hazardous environments

Deep Trekker PIVOT ROV investigating a shipwreck.

Discover how creating digital twins using ROVs enables efficient monitoring, and maintenance of underwater assets by exploring the capabilities of advanced modeling techniques.

Improving Underwater Asset Management with ROVs

Perhaps you’ve already seen the news.A new Canadian tech company, <a href="https://cypherrobotics.com/" target="_blank">Cypher Robotics</a>, has unveiled a groundbreaking solution for inventory cycle counting and precision scanning at the industrial level. The company made its announcement at <a href="https://www.modexshow.com/" target="_blank">MODEX2024</a>, one of the premiere global conferences for the supply chain ecosystem. The company also announced key partnerships with AI-driven fulfilment experts <a href="https://www.greyorange.com/" target="_blank">GreyOrange</a> and global telecommunications innovator <a href="https://www.ericsson.com/en" target="_blank">Ericsson</a>. In addition, Cypher revealed it has partnered with an as-yet unnamed Canadian retail giant with more than 300 locations.The system integrates an autonomous ground robot with tethered drone technology, allowing for scanning missions lasting some five hours in duration between charging. Data is uploaded in realtime to existing&nbsp;Warehouse Management System (WMS), WCS (Warehouse Control System) and WES (Warehouse Execution System) software. What’s more, the system can navigate even tight aisles autonomously without any infrastructure changes.So why is InDro keen on sharing this news? We’ll get to that.First, have a look at how it works:<iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dM9P0-q76Do??si=ohAVKXBE7ZjjdOie&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;enablejsapi=1&amp;origin=https://www.wevolver.com" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable" data-lf-form-tracking-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true" data-lf-yt-playback-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true" data-lf-vimeo-playback-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true">&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span class="fr-mk" style="display: none;"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;nbsp;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span class="fr-mk" style="display: none;"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;nbsp;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span class="fr-mk" style="display: none;"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;nbsp;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;</iframe><h3 id="isPasted">The InDro Connection</h3>If you guessed InDro has a strong connection with Cypher Robotics, you were correct.InDro Robotics has an incubator agreement with Cypher, and helped to develop this product. InDro is also an investor in the company.“This is the future of warehouse robotics,” says InDro Robotics CEO Philip Reece, who has founded or co-founded multiple successful companies in the robotics, drone and R&amp;D spaces.“It completely eliminates the dull and repetitive task of scanning by hand, freeing up employees to do more satisfying work. It also frees up or eliminates the need for equipment like modified forklifts that have been previously required for the task.”Reece was quoted in a <a href="https://indrorobotics.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Final-Cypher-Robotics-News-Release-1.pdf" target="_blank" data-lf-fd-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true">news release</a> launching Cypher Robotics and its flagship solution, which is called Captis.Here’s a look at the system. The tethered drone ascends vertically from the Captis base, scanning product as the ground robot moves seamlessly down aisles as narrow as five feet (1.524 metres).Below: The Captis system integrates a Robot Operating System (ROS) based drone with an autonomous ground robot<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNzEwMjU3MjQzNDY4LUN5cGhlci1Sb2JvdGljcy1DYXB0aXMtT25lLXNjYWxlZC53ZWJwIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" style="width: 768px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Autonomous Cycle Counting Robot"><h3 id="isPasted">The News</h3>More detailed information about Cypher Robotics and Captis was revealed in the following news release:(ATLANTA): <a href="https://cypherrobotics.com/home/" target="_blank">Cypher Robotics</a> today unveiled a new standard for efficient and accurate cycle counting scanning for industry at MODEX2024 – one of the sector’s leading annual global conferences. The company also revealed partnerships with AI-driven automation leaders <a href="https://www.greyorange.com/" target="_blank">GreyOrange</a> and technology company <a href="https://www.ericsson.com/en" target="_blank">Ericsson</a>, plus a leading Canadian retailer.Incubated by Canada’s <a href="https://indrorobotics.ca/" target="_blank">InDro Robotics</a>, Cypher calls its solution ‘The Future of Warehouse Robotics’, and here’s why: It combines both aerial and ground robotics technology into a single, integrated package.That solution is called Captis – an autonomous ground vehicle that can find its way around warehouses all on its own. It won’t bump into people or objects, and requires no infrastructure changes. When it’s time for cycle counting, it uses drone technology attached to the ground robot with a tether – used to power the drone and for realtime data transfer. The drone ascends vertically and begins scanning products (it’s code-agnostic) as the Captis base navigates its way down even-narrow corridors.Based in Ottawa, Cypher Robotics has a specialised engineering team and state-of-the-art fabrication. Comprehensive, real-world testing has been carried out over several months in partnership with a major Canadian retailer that has more than 300 locations across the country.The system can capture data with 99.9 per cent accuracy autonomously for up to five hours per mission. That data is automatically integrated with existing Warehouse Management System (WMS), WCS (Warehouse Control System) and WES (Warehouse Execution System) software. Captis eliminates the costs associated with manual cycle counts, improves inventory accuracy, and ensures seamless timeline replenishment while avoiding both over- and under-stocking items.What’s more, Captis can simultaneously carry out highly detailed precision scans of infrastructure (more on this in the future).Sound technologically complex? It is. But it’s also a breeze to operate.&nbsp;“Captis is completely a hands-off product,” says Philip Reece, who has founded or co-founded multiple successful companies in the robotics, drone and R&amp;D spaces. Those include <a href="https://indrorobotics.ca/" target="_blank">InDro Robotics</a>, the Canadian leader in ground and aerial robotics R&amp;D, which has also invested in Cypher Robotics.“When we say this is ‘the future of warehouse robotics’, we mean it. It completely eliminates the dull and repetitive task of scanning by hand, freeing up employees to do more satisfying work. It also frees up or eliminates the need for equipment like modified forklifts that have been previously required for the task.”Cypher has partnered with warehouse fulfilment experts GreyOrange and global telco innovator Ericsson.“The Captis autonomous cycle counting solution is powered by GreyOrange’s GreyMatter, our <a href="https://www.greyorange.com/solutions/by-technology/orchestration-platform/" target="_blank">fulfillment orchestration platform</a>,” says Akash Gupta, Co-Founder and CEO, GreyOrange. “We are excited that Cypher Robotics has joined GreyOrange’s <a href="https://www.greyorange.com/ranger-robot-series/certified-ranger-network/" target="_blank">Certified RangerTM Network (CRN)</a>ecosystem. Cypher’s Captis solution is a great option for companies new to automation and robotics to begin leveraging such tech since only one bot is needed per warehouse on average.”Manish Tiwari, Head of Private Cellular Networks, Ericsson Business Area Enterprise Wireless Solution says: “Captis is an innovative solution that listens to the industry’s needs and efficiently answers them. Being connected to Ericsson Private 5G allows Captis to traverse warehouses while maintaining consistent connectivity which ensures the safety of employees and devices. The low latency of the connection allows for immediate validation of data and the ability to re-capture it to maintain accuracy. The solution ensures that the organization’s data is protected throughout the process. &nbsp;Ericsson is looking forward to continued collaboration and innovation with Cypher that will help our customers’ digitalization efforts.”Below: Captis is built for scanning and is code-agnostic. Barcodes, QR codes and more are scanned autonomously and the data instantly integrated with existing warehouse management software<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNzEwMjU3MzQ4NTUyLUN5cGhlci1TaXgtc2NhbGVkLndlYnAiLCJlZGl0cyI6eyJyZXNpemUiOnsid2lkdGgiOjk1MCwiZml0IjoiY292ZXIifX19" style="width: 100%px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Warehouse Robotics"><h3 id="isPasted">InDro's Take</h3>We are obviously excited about this announcement. The supply chain is a huge sector, and the automation of the supply chain is growing rapidly. Cypher Robotics believes this is the first system manufactured in North America to integrate aerial and ground robotics in a single solution.“It’s been a very satisfying process to see Cypher Robotics develop Captis with incubation assistance from us,” says InDro Robotics CEO Philip Reece.“It was already a technologically challenging build to create a ground robot that can navigate tight spaces autonomously in an unfamiliar setting. Combining that with drone technology adds a whole other level of complexity. We’re pleased that InDro was able to assist with incubation and look forward to seeing where Captis goes.”In addition to cycle counting, the Captis system also has Precision Scanning capabilities. It can provide updated 2D and 3D digital twins as it carries out its other work, empowering operations with a digital environment for scenario planning. It’s also capable of RFID scanning.More on these other significant features…to come.

