<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

As the global adoption of uncrewed vehicles gains momentum in firefighting operations, it's evident that these technological advancements hold immense potential. 


Why drones are the next step to managing dire responses globally

Maintenance teams and materials have to travel long distances to reach offshore wind turbines. Can drones take over transport tasks and relieve maintenance personnel? The German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt; DLR) is investigating the possibilities and requirements together with the energy supplier Energie Baden-Württemberg AG (EnBW). In this context, an unmanned DLR small helicopter has now flown to a wind turbine and automatically communicated with it. Seven commercial drone manufacturers will follow up on the findings to further advance the technology developed at DLR. To this end, DLR and EnBW are organising the '<a href="https://www.enbw.com/renewable-energy/wind-energy/our-offshore-wind-farms/offshore-logistics-drones/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Offshore Drone Challenge'</a> (ODC) in June 2024 at the <a href="https://www.dlr.de/ux/en/desktopdefault.aspx/tabid-13303/29379_read-76977/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">National Experimental Test Center for Unmanned Aircraft Systems</a> in <a href="https://www.dlr.de/en/dlr/locations-and-offices/cochstedt" target="_blank">Cochstedt</a>.The wake turbulence of wind turbines can strongly affect drones. The drone requires a lot of power to compensate for the air turbulence. "For automated use in a wind farm, the drone must therefore exchange information with the turbines," says Sebastian Cain from <a href="https://www.dlr.de/ft/en/desktopdefault.aspx/tabid-1336/1837_read-32330/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">the DLR Institute of Flight Systems</a>, which is leading the project. It is important that the drone and the wind turbine 'understand' each other well. "The drone needs to find the optimum route autonomously. To do this, it needs data from the turbines and wind turbines may have to be stopped so that the drone can reach its destination safely." The interruption in turbine operation – and thus in power generation – needs to be as short as possible.<h2>Communication between wind farm system and superARTIS successfully demonstrated</h2>At the beginning of October 2023, the unmanned DLR small helicopter <a href="https://www.dlr.de/de/forschung-und-transfer/forschungsinfrastruktur/grossforschungsanlagen/superartis" target="_blank">superARTIS</a> took off at the EnBW wind farm in Schwienau (Lower Saxony). superARTIS included information on the operating status of the individual wind turbines, weather information and wake turbulence in the calculation of its flightpath. By means of communications interfaces, the aircraft announced its arrival at a wind turbine. A simulated control room approved the approach, and the controlled wind turbine was stopped. The aircraft was able to approach without danger. The turbine was then reactivated. Had the drone not received clearance, it would have automatically entered a holding pattern. For a realistic scenario, the researchers attached a payload to the aircraft. The test did not take place offshore but on land, to make it safer and easier to conduct the experiments. "However, the results can be transferred to offshore installations. The communication between the flying vehicle and the turbine was conceptualised for offshore operation and is being studied in simulations for this purpose," explains Sebastien Cain.<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1699581191327-image-1600-89a9ce22ef9de5a5c8ca1ffcc8ec5c3b.jpeg" style="width: 766px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Together with the energy company EnBW, DLR is investigating whether the use of drones can simplify logistics for offshore wind turbines. Researchers from the DLR Institute of Flight Systems used the unmanned DLR superARTIS helicopter for flight tests. These tests were conducted as part of the 'Upcoming Drones Windfarm' project. Credit: DLR (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0)<h2 id="isPasted">Commercial enterprises benefit from research results</h2>The flight test was an important intermediate step in the 'Upcoming Drones Windfarm' (UDW) project organised by DLR and EnBW. The aim of the project is to find out the conditions and necessary steps for the realisation of drone operations, initially for the transport of materials, and subsequently also for passenger transport. The project also includes the 'Offshore Drone Challenge' (ODC), where drone manufacturers and service providers will present suitable solutions. The stakeholders will be able to benefit from the current research results. Companies Anavia, Flowcopter, Flying Basket, HyFly, NEXaero, Unmanned Helicopters and Volocopter were selected and will now present their technologies in Cochstedt during June 2024."We will see several firsts in terms of the number and size of the aircraft," says Sebastian Cain. "In addition, they will all contribute to making the Offshore Drone Challenge a venue for drone demonstrations. It will also create a space for an exchange on technology, business and regulatory matters." Michael Splett, Head of Offshore Operations at EnBW and a member of the National Drone Council of the German Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (Bundesministerium für Digitales und Verkehr; BMDV), adds: "Offshore wind energy is indispensable for the energy transition and a sustainable energy supply. As operators, it is our task to bring together the two technologies of wind energy and heavy-lift drones. Accordingly, with the ODC we are taking an important step to further explore the realisation of future drone operations."<h2>Test flight maneouvres at the Offshore Drone Challenge in Cochstedt</h2>The Challenge in Cochstedt will focus on testing flight manoeuvres that are relevant to the operation and maintenance logistics for offshore wind farms. This includes software topics as well as design modifications to connect the 'drone' and 'wind farm' systems. The Challenge will be carried out on land, as this is significantly safer, simpler and more cost-effective than the subsequent application at sea. The seven drone manufacturers and service providers will be able put their technologies to the test during the Challenge, which will be held over two days. The various stages include tasks such as picking up and setting down a load as automatically as possible or flying beyond line of sight.<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1699581095450-image-1600-8d391c8898893358433a98bded40d44b.jpeg" style="width: 766px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">The participants of the Offshore Drone Challenge present their technologies in June 2024. The Offshore Drone Challenge will take place at DLR's National Experimental Test Center for Unmanned Aircraft Systems in Cochstedt. Credit: EnBWIn addition to the DLR Institute of Flight Systems in <a href="https://www.dlr.de/en/dlr/locations-and-offices/braunschweig" target="_blank">Braunschweig</a> and the National Experimental Test Center for Unmanned Aircraft Systems, the <a href="https://www.dlr.de/lv/en/desktopdefault.aspx/tabid-18931/30340_read-83666/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">DLR Institute of Air Transport</a> in <a href="https://www.dlr.de/en/dlr/locations-and-offices/hamburg" target="_blank">Hamburg</a> is also involved in the Upcoming Drones Windfarm project.The project is being funded by the <a href="https://www.bmwk.de/Navigation/EN/Home/home.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action</a> (Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Klimaschutz; BMWK).<h3 id="isPasted">Safe operation of unmanned aircraft systems</h3>The aim of the <a href="https://www.dlr.de/en/ft" target="_blank">research and development work</a> at the Institute of Flight Systems is the simple and safe operation of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) under complex conditions – challenging weather conditions, obstacle-rich flight environments and interactions with other traffic. One focus is on unmanned cargo transport, together with the development of hardware and software components and the necessary approvals. For this purpose, the Institute operates several unmanned aerial vehicles as test systems.<h3>DLR National Test Center in Cochstedt</h3>The <a href="https://www.dlr.de/en/images/institutes-1/national-experimental-test-center-for-unmanned-aircraft-systems" target="_blank">DLR National Experimental Test Center for Unmanned Aircraft Systems</a> is located in Cochstedt. The testing centre allows networking between interested parties and enables the further development of technologies for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). The test site in Saxony-Anhalt is accessible to users from start-ups through to the established air transport industry for research and testing. It also acts as an incubator and enabler for start-ups and SMEs. In Cochstedt, UAS technologies can be tested under real conditions before they find their way into everyday use.

