic Nickel Corp. to utilize its advanced drone and sensor technology for the exploration of a potentially significant nickel deposit in Atlantic Canada. This collaboration aims to identify zones of awaruite, a highly magnetic nickel-iron alloy, within the expansive Atlantic Nickel Project.
• Using drones in construction ranks second among all industry verticals and is a market worth roughly US$4.8 billion in 2024. By 2030, the demand for drones used in construction projects will generate an estimated US$6.2 billion.

ABOUT US

The Energy Drone & Robotics Coalition is focused on innovating energy operations with dynamic UAV, Robotics, Data and Automation solutions.

The Energy Drone & Robotics Coalition (aka EDR Coalition or EDRC) is a forum dedicated to launching, growing and scaling enterprise unmanned systems operations in energy companies worldwide by bringing the leaders in the drone and robotics ecosystem together with the energy industrial complex asset owners and end users.

The EDRC brings innovators together to advance the industry through digital resource sharing (like the weekly Energy Drone & Robotics Newsroom, resources on the website, blogs, podcasts and webinars), as well as live, virtual and hybrid events (including the annual Global Gathering, as well as smaller meetups throughout the year).

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