A new Canadian tech company, Cypher Robotics, has unveiled a groundbreaking solution for inventory cycle counting and precision scanning at the industrial level.

A New Solution for Autonomous Cycle Counting and Precision Scanning

Surface roughness can be measured with a profilometer

Measuring surface roughness allows metrologists to establish the roughness of a surface for quality control or other purposes. But how exactly is it done?

Measuring Surface Roughness: A Comprehensive Guide

Stantec 3D map model of a dam structure from the 1800's.

Discover how Deep Trekker ROVs are capable of conducting quality photogrammetry missions to create 3D models with unparalleled accuracy. 

Making a 3D Model with Deep Trekker ROVs

This job, on occasion, stinks.But it’s all in a day’s work for <a href="https://aerometrix.ca/" target="_blank">Aerometrix</a>, Canada’s only company specialising in methane detection using drones. It’s not the methane itself that smells – it’s actually an odourless gas – but it’s the locations where methane can be emitted.Imagine flying a massive landfill on a hot day in California.&nbsp;Further imagine that, in order to keep the dust down, the landfill operators have recently sprayed the location with leachate – the slimy runoff juice created by the landfill itself. It’s very biologically active, and it smells really bad.“It’s horrendous – horrible,” chuckles Eric Saczuk, who often carries out the complex flights.“It just ends up just suffusing through you and anything that you’re wearing. It even seems like it goes into your skin.”Thankfully, not all missions are like that. But all of them do achieve results.And now, for multiple reasons, Aerometrix is poised to be taking on many more of them – branching out into detection at oil and gas refineries.Below: Flight Operations Lead Eric Saczuk prepares for an Aerometrix flight<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNzA2MjA1NTM0ODQwLU1pY3Jvc29mdFRlYW1zLWltYWdlLTUtMi1qcGcud2VicCIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTUwLCJmaXQiOiJjb3ZlciJ9fX0=" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Flight Operations"> <h3 id="isPasted">Why Methane Detection?</h3>When it comes to climate change, methane is an invisible threat. Though we often hear about CO2emissions, methane is a serious problem when it comes to greenhouse gases.“Methane has more than 80 times the warming power of carbon dioxide over the first 20 years after it reaches the atmosphere,” <a href="https://www.edf.org/climate/methane-crucial-opportunity-climate-fight" target="_blank">states the Environmental Defense Fund</a>.“Even though CO2 has a longer-lasting effect, methane sets the pace for warming in the near term.”So there’s increasing urgency to detect and mitigate methane emissions. At landfills, for example, once the emission points are detected, the gas can be trapped – and even used to generate electricity.“The main emphasis recently has been on landfills, both in Canada and the US,” explains Aerometrix Co-Founder Philip Reece. “We flew 16 missions over the last 12 months.”And these missions aren’t simply popping a drone up for a brief flight. Nor are they automated. Every Aerometrix flight has to be carried out manually.“Over large sites like the Vancouver landfill, that took us three days of flying, six hours a day,” says Saczuk. “We fly these missions at five metres above the ground – and there’s lots of things that can get in the way at that level.”Aerometrix flights deploy either the DJI M300 or M350 drone. But the secret sauce is not so much the drone as the sensors. (And it’s most certainly not the leachate.)&nbsp;<h3>Sensors</h3>Aerometrix deploys two different sensors to detect methane. One of them is called an Open Path Laser Spectrometer (OPLS), developed by NASA for use on the Mars Rover. It was designed to detect trace gases. In the case of methane detection, the laser is tuned to a specific frequency that is absorbed when it encounters that particular gas. The greater the absorption, the higher the methane concentration.The sensor requires “clean air” for accurate readings – meaning there can’t be any prop wash or turbulence caused by the drone itself. Aerometrix engineers built a brace that holds the sensor well forward of the drone for this purpose. Having that sensor and rod, of course, upsets the balance of the drone. In fact, Saczuk estimates the weight of the rod and sensor at roughly 800 grams, perched about 1.5 metres forward of the drone.And while the flight controller is capable of compensating for that, Saczuk always performs a calibration once the drone is in the air.“We take off to maybe three or four meters above the ground. Once the drone is airborne, we go into the controller and initiate the calibration. So the drone calculates its revised centre of gravity and knows what its steady state is. The two front propellers then spin a little bit faster to keep the nose from dipping.”Flying manually, Saczuk uses Tripod Mode to limit the drone’s speed. The most accurate readings occur when flying at about five metres per second.On an ideal flight day, there would be a steady wind at around eight metres per second. If the breeze is coming from the east and blowing over the landfill, this provides a couple of advantages. First of all, by positioning operations at the eastern end you can avoid most of the smell. But the real reason is because the drone will begin its flight in clean air not contaminated by methane. That will enable the methane, once detected, to really contrast with the surrounding environment.“What we don’t like is no wind, because then the methane just goes up vertically and it’s variable – it just gets pushed around by a little vortices here and there,” says Saczuk.The drone will make multiple passes (in this example, north and south) over the site. When the laser hits methane, some of those rays will be absorbed and some reflected, depending on the concentration. Flying multiple paths allows enough data to be gathered to create a visualization of methane in a vertical plane.“We’ll do this on the upwind and downwind side of the site as well as a full perimeter to understand where the main emissions source likely are,” he adds.