The test flight with the unmanned DLR superARTIS helicopter was an important milestone for the 'Upcoming Drones Windfarm' project. The project, which is being carried out by the DLR Institute of Flight Systems together with the energy company EnBW, focuses on the question of whether drones can take over transport tasks for offshore wind farms and relieve maintenance personnel. Credit: DLR (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0)

Logistics for offshore wind farms could be simplified with the use of drones. DLR is working with energy supplier EnBW to determine requirements and possibilities.

Drones to transport personnel and materials to offshore wind farms

Effective time management is essential when conducting inspections on container ships, as it directly influences the cost-effectiveness and competitiveness of maritime cargo transportation. Inspection plays a&nbsp;crucial&nbsp;role in ensuring container ship safety, averting cargo damage,&nbsp;maintaining&nbsp;compliance with environmental rules, and preserving the vessel's value.&nbsp;Ensuring the safety and dependability of container ships involves employing fundamental methods such as contact-based Ultrasonic Thickness (UT) inspections and visual assessments.&nbsp;These inspections proactively&nbsp;identify&nbsp;potential issues before they escalate into significant concerns, thereby aiding in the prevention of maritime mishaps.&nbsp;&nbsp; Regularly inspecting cargo vessels becomes a complex task due to their significant size,&nbsp;necessitating&nbsp;careful maneuvering to access various compartments, structures, and cargo holds.&nbsp;Traditional approaches, like rope access and scaffolding, come with inherent risks and time consumption. Addressing these hurdles, innovative flying robots have&nbsp;emerged&nbsp;as&nbsp;an optimal&nbsp;solution for ship inspections.&nbsp;Avestec's&nbsp;intelligent airborne robot, SKYRON, effectively addresses the difficulties&nbsp;encountered&nbsp;in ship inspections.&nbsp;Watch the video above to see how SKYRON performed UT and visual inspections on a container ship in Vancouver, Canada. It focused on checking the back wall of the cargo hold, the guides for the columns, and the ship's side facing the water. This inspection happened while the ship was parked at the port to unload cargo, highlighting the importance of saving time. SKYRON is a highly advanced flying robot designed for various inspections, reducing risks for&nbsp;humans&nbsp;and cutting down on inspection time and costs.&nbsp;

Watch How Flying Robots Like SKYRON Are Redefining Safety Checks at Sea 

From Robo-Flyers to Smart Scans, Unveiling the Future of Vessel Safety and Performance