&nbsp;“We shouldn’t be seeing much methane on that eastern side, assuming the wind is coming from the east. And then as we fly the western edge, that would capture all of the methane that’s being pushed by the wind and that would be the downwind curtain.”While Saczuk is piloting, there’s a second controller that displays the data. A Raspberry Pi onboard the drone takes the data from the sensor and merges it with the flight data from the aircraft. So Saczuk can see the invisible gas while piloting.The goal is obtain a really good cross-section, as illustrated below. Feel free to try your hand at the equation.<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNzA2MjA2MjA4MzE2LUZsdXgtQ3VydGFpbi1zY2hlbWF0aWMuanBnLndlYnAiLCJlZGl0cyI6eyJyZXNpemUiOnsid2lkdGgiOjk1MCwiZml0IjoiY292ZXIifX19" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Site Cross Section"><h3 id="isPasted">Sensor Two</h3>The second sensor deployed is called a Laser Falcon. The sensor, mounting hardware and accessories will set you back close to <a href="https://shop.sphengineering.com/products/laser-falcon-methane-detector-bundle" target="_blank">$60k CDN</a>. It is mounted directly on the drone and faces downward.In this case, the laser is factory tuned for methane detection – it is the only gas the Laser Falcon can detect."It's an active sensor that will detect the amount of absorption that's happening. The scattering of the laser in the air tells the sensor how much methane there is not at a point – but through a column of air."In both cases, the data is crunched to make the invisible visible. The result is called a "flux curtain" or "flux plane" – with differing colours representing different concentrations of methane, measured in parts per million. In the graphic below, the greatest concentrations are seen in the middle of the image, just below the centre.<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNzA2MjA2Mzk0NDA4LTIwMjJfMDhfMTNfZjJfZmx1eHBsYW5lLTEucG5nLndlYnAiLCJlZGl0cyI6eyJyZXNpemUiOnsid2lkdGgiOjk1MCwiZml0IjoiY292ZXIifX19" style="width: 302px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Flux Plane"><h3 id="isPasted">Poised for Growth</h3>In December&nbsp;the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, announced draft methane regulations. These regulations aim to reduce methane emissions by 75 per cent by the year 2030, when compared with emission from 2012. The focus is on the oil and gas industry.“Oil and gas facilities are the largest industrial emitters of methane in Canada—they release about half of total methane emissions,” <a href="https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/news/2023/12/draft-oil-and-gas-methane-regulations-amendments-published-in-december-2023-to-reduce-emissions-by-75-percent.html" target="_blank">reads the draft</a>.“These releases occur during normal operation of equipment and from leaks. To comply with Canada’s existing methane Regulations, industries had to adopt practices to monitor for leaks and ensure that repairs happen to reduce the amount of gas intentionally vented into the air.“Under the draft methane amendments, the Government of Canada is enhancing the emissions-monitoring requirements through a risk-based approach to structure inspections for fugitive emissions—facilities with equipment that has greater potential for emissions must undertake more frequent inspections. All inspections must be conducted using instruments with a standard minimum detection limit, and repair timelines will depend on emissions rates. Further, the draft regulations introduce an audit system, requiring one annual third-party inspection to validate company program results.”In other words, it won’t be long before oil and gas facilities will need to bring experts like Aerometrix onboard to verify that the reported data is accurate.“Lowering methane emissions from our oil and gas sector is one of the fastest and most cost-effective ways we can cut the pollution that is fueling climate change,” said Minister Guilbeault in <a href="https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/news/2023/12/minister-guilbeault-announces-canadas-draft-methane-regulations-to-support-cleaner-energy-and-climate-action.html" target="_blank">this news release</a>.“As the world’s fourth largest oil and gas producer, we have both the responsibility and the know-how to do everything we can. At this time of robust profit margins and high energy prices, there has never been a better time for the oil and gas sector to invest in slashing methane emissions.”&nbsp;<h3>New Investment&nbsp;</h3>In creating Aerometrix, co-Founders <a href="https://aerometrix.ca/company/#founders" target="_blank">Philip Reece and Michael Whiticar</a> developed a solution to a significant and largely invisible problem. Now, with even greater emphasis on reducing methane emissions, Aerometrix has attracted a major new investor.That investor is Omar Asad, the company’s new Director. He sees great potential ahead.“The cutting-edge technology utilised by Aerometrix is unmatched and has already translated into significant savings for clients,” says Asad. “What’s more, we offer both a much-needed and innovative solution – while helping to reduce methane emissions at a critical time.”Asad’s investment, in conjunction with Canada’s impending methane legislation, paves the way for accelerated growth.Below: Eric Saczuk points to the second controller, highlighting real-time methane detection<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1706206889738-MicrosoftTeams-image-1-2-jpg-2.webp" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><h3 id="isPasted">InDro's Take</h3>Philip Reece, of course, is also the Founder and CEO of InDro Robotics. And he’s clearly pleased with both the investment – and the growth trajectory.“Landfill detection alone has kept Aerometrix busy and profitable,” says Reece. “With the pending legislation we are poised for significant growth in the oil and gas sector.“Not only is using these sensors with drones more accurate than traditional hand-held walk-arounds, but Aerometrix has racked up years of experience in turning our findings into clear and actionable data. This company, particularly with Omar onboard, is ready for the next phase of growth.”Interested in learning more about methane detection by Aerometrix? Contact them <a href="mailto:Info@Aerometrix.ca" target="_blank">here</a>.

Empowering Environmental Safety Through Advanced Methane Detection Solutions

Aerometrix Methane Detection

Optimizing Operational Excellence: Synergies of Human-Machine Interfaces, Motion Control, IIoT, and Robust Power Supply in Industrial Automation

What is Industrial Automation? A Comprehensive Guide

Small robots are important tools for the investigation and inspection of, well, small spaces. They can carefully place their steps, allowing them to navigate around obstacles, capabilities larger robots do not always possess. This can enable them to inspect machinery or search through rubble in disaster scenarios that other robots cannot reach. However, due to their size constraints, building small robots that can steer themselves and carry their own power sources is difficult.<a href="https://engineering.cmu.edu/directory/bios/johnson-aaron.html" target="_blank">Aaron Johnson</a>, an associate professor of <a href="https://www.meche.engineering.cmu.edu/index.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">mechanical engineeringOpens in new window</a>, and <a href="https://engineering.cmu.edu/directory/bios/bergbreiter-sarah.html" target="_blank">Sarah Bergbreiter</a>, a professor of mechanical engineering, and their team of researchers revolutionized the field with the construction of “Mugatu,” the first steerable bipedal robot that contains only a single motor. Mugatu is also self-contained and self-starting; open-loop stable in its gait; and has controlled left, right, and straight steering. The design uses two rigid bodies and one actuator, a simple walker design that is still capable of complex motions of other robots.<iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RLjmxp9vyTY?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0&amp;enablejsapi=1&amp;origin=https://www.wevolver.com" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable" data-lf-form-tracking-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true" data-lf-yt-playback-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true" data-lf-vimeo-playback-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe>“The first direction of the project was aimed at simplifying the way robots walk as much as possible,” says first author James Kyle, a recent mechanical engineering master’s and bachelor’s graduate. “Once we understand how scaling affects locomotion, it can be extremely useful for taking something that already exists and scaling it up or down to do things like fit through smaller pipes or carry more load.”Another team member, undergraduate mechanical engineering student Kendall Hart, worked on the robot’s current sensor, the part of the robot that allowed the team to calculate the total cost of transport, the amount of energy used over a certain distance. “Before I came into the lab, I had a vague understanding of MATLAB, (a programming and numeric computing platform) but working on this project allowed me to apply what I learned in class. When we were working on implementing the current sensor, there was a lot of debugging there, but now it’s made me more confident in debugging without my mentors,” Hart says.<blockquote>What makes the project so special and so impactful in the community is because it’s never been seen before.<cite>Kendall Hart, <cite id="isPasted">student (junior)<cite id="isPasted">, Mechanical Engineering</cite></cite> </cite></blockquote>Nicknamed “The LEGO Project,” the team aims to eventually get these walkers down to the size of a LEGO. “It’s going to take a while because the mechanics of everything changes as you start down-sizing,” Hart says. “But what makes the project so special and so impactful in the community is because it’s never been seen before.” The drastic simplification of this walking device combined with its single degree of freedom is a promising step (pun intended) toward highly-efficient small robots.The collaborators on this project include James Kyle, Justin Y. Kim, Kendall Hart, Sarah Bergbreiter, and Aaron Johnson.

A team of mechanical engineering researchers create “Mugatu,” the first steerable bipedal robot with only one motor.

Big picture, small robot

In the industry of NDT methods for industrial inspections, SKYRON&nbsp;emerges&nbsp;as&nbsp;cutting-edge&nbsp;technology for performing detailed contact-based inspections across various assets. This intelligent flying robot surpasses conventional boundaries by navigating complex spaces seamlessly and conducting comprehensive inspections across a wide spectrum of assets.&nbsp;&nbsp;From tanks and pipes to towering and intricate structures like flare stacks, confined spaces, ships, offshore platforms, and more, SKYRON is on a mission to redefine the standards of contact-based inspections. Its capabilities extend across multiple industries, effortlessly adapting to the distinct challenges posed by each asset with exceptional versatility. One of&nbsp;this&nbsp;flying&nbsp;robot’s&nbsp;notable features is its&nbsp;skill in maneuvering through diverse spaces, reaching areas typically challenging for conventional inspection methods.&nbsp;&nbsp;The robot’s&nbsp;agility and precision enable meticulous assessments, ensuring no area is left unexamined. Moreover, SKYRON's versatility makes inspections not only safer but also faster and more cost-effective than conventional methods.&nbsp;

Non-destructive testing inspections are in demand across various shapes and surfaces, needing different approaches to and for, until now.

Revolutionizing Contact-Based Inspections Across Different Assets

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) sensors are key in detecting potentially dangerous air quality. 