Natural disasters, such as floods, hurricanes, earthquakes, and wildfires can cause immense damage to human life and property. In recent years, technology has evolved to the point where uncrewed vehicles can be used to help mitigate the effects of disasters. They excel in areas where human access might be limited or hazardous, enabling them to perform critical tasks such as pre-disaster monitoring, post-disaster assessment, debris removal, supply delivery, and environmental data collection.&nbsp;Critical to utilising uncrewed vehicles for disaster relief is the ability to coordinate vehicles into autonomous fleets and leverage live video links for real-time observation. An example of this is <a href="https://www.cloudgroundcontrol.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Cloud Ground Control (CGC)</a>, a platform that can elevate uncrewed vehicles to be effectively employed in managing and mitigating natural disasters.&nbsp;<h2 dir="ltr" id="isPasted">Utilising uncrewed vehicles for pre-disaster preparedness</h2>Uncrewed vehicles can be leveraged pre-disaster, such as mapping risk areas and identifying changing environmental conditions as well as post-disaster, for example risk mitigation, rescue and relief.&nbsp;The foremost strategy to disaster mitigation is pre-disaster preparedness which refers to the monitoring of disaster-prone areas and detecting changes in environmental parameters. These changes help scientists in predicting when a climatic anomaly or disaster may take place and aid in taking preventive actions. Uncrewed vehicles use sensors to gather data in real-time. This data is then sent to software with special algorithms that automatically analyse it and trigger specific actions based on AI interpretation of the results.CGC, for example, aggregates the data collected from multiple uncrewed vehicles and stores it in a centralised cloud-based platform. This central repository ensures that all relevant data is accessible to decision-makers and experts involved in disaster preparedness. The sensors gather data across a wide spectrum of phenomena, such as temperature, humidity, atmospheric composition, electromagnetic radiation, and more. For instance, temperature sensors employ thermoelectric materials to convert thermal energy into measurable electrical signals. Electromagnetic sensors exploit interactions between electromagnetic fields and their target materials to discern properties like object proximity, material composition, or radiation intensity. In the realm of pre-disaster preparedness, the utilisation of uncrewed vehicles equipped with these sensors brings substantial advantages. Firstly, the real-time data collection capability of these sensors enables the continuous monitoring of key environmental parameters that might serve as early indicators of impending disasters.&nbsp;For instance, sudden shifts in temperature, atmospheric pressure, or gas composition could signify the onset of natural events like wildfires, tsunamis, or seismic activities. By promptly identifying these anomalies, authorities and response teams can be promptly alerted, allowing for timely evacuation and mitigation measures. The robust data security measures offered by platforms like CGC ensure the safeguarding of critical environmental and situational data collected by uncrewed vehicles, enhancing the integrity and effectiveness of pre-disaster preparedness efforts. Moreover, the automated relay of sensor-derived data to software integrated with specialised algorithms enables swift data analysis, extracting meaningful patterns and anomalies from the collected information. This analytical process aids in identifying potential disaster precursors, assisting experts in making informed decisions and predictions. The subsequent activation of specific actions through AI-driven interpretation further enhances preparedness.&nbsp;For instance, if a sudden increase in gas concentration indicative of a chemical leak is detected, AI can trigger the deployment of containment measures, thus minimising potential harm to human life and the environment.&nbsp;<h2 dir="ltr">Mapping an area post-disaster</h2>While preparing for natural disasters is key, once they strike, uncrewed vehicles can be on scene rapidly to provide a response. Uncrewed vehicles can be equipped with an array of sensing technologies to accurately map and analyse disaster-stricken areas. These maps are extremely helpful in aiding and increasing the effectiveness of humanitarian efforts. They allow relief workers to identify critical regions and prioritise response efforts. Thermal camera drones can scan a large area and fly over collapsed structures to identify people in distress. Drones can also be employed for pre-and post-disaster large scale 3D mapping of an area which can help in preventive measures before possible disasters and relief efforts afterwards.&nbsp;Furthermore, uncrewed vehicles contribute to post-disaster mapping, surveying, and assessment. Utilising CGC’s cellular micro-modem CGConnect, uncrewed vehicles can be seamlessly linked to a cloud-based drone fleet management platform, enabling real-time live-streaming, command, and control from a web browser. Instead of having to collect data from multiple drones after they have conducted surveys, CGC allows for a simultaneous data collection and transmission from the entire drone fleet of up to 1000 uncrewed vehicles. This significantly enhances emergency response and disaster relief capabilities.&nbsp;<h2 dir="ltr">Humanitarian Relief</h2>Another important use of uncrewed vehicles in disaster relief efforts is their ability to quickly deliver lifesaving supplies. Drones and other unmanned vehicles are currently being employed to directly deliver food, water, and medical supplies to people affected by natural calamities. Due to their maneuverability and flight capability, aerial drones respond much faster in many areas compared to crewed vehicles.&nbsp;Additionally, uncrewed water vehicles (UWVs) can be used to transport supplies and people across flooded areas. These UWVs are equipped with GPS and obstacle detection systems to navigate submerged streets and obstacles effectively. Using their payload capacity, the UWVs travel through flooded neighborhoods, delivering supplies directly to doorsteps where people are stranded.&nbsp;Technology plays a huge role in this, for example CGC can serve as a central platform for coordinating the delivery of such lifesaving supplies. It enables real-time tracking of multiple vehicles' locations, routes, and cargo status. Relief teams can monitor the progress of supply deliveries and adjust routes in response to changing conditions or emerging priorities.&nbsp;<h2 dir="ltr">An ongoing development&nbsp;</h2>Uncrewed vehicles have the potential to revolutionise the way we respond to natural disasters and save countless lives. By providing critical information and assistance in hazardous environments, uncrewed vehicles are becoming an increasingly important tool in the response to natural disasters. &nbsp;It is important to note, however, that uncrewed vehicles are not a panacea but rather an auxiliary tool in the effort of disaster management. While uncrewed vehicles offer substantial benefits, they complement a comprehensive disaster management approach, underscoring the importance of coordinated relief efforts that integrate emerging technologies like <a href="https://www.cloudgroundcontrol.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">CGC</a> to achieve optimal disaster response outcomes.<h2 dir="ltr" id="isPasted">References</h2><ol><li dir="ltr">Qiu,Stephanie. Cloud Ground Control Empowers Emergency Response And Disaster Relief With 5G Drone Fleet Control. 5 April 2023. [Internet]. <a href="https://www.advancednavigation.com/news/cloud-ground-control-empowers-emergency-response-and-disaster-relief-with-5g-drone-fleet-control/" target="_blank">https://www.advancednavigation.com/news/cloud-ground-control-empowers-emergency-response-and-disaster-relief-with-5g-drone-fleet-control/</a> .&nbsp;</li><li dir="ltr">CORDIS EU Research Results. EU project successfully deploys robots following Italy earthquake [Internet]. <a href="https://cordis.europa.eu/article/id/120405-eu-project-successfully-deploys-robots-following-italy-earthquake" target="_blank">https://cordis.europa.eu/article/id/120405-eu-project-successfully-deploys-robots-following-italy-earthquake</a>&nbsp;</li><li dir="ltr">Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory. NOAA Saildrone Hurricane Observation [Internet]. [cited 2023 May 14]. Available from: https://www.pmel.noaa.gov/saildrone-hurricane/</li><li dir="ltr">Bateman J. China’s Launching Drones to Fight Back Against Deadly Earthquakes. Wired [Internet]. [cited 2023 May 14]; Available from: https://www.wired.com/2017/01/chinas-launching-drones-fight-back-earthquakes/</li><li dir="ltr">Armed with drones, aid workers seek faster response to earthquakes, floods. Reuters [Internet]. 2016 May 16 [cited 2023 May 14]; Available from: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-humanitarian-summit-nepal-drones-idUSKCN0Y7003</li><li dir="ltr">Martin G. Drones aid SANDF disaster relief efforts in KwaZulu-Natal [Internet]. defenceWeb. 2022 [cited 2023 May 14]. Available from: https://www.defenceweb.co.za/aerospace/aerospace-aerospace/drones-aid-sandf-disaster-relief-efforts-in-kwazulu-natal/</li><li dir="ltr">Science and Technology Directorate. Feature Article: Unmanned Vehicles Could Lead in Dangerous Rescue Situations | Homeland Security [Internet]. 2022 [cited 2023 May 14]. Available from: https://www.dhs.gov/science-and-technology/news/2022/06/09/feature-article-unmanned-vehicles-could-lead-dangerous-rescue-situations</li><li dir="ltr">Covid in Scotland: Drones to carry Covid samples. BBC News [Internet]. 2021 Feb 23 [cited 2023 May 14]; Available from: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-56154503</li><li dir="ltr">Frey T. Using Drones to Eliminate Future Forest Fires [Internet]. Futurist Speaker. 2018 [cited 2023 May 14]. Available from: https://futuristspeaker.com/technology-trends/using-drones-to-eliminate-future-forest-fires/</li><li dir="ltr">Partheepan S, Sanati F, Hassan J. Autonomous Unmanned Aerial Vehicles in Bushfire Management: Challenges and Opportunities. Drones. 2023 Jan;7(1):47.&nbsp;</li><li dir="ltr">Drone Amplified. Fire Management System Embedded to Drones [Internet]. Ignis by Drone Amplified. [cited 2023 May 14]. Available from: https://droneamplified.com/ignis/</li><li dir="ltr">Ocean Infinity. Our Technology - Ocean Infinity [Internet]. Ocean Infinity. 2022 [cited 2023 May 14]. Available from: https://oceaninfinity.com/ourtechnology/</li><li dir="ltr">Tabor A. Volcano-observing Drone Flights Open Door to Routine Hazard Monitoring [Internet]. NASA. 2022 [cited 2023 May 14]. Available from: http://www.nasa.gov/feature/ames/volcano-observing-drone-flights-open-door-to-routine-hazard-monitoring</li><li dir="ltr">Bonali FL, Tibaldi A, Marchese F, Fallati L, Russo E, Corselli C, et al. UAV-based surveying in volcano-tectonics: An example from the Iceland rift. Journal of Structural Geology. 2019 Apr;121:46–64.&nbsp;</li><li dir="ltr">eBee X mapping drone - Drones [Internet]. AgEagle Aerial Systems Inc. [cited 2023 May 14]. Available from: https://ageagle.com/drones/ebee-x/</li></ol>