VOC Sensors: A Comprehensive Guide to Their Applications and Maintenance

<h3>A critical public health issue</h3>According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, most Americans spend about 90% of their time indoors, a setting where pollutant levels are often 2 to 5 times higher than outdoors. This heightened concentration of pollutants indoors is a concern, especially since traditional indicators of poor air quality, like smoke or strong smells, are less apparent inside buildings.&nbsp;In this recent episode of the Mouser Electronics podcast "The Tech Between Us," host Raymond Yin soy sits down with Ronan Cooney, Head of Product at Ambisense. The two take a deep dive into the engineering aspect of indoor air quality and environmental sensors.The episode delves into the significance of monitoring key components of indoor air, such as CO2 levels, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), and particulates. This monitoring is essential for maintaining a healthy indoor environment.<h3>Equipping customers with valuable data</h3>A major highlight of the episode is gaining an understanding of the role of Ambisense in this field. Ambisense focuses on equipping customers with valuable data, empowering them to make informed decisions and take appropriate actions based on the insights provided. This approach underscores the importance of data-driven solutions in managing indoor air quality.The podcast also sheds light on the advancements in <a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/breathing-better-using-environmental-sensors-to-improve-indoor-air-quality" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">sensor technology</a>. Sensor manufacturers are working towards reducing the costs of these devices while ensuring they maintain high performance. The use of Non-Dispersive Infrared (NDIR) technology for CO2 sensors is now considered a basic standard in the industry, marking a significant step forward in sensor technology.Another key aspect discussed is the integration of the right sensors and IoT sensor nodes. This integration is not just about collecting data but also about interpreting it effectively to improve indoor environments. The use of sensor fusion and algorithms plays a pivotal role here, as it allows for the integration of data from various environmental sensors into a cohesive and comprehensive picture for the end-users.<h3>Sensor fusion meets complex demands</h3>Understanding the correlation between different environmental factors is also crucial. This understanding helps in identifying and addressing various indoor air quality issues more effectively. The fusion of different sensors is vital in gaining a thorough understanding of the dynamics within a space, including factors like occupancy and particulate levels.The use of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning in managing sensor data is a prominent theme in this episode. Cooney explains how AI-driven anomaly detection can help identify unusual patterns and issues in air quality, aiding in effective decision-making. The development of AI technology is hailed as a game-changer across industries, with its potential being actively explored to refine data interpretation and enhance user experiences.The episode concludes with a focus on the growing awareness and responsibility towards providing healthy and productive spaces. With the advancements in technology, it is no longer acceptable to be unaware of indoor air quality issues. The technology available today makes it possible to be more proactive in ensuring the health and well-being of individuals in indoor environments.This podcast episode serves as a valuable resource for anyone interested in the field of indoor air quality, offering insights into the latest trends and technologies in sensor and data analysis.<a href="https://youtu.be/Hq8R90FrAiw?list=PLBFFfxVbvpNTzubC_bkcurRZ5bUWCfwSu" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Listen to part two of the discussion here.</a>

Discover more about the crucial topic of indoor air quality. 

The Tech Between Us Podcast: Environmental Sensors for Clean Air with Ronan Cooney

The inspection of confined spaces within the Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) industry presents&nbsp;numerous&nbsp;challenges, ranging from safety concerns to the substantial costs and extended downtime associated with traditional inspection methods. Conventionally, these methods often entail the laborious task of setting up scaffolding, introducing not only elevated risks to inspectors but also a costly and time-consuming process that can reduce overall productivity for asset owners.&nbsp;Transitioning from a human-centric model to a robotic solution is a welcomed shift for asset owners and inspection service providers, primarily due to the enhanced safety it offers. SKYRON, an intelligent flying robot,&nbsp;emerges&nbsp;as a groundbreaking solution that addresses the challenges of inspecting confined spaces head-on. The shift is primarily driven by the heightened safety benefits offered by robotic solutions compared to human inspectors facing risks of heat exhaustion and various other dangers while navigating the complexity of confined spaces.&nbsp;<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1701887849709-1701887849709.png" class="fr-fic fr-dii">&nbsp;Robotic solutions, exemplified by SKYRON, not only serve as a safety net for inspectors but also prove to be significantly more&nbsp;time-effective. By minimizing setup times and&nbsp;eliminating&nbsp;the need for human intervention in precarious spaces, SKYRON expedites the inspection process, completing it in a fraction of the time required by traditional methods. This not only enhances safety but also brings about a revolutionary shift in the overall efficiency of confined space inspections, allowing for more inspections to be conducted in a shorter&nbsp;timeframe.&nbsp; &nbsp;SKYRON, an intelligent robot with an extensive&nbsp;track record&nbsp;of inspecting confined spaces, ranging from confined spaces in Floating Production Storage and Offloading units (FPSOs) to the interiors of flare stacks and tanks, offers a unique advantage in this domain. Its rapid deployment&nbsp;eliminates&nbsp;the need for inspectors to physically maneuver inside confined spaces,&nbsp;providing&nbsp;a layer of safety that is unparalleled.&nbsp;<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1701887849799-1701887849799.png" class="fr-fic fr-dii">&nbsp;In addition to its remarkable safety features, SKYRON's standout capability lies in its non-entry Ultrasonic Thickness (UT) inspections. This crucial feature distinguishes SKYRON from other inspection methods, as it enables a thorough assessment of structural integrity without the need for human entry. Furthermore, the inclusion of a&nbsp;First-Person View&nbsp;camera empowers the pilot to operate SKYRON from a safe distance,&nbsp;providing&nbsp;real-time visual feedback. This not only ensures the safety of inspectors but also makes SKYRON an ideal solution for navigating through the tight confines of narrow spaces, where traditional inspection methods would pose significant challenges.&nbsp;<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1701887849814-1701887849814.jpeg" class="fr-fic fr-dii"><img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1701887849829-1701887849829.jpeg" class="fr-fic fr-dii">&nbsp;&nbsp;SKYRON's versatility extends beyond safety and efficiency through its innovative Interchangeable Payload System. This feature allows SKYRON to adapt to various inspection needs by seamlessly switching between different payloads. For instance, it can effortlessly transition from Visual inspections to Ultrasonic Thickness (UT) measurements,&nbsp;providing&nbsp;a comprehensive assessment of confined spaces. This adaptability ensures that SKYRON is not limited to a single inspection type, making it a dynamic and multifunctional tool for industries with diverse inspection requirements. The ability to tailor its payload according to specific inspection&nbsp;objectives&nbsp;enhances SKYRON's value and makes it an indispensable asset in&nbsp;optimizing&nbsp;the inspection process for different applications.&nbsp; &nbsp;The smart tether system further contributes to the efficiency of the inspection process, ensuring unlimited fly time and&nbsp;eliminating&nbsp;the need for battery changes during inspections. This feature not only enhances the longevity of inspections but also prevents disruptions, making SKYRON an invaluable asset for continuous and uninterrupted operations.&nbsp;In summary, SKYRON&nbsp;represents&nbsp;a revolutionary advancement in confined space inspections,&nbsp;providing&nbsp;a safer, faster, and more cost-effective alternative. This intelligent robotic solution effectively addresses the challenges associated with traditional methods, ensuring the well-being of&nbsp;inspectors&nbsp;and raising the efficiency of confined space inspections to unprecedented levels. As industries evolve, SKYRON stands as a beacon of innovation, reshaping the landscape of confined space inspections for a safer and more efficient future.&nbsp;

The inspection of confined spaces within the Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) industry presents numerous challenges, ranging from safety concerns to the substantial costs and extended downtime associated with traditional inspection methods. 

Revolutionizing Confined Space Inspections: A Safer, Faster, and Cost-Effective Approach

Our society relies heavily on plastic products and the amount of plastic waste is expected to increase in the future. If not properly discarded or recycled, much of it accumulates in rivers and lakes. Eventually it will flow into the oceans, where it can form aggregations of marine debris together with natural materials like driftwood and algae. A new study from Wageningen University and EPFL researchers, recently published in Cell iScience, has developed an artificial intelligence-based detector that estimates the probability of marine debris shown in satellite images. This could help to systematically remove plastic litter from the oceans with ships.<h2>Automatic analysis</h2>Accumulations of marine debris are visible in freely available Sentinel-2 satellite images from the European Space Agency that capture coastal areas every 2-5 days worldwide on land masses and coastal areas. Because these amount to terabytes of data, the data needs to be analysed automatically through artificial intelligence models like deep neural networks. Marc Rußwurm, Assistant Professor at Wageningen University and former researcher at EPFL: “These models learn from examples provided by oceanographers and remote sensing specialists, who visually identified several thousand instances of marine debris in satellite images on locations across the globe. In this way they ‘trained’ the model to recognise plastic debris.” Devis Tuia, associate professor at EPFL and Director of the Sion-based Laboratory of Computational Science for the Environment and Earth Observation (ECEO), is corresponding author of the study.<blockquote>The detector remains accurate even in more challenging conditions. For example when cloud cover and atmospheric haze make it difficult for existing models to identify marine debris precisely.<footer>Marc Rußwurm, Assistant Professor at Wageningen University and former researcher at EPFL</footer></blockquote><h2>Improved detection</h2>The researchers developed an AI-based marine debris detector that estimates the probability of marine debris present for every pixel in Sentinel-2 satellite images. The detector is trained following data-centric AI principles that aim to make best use of the limited training data that is available for this problem. One example is the design of a computer vision algorithm that snaps manual annotations from experts precisely to the debris visible in the images. With this tool, oceanographers and remote sensing experts can provide more training data examples by being less precise in the manual clicking of outlines.Overall, this training method combined with the refinement algorithm teaches the deep artificial intelligence detection model to better predict marine debris objects than previous approaches. Rußwurm: “The detector remains accurate even in more challenging conditions. For example when cloud cover and atmospheric haze make it difficult for existing models to identify marine debris precisely.”<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1701346986180-9a9faa64.jpg" style="width: 766px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Heavy precipitation over Durban, South Africa on 22 April 2019, 19:00. Continued precipitation between 18th and 22nd of April lead to the Durban Easter floods 2019 that washed substantial amounts of plastic litter into the Indian ocean, which are visible in Satellite images. Map data © 2023 Google. Precipitation data © JAXA Global Rainfall Watch<h2 id="isPasted">Following plastic debris</h2>Detecting plastics in marine debris under difficult atmospheric conditions with clouds and haze is particularly important, as often plastics are washed into open waters after rain and flood events. This is shown by the Durban Easter floods in South Africa: In 2019 a long period of rain led to overflowing rivers, resulting in much more litter being washed away than normally. It was taken along through the Durban harbour (left picture) into the open Indian Ocean (right picture). In satellite images, such objects floating between clouds are hard to distinguish when using common red-green-blue colour ‘channels’. They can be visualised by switching to other spectral channels, including near-infrared light.<h2>Double view</h2>Apart from more accurate prediction of marine debris aggregations, the detection model will also notice debris in daily-accessible PlanetScope images, coming from cubic nanosatellites. “Combining weekly Sentinel-2 with daily PlanetScope acquisitions can close the gap towards continuous daily monitoring”, explained Rußwurm. “Also, PlanetScope and Sentinel-2 sometimes capture the same patch of marine debris at the same day only a few minutes apart. This double view of the same object at two locations reveals the drift direction due to wind and ocean currents on the water. This information can be used to improve drift estimation models for marine debris.”<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1701347058805-06fb92a9.jpg" style="width: 766px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">The scientists tested the AI model predictions on Sentinel-2 satellite images of challenging atmospheric conditions with clouds and haze. In red, the correctly detected debris with plastic waste. © ESA / Cell iScience<h2 id="isPasted">Further explorations</h2>These directions will be explored further in the research of Prof. Marc Rußwurm at Wageningen University together with Prof. Tim van Emmerik, who is an expert in river plastics, and partners in the Netherlands, such as the Ocean Cleanup, who collect plastics on open oceans with dedicated ships. It originates from work in the AI for Detection of Plastics with Tracking (ADOPT) project in collaboration with the Swiss Data Science Center (a joint venture between ETH Zurich and EPFL) and EPFL by Prof. Devis Tuia, Dr. Emanuele Dalsasso, and Prof. Marc Rußwurm that investigates the continuous tracking of marine debris in between satellite imagery further.<h2>Sentinel-2 and PlanetScope</h2><a href="https://sentinel.esa.int/web/sentinel/missions/sentinel-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ESA’s Sentinel-2 satellite constellation</a> from the European Space Agency consists of two large satellites that cover the Earth every 2-5 days. They measure the reflected light in multiple spectral channels beyond the visible red-green-blue and up to 10m pixel size. The images are openly available.<a href="https://earth.esa.int/eogateway/missions/planetscope" target="_blank" rel="noopener">PlanetScope Doves and SuperDoves</a> make up a constellation of several hundred small CubeSats (nanosatellites) that cover the Earth every day at 3-7m pixel resolution. The images are not free to acquire, but can be used to a limited extent for research purposes at no cost through a Research and Education programme.<hr>References<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589004223024793" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Marc Rußwurm, Sushen Jilla Venkatesa, Devis Tuia, "Large-scale Detection of Marine Debris in Coastal Areas with Sentinel-2", Cell iScience, 8 November 2023.</a>