Critical to utilising uncrewed vehicles for disaster relief is the ability to coordinate vehicles into autonomous fleets and leverage live video links for real-time observation. 


How Uncrewed Vehicles are Rising to the Challenge of Natural Disasters

<img alt="A blue line drawing of a person wearing a hard hatDescription automatically generated" src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1695324692147-1695324692147.png" id="isPasted" class="fr-fic fr-dii">For the management of hydropower conveyance systems within pulp and paper facilities, surge tanks stand as critical components, serving as key players for efficient operations. A robust maintenance strategy and a secure work environment are paramount for these systems to thrive. Non-destructive testing (NDT) inspections emerge as a vital practice in maintaining surge tank performance. However, circumstances can be challenging, as showcased in a recent case undertaken by Avestec.&nbsp;The situation presented a dual challenge. Initially, accessing the surge tanks proved intricate due to obstructive towering trees on one front. Subsequently, a haunting specter of potential asbestos contamination&nbsp;emerged&nbsp;on the opposing&nbsp;side, adding&nbsp;an element of danger that&nbsp;couldn&#39;t&nbsp;be ignored. The confluence of these obstacles demanded an innovative approach, one that safeguarded&nbsp;workers&rsquo;&nbsp;well-being while ensuring thorough assessments of the tanks.&nbsp;<img alt="A group of men in safety gearDescription automatically generated with medium confidence" src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1695324672404-1695324672404.jpeg" class="fr-fic fr-dii">&nbsp;In response to these complex challenges,&nbsp;Avestec&nbsp;utilized&nbsp;the capabilities of SKYRON, an intelligent flying robot.&nbsp;SKYRON&nbsp;emerged&nbsp;as the perfect&nbsp;inspection&nbsp;tool, smoothly navigating the intricate&nbsp;environment&nbsp;and flawlessly conducting ultrasonic thickness tests on the tank shell.&nbsp;By doing so, it enabled inspection without exposing human personnel to the hazards.&nbsp;Operating SKYRON was a precise coordination of human&nbsp;expertise&nbsp;and&nbsp;cutting-edge&nbsp;technology.&nbsp;A skilled pilot and inspector collaborated to guide the flying robot with precision. While the robot soared over the dense canopy of trees, the team&nbsp;maintained&nbsp;a safe distance, evading the potential asbestos threat. A&nbsp;first-person&nbsp;view&nbsp;camera&nbsp;system&nbsp;interface&nbsp;facilitated&nbsp;real-time monitoring as SKYRON ventured beyond the limits of direct line of sight.&nbsp;The&nbsp;results&nbsp;of&nbsp;Avestec&#39;s&nbsp;inspection were&nbsp;truly&nbsp;remarkable.&nbsp;Within&nbsp;a single day, SKYRON&nbsp;conducted thorough&nbsp;inspections,&nbsp;collecting&nbsp;577 ultrasonic thickness readings in&nbsp;60 minutes&nbsp;flight time.&nbsp; <img alt="A large metal tower with a ladderDescription automatically generated" src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1695324672418-1695324672418.jpeg" class="fr-fic fr-dii">&nbsp;This achievement marked a transformative change in the methods of inspecting surge tanks. Through overcoming challenging conditions and executing seamless inspections, SKYRON proves its advantages over conventional approaches, triumphing even in the most demanding environments.&nbsp;

SKYRON's Cutting-Edge Solution Overcomes Hazardous Obstacles and Delivers Rapid Results

Revolutionizing Tank Inspections: How Intelligent Flying Robots Ensure Safety and Efficiency

BVLOS, swarm, and military-grade encryption will enable wider and more diverse applications of drones, while cutting-edge software platforms enable operators to improve fleet coordination with more data control


How drone management platforms are enhancing the next generation of drone technologies

Fig 1 - Printed Circuit Board Chips and Radio Components

Unveiling the Duel of Digital Design - A Comprehensive Exploration of History, Syntax, and Applications of the two popular hardware description languages

Verilog vs VHDL: A Comprehensive Comparison

In this episode, we discuss the fascinating world of bioinspired robotics. Discover how researchers have created versatile robots inspired by nature's flight, rolling, and walking abilities.

Podcast: Mighty Morphing All Terrain Robots Made By Nature

Engineering Space is an in-depth documentary series that unveils the new generation of space technologies and the people and companies developing them. Engineers and entrepreneurs are democratizing access to space. Our goal is to enable you to understand the cutting-edge, be inspired, and discover practical insights to apply to your own engineering endeavors.In the first episode of Engineering Space we meet two engineers from Pittsburgh-based Astrobotic; Principal Mechanical Engineer Kerry Quinn and Lead Software Engineer Taylor Whitaker. The space company aims to make space missions feasible and more affordable for science, exploration, and commerce. They define themselves as a lunar logistics company, intending to provide end-to-end delivery services for payloads to the Moon.Astrobotic works out of the largest private facility in the world dedicated to lunar logistics. In this impressive 47,000-square-foot complex, The company builds and operates its lines of landers, rovers, autonomous spacecraft navigation systems, and other space technologies. Once operational, payloads will be controlled directly from the Astrobotic Mission Control Center inside their headquarters located in the heart of Pittsburgh&rsquo;s North Side.<h2 dir="ltr">Developing lightweight moon rovers</h2>The team is developing two rovers specifically for Moon exploration. The CubeRover&reg; is a super-light modular vehicle designed to provide affordable mobility for scientific instruments and other payloads to operate on the surface of the Moon. Because CubeRover&reg; can be as light as just four kilograms &mdash; it can contribute to reduced flight costs, making the Moon more accessible. &nbsp;<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjgzNjIzNTg3MTUwLVJvdmVyMi5wbmciLCJlZGl0cyI6eyJyZXNpemUiOnsid2lkdGgiOjk1MCwiZml0IjoiY292ZXIifX19" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">The Astrorobotics CubeRover&reg;. Image credit: Astrobotics.The Polaris rover was designed to accommodate diverse lunar payloads with distinct mission profiles, like lunar regolith digging or water ice harvesting. Polaris can support up to 90 kg of payload mass, traverse long distances, and provide direct-to-Earth (DTE) communication. Companies, governments, universities, non-profits, and individuals can send payloads to the Moon on Polaris for $4.5M per kilogram of payload. For every kilogram of payload, Astrobotic can provide 0.5 W of continuous power and 10 kbps of bandwidth.In this episode of Engineering Space, we follow along with Astrobotic engineers as they do mobility testing on the engineering model of their CubeRover&reg;. It&#39;s the first time the team has tested the rover with its MLI (Multilayer Insulation) and electronics package. The testing will compare the engineering model with other models in development.&nbsp;<h2 dir="ltr">Mimicking the Moon&#39;s surface</h2>Testing rovers intended for the moon requires the careful creation of an environment that resembles the moon&#39;s surface as closely as possible. The tests are conducted in their test pit of lunar regolith, a material that mimics the fine powdery material covering the moon. Almost all of the moon&#39;s surface is covered in this fine, white powdery material, with only small areas of hard bedrock on the walls of very steep moon craters.&nbsp;Regolith materials are developed by NASA or other space companies. For example, the majority of the regolith used in the Astrobotic testing is made by the <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/centers/glenn/home/index.html" target="_blank">Glenn Research Center</a>. The regolith, known as GRC-1[1] is made from four kinds of quartz silica.&nbsp;Lunar regolith has compactibility properties[2], which means when it is agitated, it dilates or becomes lower in volume as the small particles fall between the larger particles. You can imagine this clearly by thinking of a container of flour that compacts when you tap it on a table. This is also how the iconic astronaut footprints were formed on the Moon.&nbsp;<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjgzNjIyMzQwNzUzLTEwLmpwZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTUwLCJmaXQiOiJjb3ZlciJ9fX0=" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">The rover prototype during testing in the lunar regolith material.This quality of the regolith means that the lightweight rovers developed by Astrobotic are expected to sink down slightly when they are on the moon, rather than moving across its surface like a small rover would on sand on Earth.&nbsp;To mimic the moon without simulating in zero gravity, super lightweight versions of the rovers are developed that account for the difference in gravitational acceleration. Lunar gravitational acceleration is 1.62 m/s^2 (meters per second squared) while Earth&rsquo;s gravitational acceleration is 9.807 m/s^2 (meters per second squared). &nbsp;The moon rover weighs about 6 kg, so the testing version weighs just 1 kg.&nbsp;<h2 dir="ltr">Design of a lunar rover wheel that sinks and turns&nbsp;</h2>The moon surface tests enable the Astrobotic engineering team to look at each aspect of the rover, including its grip on the lunar regolith and the way it traverses different types of terrain, such as flat, ascents, and descents.&nbsp;A really critical part of the rover is the design of its wheels. They must be lightweight, robust to the extreme temperatures of the moon as well as suitable for the fine, flour-like conditions of the lunar surface. The Astrobotic rover has been tested with multiple types of wheels, sizes, widths, and materials.The current design of the wheel is fairly narrow, with regular perforations and grousers (protrusions similar to those on a tank) that allow the rover to move through the powdery surface. This design also enables the rover to complete movements such as figure-eights without the rover having a complex drive system such as articulated directional steering that would add extra weight.&nbsp;The engineering model of the rover being tested is reserved for special testing as it&#39;s the closest prototype to the finished product. To protect the high-value prototype, simultaneous testing happens on other simpler versions of the rover. These tests are often specific to a single task such as hill climbing.&nbsp;<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjgzNjIyMzgzODgzLTUuanBnIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">The perforations and trousers enable the rover to navigate the soft terrain.&nbsp;<h2 dir="ltr">A mission to make the moon accessible</h2>Astrobotic was founded in 2007 and currently has more than 130 employees. It has won several large contracts from NASA and has critical missions with the space agency planned. In addition to the rovers described above, Astrobotic has developed moon landers, a moon power grid, and vision technology.&nbsp;The company&#39;s first mission is set to be the first commercial mission to land on another planetary body. The Peregrine Rover will land on the Gruithuisen Domes of the moon and deliver a range of scientific instruments, technologies, mementos, and other payloads from six different countries, dozens of science teams, and hundreds of individuals. The date of the mission will be announced shortly.&nbsp;In 2024, Astrobotic will undertake the Griffin Mission One (GM1) &nbsp;to the Lunar South Pole. It will deliver NASA&rsquo;s Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover (VIPER). Griffin will land at the South Pole and deploy VIPER to conduct the first widespread ground truth measurements of lunar water ice. Such ice may one day be used for life support and propellant that could assist future deep space explorers. Some of the instruments on PM1 will be operated as a dress rehearsal for their use on VIPER. This GM1 contract was awarded under the <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/commercial-lunar-payload-services" target="_blank">NASA Commercial Lunar Payload Services &nbsp;(CLPS) &nbsp;initiative.&nbsp;</a><h2 dir="ltr">Learn more about cutting-edge space companies and technologies</h2>The Engineering Space documenatry series is a collaboration between engineering community platform Wevolver, and two independent Californian filmmakers and producers; <a href="https://flipbirdfilms.com/" target="_blank">Flipbird Films</a> and Green Run Productions. This first episode is sponsored by <a href="https://www.wevolver.com/profile/duro" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Duro</a>, which develops Product Lifecycle Management software for hardware engineering teams.<blockquote><blockquote>Having previously worked at SpaceX, I know how tough it can be to create technology that can withstand the harsh environment of space. We&#39;re proud to sponsor this Engineering Space episode and help inspire engineers everywhere!</blockquote></blockquote><blockquote><blockquote>Kellan O&#39;Connor, COO and Co-founder of Duro </blockquote></blockquote>Sign up below to get updates when a new &#39;Engineering Space&#39; episode gets released!<iframe src="https://c8056756.sibforms.com/serve/MUIEALrRLDzuUm9n0ZOf8rXFzimkYs9rS_nCzav7CGHGM8USNRBoKa4J5jwLh7jPqbBt7DQ-iIzGhsx_wFSBXNb4KPhpppkyJ93mD2PZJvl1pMCE9zXvsMc7hBtlPYgaIBDpec1zdrmpcCW6xuqC94Suy4YcAasZMu8t7DxX1EoakY6Xqdk8WBelkzJyrbq88OKqzHv_8A0UDOlT" scrolling="auto" allowfullscreen="" style="display: block;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;max-width: 100%;" class="fr-draggable" data-lf-form-tracking-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true" data-lf-yt-playback-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true" data-lf-vimeo-playback-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true" width="540" height="305" frameborder="0"></iframe> <h2 dir="ltr">References</h2>1. Oravec HA, Zeng X, Asnani VM. Design and characterization of GRC-1: A soil for Lunar Terramechanics testing in earth-ambient conditions [Internet]. Pergamon; 2010 [cited 2023 May 9]. Available from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0022489810000388&nbsp;2. Oravec HA, Zeng X, Asnani VM. Design and characterization of GRC-1: A soil for Lunar Terramechanics testing in earth-ambient conditions [Internet]. Pergamon; 2010 [cited 2023 May 9]. Available from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0022489810000388