Durban's beach after a flood on 13 April 2022, two years after the one of 2019. © iStock/Antonio BlancoDR

A research team from EPFL and Wageningen University has developed a new artificial intelligence model that recognises floating plastics much more accurately in satellite images than before. This could help to systematically remove plastic litter from the oceans with ships.

AI helps detecting plastic in oceans

Digital platforms have profoundly transformed the design process for cobot motor drives, enabling engineers to streamline workflows, enhance precision, and rapidly adapt to the evolving demands of the industrial landscape.

Streamlining Cobot Design with Digital Platforms and Online Resources

Cities around the world are experiencing a period of rapid expansion. According to the United Nations (UN), 57 percent of people already live in urban areas - and this is set to increase to almost 70 percent by 2050.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h2>The environmental cost of urbanization</h2>This shift is having a significant environmental impact. The amount of solid waste produced by cities is predicted to grow from 1.8 billion tonnes in 2016 to 3.1 billion tonnes in 2050. And, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), 9 out of 10 people in urban areas are already breathing polluted air, while almost 40 percent don’t have access to safe sanitation and clean water - posing serious health concerns. &nbsp; And yet existing waste removal methods are both outdated and inefficient. A study in New Zealand by services company Ventia found that most of the time half the garbage bins being collected were empty, while 10 percent of bins in the most popular locations filled up again in just three or four hours. Such uneven usage not only wastes time and resources, but also creates more exhaust emissions from the trucks that travel around to empty the bins. &nbsp; Traditional methods of air quality monitoring are also flawed. Today’s monitoring equipment is large and expensive, limiting installation to a few permanent locations. That makes meaningful data sparse and limits real-time monitoring - according to a report by the global mobile networks industry association GSMA.&nbsp;<h2>Optimizing waste collection with cellular IoT</h2>The cellular IoT has opened the door to a new approach to maintaining clean cities. Low-cost and widely deployed wireless sensors monitor relevant conditions—like full rubbish bins or changes in air quality—and then, using network connectivity, the sensors can send that data to city administrators. When combined with AI and data analytics, the information can lead to more environmentally friendly decisions.&nbsp;For example, ‘smart bin’ solutions already use sensors to monitor gas and humidity levels, allowing them to detect when bins need to be collected. Christian Wedekind, Senior Product Manager at adhoc networks—a developer of a <a href="https://www.nordicsemi.com/Nordic-news/2022/11/the-adhoc-smart-waste-solution-uses-the-nrf9160-sip" rel="noopener" target="_blank">smart waste solution</a> based on Nordic’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nordicsemi.com/products/nrf9160" rel="noopener" target="_blank">nRF9160</a> SiP and cellular IoT connectivity—claims solutions like these have reduced waste disposal emissions by 40 percent.&nbsp; In addition to using cellullar IoT tech to reduce the number of trips, AI solutions are optimizing the garbage collection routes. Ventia discovered that the technology shortened route times from seven-and-a-half hours to four. As a result, the company reduced its truck fleet by eight vehicles, decreased carbon emissions, and generated less noise pollution.&nbsp;<h2>Dynamic air pollution monitoring &nbsp;</h2>A 2017 report found that 95 percent of London’s population has been exposed to air pollution levels exceeding WHO limits by more than 50 percent. To address this issue, a proof-of-concept in Greenwich, in collaboration with GSMA, employed portable air quality sensors on people, bikes, vehicles, and buildings. This allowed the devices to measure air quality at many different locations throughout the day.&nbsp; While dynamic tracking like this doesn’t directly reduce air pollution, it does provide authorities and policymakers with much more specific data so they can understand the root causes and introduce targeted solutions. These include introducing increased toll pricing in high-traffic areas, restricting or closing pollution-heavy facilities, and building support for longer-term plans, like new public transport systems powered by renewable energy. &nbsp;<h2>Combatting invisible wastewater issues&nbsp;&nbsp;</h2>IoT solutions are also helping cities gain visibility into sewerage issues and manage them before they cause problems. Take, for example, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nordicsemi.com/Nordic-news/2021/09/metasphere-uses-nrf9160-in-art-sewer" rel="noopener" target="_blank">ART Sewer</a> wastewater and sewerage spill monitoring solution by Metasphere. This compact, battery-powered device fits under a manhole cover where it measures wastewater levels using radar every 15 minutes. Using cellular connectivity, it transmits this information to a data analytics platform, helping prevent wastewater spills caused by heavy rain, blockages, or damaged pipes. &nbsp; Products that can detect leaking pipes—especially in below-ground applications where they may not be visible otherwise—can help by warning companies before there’s significant damage. Predictive maintenance—which uses AI and sensor data to identify signs of future servicing needs—can also benefit sewerage systems by preventing any leaks or broken pipes before they even occur.<h2>The benefits of cellular connectivity&nbsp;&nbsp;</h2>According to the&nbsp;Financial Times, while sensors are getting cheaper, the need for connectivity, computing power, and energy to collect, transmit, and analyze data remains a barrier. &nbsp; Fortunately, the rise of cellular IoT is helping address these issues. Cellular technologies not only offer great coverage in cities, but are also ideal for IoT applications, especially when long battery life is needed. LTE-M supports mobile applications like tracking garbage trucks, while NB-IoT is more suited to stationary devices in areas with poor network coverage, such as sewer monitors.&nbsp; Whether it’s measuring water levels, temperatures, or the health of critical infrastructure, the IoT will soon become vital to cities because the cost of addressing the negatives impacts of these challenges is much higher than solving them with technology.&nbsp;<hr id="isPasted">This article was first published on Nordic's&nbsp;<a href="https://blog.nordicsemi.com/getconnected" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"></a><a href="https://blog.nordicsemi.com/getconnected?utm_campaign=2021%20wevolver" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Get Connected Blog</a>. &nbsp;

Cities around the world are experiencing a period of rapid expansion. According to the United Nations (UN), 57 percent of people already live in urban areas - and this is set to increase to almost 70 percent by 2050.  