Space startup Astrobotic mimics the moon's surface material and tests various designs of new moon rovers.

Engineering Space. Episode 1: Developing lightweight rovers for lunar surface exploration

For centuries humans have been fascinated by how easily birds glide through the air. Their instinctive ability to use wind to their advantage is what inspired Morpho, the new inspection drone developed by Elythor. Part winged drone, part quadcopter, Morpho is a hybrid unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that can change shape according to the task at hand. Its adaptive wings extend the drone&rsquo;s flight time and give it greater maneuverability. Combined with embedded sensors and cameras, these features let it fly just as well in enclosed spaces as in the open air, making it ideal for inspecting power plants and other infrastructure like high-voltage power lines, wind turbines, gas pipelines and offshore oil platforms.<iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tOUkn7YmYV4?&wmode=opaque&rel=0&enablejsapi=1&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"></iframe> <h2>Cutting costs by a third and reducing inspection time</h2>When sitting on its four legs, Morpho has a streamlined shape that resembles a tiny rocket. But that quickly changes once its rotors start whirring. The drone&rsquo;s vertical take-off capability means it can be deployed in confined spaces, fly to within just a few centimeters of a piece of equipment, and inspect the equipment without bumping into it. Once the inspection is completed, Morpho can shift its motors and rotate into a horizontal, more aerodynamic position and swiftly fly off to the next inspection site. If the drone encounters strong or rapidly changing winds along the way, it will expand or contract its wings as necessary to maintain its trajectory. It can also glide under the right wind conditions. All that saves time during inspections, but also means the drone can fly for longer. &ldquo;We calculated that using Morpho can cut the time and cost of a drone inspection by an average of 35%,&rdquo; says Harry Vourtsis, Elythor co-founder and CEO. Once Morpho reaches the next inspection site, it can fold up its wings and return to a vertical position in order to fly right up to the equipment.<blockquote>Our design can reduce power use by up to 85% when the drone is flying in the vertical position&nbsp; - Nathan M&uuml;ller, co-founder of Elythor&nbsp;</blockquote><img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1683465765223-003ee723.jpg" style="width: 766px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Harry Vourtsis, CEO and co-founder, and Nathan M&uuml;ller, co-founder of the start-up. EPFL/Alain Herzog&nbsp;<h2 id="isPasted">Asymmetric wing adjustment provides stability in strong winds</h2>&ldquo;Winged drones have the advantage of longer flight times, while quadcopters have better manoeuvrability,&rdquo; says Vourtsis. &ldquo;We combined the two and added an adaptative wing system that reduces the drone&rsquo;s power requirement even further.&rdquo; Most fixed-wing vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) drones represent a compromise, with wings that are small enough to reduce friction during vertical flight yet large enough to provide sufficient lift during horizontal flight. VTOL drones also have trouble taking off and landing in strong winds due to their large surface area perpendicular to the wind.Morpho&rsquo;s wing control system is the result of several years of research at EPFL&rsquo;s Laboratory of Intelligent Systems and has been described in a number of scientific articles. The system includes sensors linked to a software program for monitoring wind direction and speed. Nathan M&uuml;ller, also an Elythor co-founder, explains: &ldquo;The controller automatically selects whether to hold the wings in place or let them move freely with the wind, based on the drone&rsquo;s trajectory and effective speed, along with any changes in wind direction. The wings&rsquo; surface area can also be adjusted either symmetrically or asymmetrically depending on wind direction.&rdquo;The algorithms powering the control system seek not just to optimize the trade-off between air friction and lift, but also to minimize power use. This entails taking advantage of wind currents to let the drone glide or adjusting the wings asymmetrically to regulate its yaw &ndash; or the rotation around its vertical axis. This provides greater stability in heavy winds.Quantitative studies carried out at the EPFL lab show that Morpho delivers considerably better maneuverability and power efficiency. &ldquo;Our design can reduce power use by up to 85% when the drone is fyling in the vertical position,&rdquo; says M&uuml;ller. &ldquo;It also significantly improves the drone&rsquo;s attitude and stability.&rdquo; These benefits mean Morpho can perform inspections under a broader range of weather conditions.<h2>&ldquo;We want to revolutionize inspection platforms&rdquo;</h2>Because Elythor aims to provide customers with a turnkey solution, it&rsquo;s also developing software for compiling and analyzing the data collected by Morpho. &ldquo;We want to revolutionize inspection platforms,&rdquo; says Vourtsis. Today, power plant operators use different kinds of drones depending on where the equipment to inspect is located. And the facilities sometimes stretch over several kilometers and include complicated structures that must be entered, like wind turbines and transmission towersElythor has raised a substantial amount of startup funding and plans to get its drone ready for industrial production in the coming months, with a market launch slated for the end of this year.<hr>References<a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/aisy.202200297" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Wind Defiant Morphing Drones in Advanced Intelligent Systems</a> (January 2023)<a href="https://infoscience.epfl.ch/record/301328" target="_blank">Resilient drones with morphing wings&nbsp;</a>-Harry Vourtsis Thesis (March 2023)<a href="https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/stamp/stamp.jsp?arnumber=9591382" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Robotic Elytra: Insect-Inspired Protective Wings for Resilient and Multi-Modal Drones</a> - IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters (January 2022)<a href="https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/stamp/stamp.jsp?arnumber=9479684" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Insect Inspired Self-Righting for Fixed-Wing Drones</a> - IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters (October 2021)

Elythor, an EPFL spin-off, has developed a new drone whose wing shape can adapt to wind conditions and flight position in real time, reducing the drone’s energy consumption. What’s more, the position of the wings can change, allowing the drone to fly vertically or horizontally. These features make it a perfect candidate for inspecting power plants.

New inspection drone uses wind to lengthen flight times

In this article, we will dive deep into the world of simultaneous localization and mapping using Lidar technology. Lidar SLAM has been gaining popularity in recent years, thanks to its versatility and applications across various domains, including autonomous vehicles, mobile robotics, and indoor mapping.

Lidar SLAM: The Ultimate Guide to Simultaneous Localization and Mapping

<h2 dir="ltr" id="isPasted">Fast track into the cloud with CGConnect</h2>&quot;Enterprises who rely on drones and robotics for business operation often own a diverse range of uncrewed vehicles that may not be compatible with one another. <a href="https://youtu.be/lumuuYy2fHU" target="_blank">CGConnect</a> is designed to solve this pain point by linking them to the Cloud Ground Control platform, regardless of manufacturer or model, turning them into a holistic, connected fleet,&quot; said Michal Weiss, Head of Product at Cloud Ground Control.<iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fogtQQ3N4rQ?&wmode=opaque&rel=0&enablejsapi=1&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"></iframe> <h2 dir="ltr">Plug-and-play connectivity</h2>Using CGConnect, remote users gain instant access to Cloud Ground Control&#39;s features, including real-time telemetry, cloud storage, video and payload data, all from a web browser simultaneously. Weighing only 55 grams with similar sizing to a credit card, CGConnect can be integrated into any product design, offering the following benefits:<ul id="isPasted"><li dir="ltr">Open platform: The customisable open platform operates on the MAVLink standard. This multiplies potential product applications and enables diverse autonomous vehicles and payloads to operate as a coordinated fleet.</li><li dir="ltr">Robotic agnostic: Works flexibly with open-sourced libraries and is agnostic to the type of technology and vehicle enterprises may wish to use.&nbsp;</li></ul><ul><li dir="ltr">White labelled:&nbsp;Available as a white label product, allowing users to rebrand the user interface to complement business branding and coding requirements.</li><li dir="ltr">High-grade security:&nbsp;Utilises military-grade encryption and authentication to safeguard data and IP from vulnerabilities and security breaches, helping users meet compliance obligations.</li><li dir="ltr">Simple and accessible: Revolutionises multi-drone operation by making it simple, cost-effective and accessible to users of every skill grade.</li><li dir="ltr">AI modelling:&nbsp;The platform runs AI algorithms in the cloud, relaying real-time camera feed data to the end user to support versatile missions, such as object detection, tracking and thermal imaging.</li><li dir="ltr">Edge AI: CGConnect supports edge AI to perform intensive object identification and classification directly on the vehicle for dynamic missions.</li></ul><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lumuuYy2fHU?&wmode=opaque&rel=0&enablejsapi=1&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"></iframe> <h2 dir="ltr" id="isPasted">Unlock new markets</h2>Integrating CGConnect into a vehicle&#39;s design expands the product&#39;s functionality and applications while saving development time. This allows manufacturers to fine-tune the product&#39;s competitive advantage, expanding the robot&#39;s potential and ultimately unlocking access to new markets.<iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-jVsC77f5bo?&wmode=opaque&rel=0&enablejsapi=1&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"></iframe> Cloud Ground Control helped Clean Earth Rovers transform its Rover AVPros into an autonomous, connected fleet. By integrating CGConnect, Clean Earth Rovers were able to provide customers with real-time situational awareness and greatly accelerate recovery efforts in ocean health.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jVsC77f5bo&t=22s" target="_blank">Discover the integration here</a>.For more information, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.cloudgroundcontrol.com/manufacturers" target="_blank">www.cloudgroundcontrol.com/manufacturers</a>.&nbsp;