Using the IoT to create a greener future for smart cities

<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1700760608566-Screenshot+2023-11-23+192950.png" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Refineries, with their challenging conditions, rely on Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) inspections to ensure safety and reliability. Flare stacks, crucial assets within these refineries, require special attention. Ultrasonic Thickness (UT) inspections play a vital role in maintaining flare stack integrity, preventing incidents, and enabling proactive maintenance.&nbsp;Flare stacks are undeniably vital components but inspecting them has historically been challenging due to their high temperature and heights. Conventional methods often required shutting down the stacks, resulting in productivity losses. Inspectors also had to use ropes or scaffolding, introducing risks and incurring significant time and resource expenses.&nbsp;In the past, conventional inspection methods in refineries were marked by their costliness, time-consuming nature, and inherent risks, particularly in the case of flare stack inspections. However, the introduction of intelligent flying robots has been a game-changer. These innovative robots can seamlessly conduct inspections while flare stacks remain operational, minimizing downtime and boosting productivity.&nbsp;Avestec is on a mission to enhance safety for NDT inspection crews by introducing cutting-edge technology. Safety is the top priority at Avestec, and the introduction of SKYRON has significantly elevated safety standards for inspecting refineries and their assets. Flare stacks, notorious for their extreme temperatures, have made traditional inspections a risky endeavor. SKYRON eliminates these risks by conducting inspections without human intervention, ensuring the safety and well-being of inspection crews.&nbsp;SKYRON redefines inspection efficiency. Unlike traditional methods that require time-consuming setup and human work in heights, the intelligent flying robot can swiftly deploy to fly, attach, and measure these assets. It easily navigates the heights of flare stacks, offering comprehensive inspections in a fraction of the time it would take an entire human inspection crew. This enhanced efficiency translates to significant cost savings, making inspections safer and more cost-effective.&nbsp;<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1700760706840-Screenshot+2023-11-23+193128.png" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">One of the most significant advantages of employing SKYRON for flare stack inspections is the ability to avoid shutdowns. In traditional methods, shutting down operations was often necessary to ensure personnel's safety by preventing contact with hot surfaces. This not only incurred substantial costs but also led to production interruptions.&nbsp;&nbsp;<iframe id="6433ae788de910000801b259" width="250" class="specs-iframe" height="440" src="https://wevolver.com/iframe/specs/skyron?iframe=true" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" data-lf-form-tracking-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true" data-lf-yt-playback-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true" data-lf-vimeo-playback-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true"></iframe>SKYRON, with its ability to perform inspections without the need for human contact, eliminates the need for shutdowns. This breakthrough ensures uninterrupted operations, saving both time and money. The cost savings achieved by avoiding shutdowns can be substantial, especially in industries where downtime is a critical concern.&nbsp;Efficiency isn't just about speed; it's also about precision. SKYRON's advanced rotary arm, equipped with a 38DL PLUS gauge, captures detailed data, providing a comprehensive assessment of the inspected areas. This precision is vital for informed decisions about maintenance and repair, ensuring that potential issues are addressed promptly.&nbsp;By utilizing SKYRON for flare stack inspections, safety is prioritized. The intelligent flying robot can operate in extreme temperatures without risking human lives, making inspections in challenging environments significantly safer. Inspectors remain at a safe distance on the ground. Furthermore, SKYRON's ability to reach areas that are difficult to access for human inspectors minimizes the risks associated with manual inspections, ensuring that even the most hard-to-reach spots are thoroughly examined.&nbsp; In conclusion, the introduction of SKYRON has ushered in a new era of safety, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness for inspecting challenging flare stack hot surfaces. The ability to conduct inspections without human contact of these high-temperature environments is a testament to the transformative power of advanced technology.&nbsp;SKYRON has left an indelible mark as a groundbreaking innovation, revolutionizing the way we approach inspections in challenging industrial environments. In doing so, it ensures that safety remains paramount, efficiency is redefined, and cost-effectiveness is unleashed, making it a key player in the future of industrial inspections, particularly in the realm of flare stack hot surfaces.&nbsp;

Refineries, with their challenging conditions, rely on Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) inspections to ensure safety and reliability. 

Elevating Safety and Efficiency in Flare Stack Inspections

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This article provides a comprehensive technical comparison of CAN vs LIN, examining their architectures, use cases, and performance trade-offs.

CAN vs LIN: A Comprehensive Technical Analysis of Automotive and Industrial Network Protocols

Robotic assembly lines have revolutionized production processes, enabling manufacturers to achieve high levels of efficiency, productivity, and quality.

What are Robotic Assembly Lines? History, Components, Advantages, Limitations, Applications, and Future

Ever wondered how robotic arms achieve precise movement in manufacturing, healthcare, or logistics? It’s all about smart design — from sturdy components and kinematics to advanced control systems. Discover how these elements work together to deliver accuracy, flexibility, and real-world efficiency.

What are manipulator robots? Understanding their Design, Types, and Applications

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Explore how assembly line automation integrates robotics, control systems, and smart technologies to boost efficiency, quality, and flexibility in manufacturing!

Assembly Line Automation: Revolutionizing Modern Manufacturing for Engineers

Gantry systems are industrial robots with a mechanical framework that uses a movable trolley over a linear bridge. They have become an indispensable part of various industries due to their unmatched precision, speed, and flexibility.

Gantry Systems: A Comprehensive Guide to Understanding and Implementing Gantry Technology

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