CGConnect, its cellular micro-modem that uses 4G/5G networks to link any drone or robotic vehicle to Cloud Ground Control’s cloud-based drone fleet management platform, enabling live-streaming, command and control from a web browser.

Transform multiple unmanned vehicles into connected fleet with new  micro-cellular modem

Their laser-based sensing approach, detailed in a paper <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0034425723000640?dgcid=author" target="_blank">published</a> Mar. 1 in Remote Sensing of Environment, can accurately detect and quantify both large greenhouse gas leaks and leaks up to 25 times smaller than those typically detected at natural gas facilities using other methods, localizing the emissions source to within a meter. Because it takes advantage of the remote-sensing capabilities of lasers combined with the agility of drones, the new technology can also be used to quickly spot otherwise unseen leaks in hard-to-access areas, an innovation the researchers said unlocks game-changing potential for atmospheric sensing.&ldquo;Current approaches for detecting leaks often rely on handheld infrared cameras that are labor-intensive to operate and insensitive to small leaks, or they use methods that require setting up extensive measurement infrastructure ahead of time,&rdquo; said <a href="https://ece.princeton.edu/people/gerard-wysocki" target="_blank">Gerard Wysocki</a>, associate professor of <a href="https://ece.princeton.edu/" target="_blank">electrical and computer engineering</a> and associated faculty at the <a href="https://acee.princeton.edu/" target="_blank">Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment</a>. &ldquo;But with a drone, you are completely free in how you are able to set up your sensing area.&rdquo;<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1682346135815-20230328_methane_drone_BD_03_CROPPED_v3-300x225+%281%29.jpg" style="width: 766px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">The retroflector mounted onto the drone. Photo by Bumper DeJesus&nbsp;The researchers&rsquo; approach consists of a small drone outfitted with only a retroreflector, a type of mirror that reflects incoming light directly back to the source, and a base station of gas sensing equipment with the capability to track the drone&rsquo;s movement during flight. Bouncing a laser beam off the drone as it flies to set points around a suspected leak allows an operator to pinpoint the source of the leak and measure its intensity.&ldquo;That&rsquo;s really the holy grail of leak detection,&rdquo; said <a href="https://cee.princeton.edu/people/mark-zondlo" target="_blank">Mark Zondlo</a>, study co-author, professor of <a href="https://cee.princeton.edu/" target="_blank">civil and environmental engineering</a>, and associated faculty at the Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment.While drone-based techniques for atmospheric sensing exist, they usually require mounting a gas sensor directly onto a drone, a practice that Zondlo said quickly comes up against some major roadblocks related to how much weight a drone can carry and how risky it is to fly a drone overloaded with costly sensors in hazardous environments.&ldquo;You really can&rsquo;t fit more than one gas sensor on a drone at a time, otherwise it just becomes too big and bulky to fly. And you probably don&rsquo;t want to risk flying an expensive sensor over the lagoon of a wastewater treatment plant or the flaring of a compressor station,&rdquo; Zondlo said.Instead of overburdening the drone with sensors, the Princeton group offloaded the expensive gas sensing components to the base station, which can fit on a mobile platform such as a van, meaning that the drone only needed to carry a small mirror. That change allowed the researchers to use smaller, less expensive drones with longer flight times to collect highly detailed emissions data across large areas, potentially unlocking the ability to monitor entire natural gas transmission and distribution facilities in a single drone flight. &ldquo;Our approach allows us to bypass the major constraints of using drones and enables us to make full use of their potential,&rdquo; Zondlo said. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s really a paradigm shift in how we can use drones for atmospheric sensing.&rdquo;The sensing method could also enable simultaneous measurements of multiple gases, a feat that is exceedingly difficult with other drone-based approaches due to size, weight, and power considerations. Michael Soskind, the first author of the study and a graduate student in electrical and computer engineering, said adding the ability to measure other gases like carbon dioxide and ammonia alongside methane would be as simple as adding other lasers of different wavelengths to the base system. &ldquo;All you&rsquo;d need to do is add a secondary laser to the system,&rdquo; he explained. &ldquo;The rest of the system is already built out to do the work.&rdquo;Because it offers users a great amount of flexibility, Wysocki said he sees the team&rsquo;s approach as a technology platform that could spur future innovation and applications beyond methane leak detection.&ldquo;The most exciting thing is not simply the methane sensing abilities of the technology we developed,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s really about unlocking the capability for researchers and practitioners to use drones and other remote sensing techniques to take detailed measurements of small leaks and reconstruct emissions plumes. It&rsquo;s a technology that opens the doors for efficient leak detection and repair, which can help producers mitigate the safety and environmental hazards of those leaks, while also saving them time and money.&rdquo;The article, &ldquo;<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0034425723000640?dgcid=author" target="_blank">Stationary and drone-assisted methane plume localization with dispersion spectroscopy</a>,&rdquo; was published Mar. 1 in Remote Sensing of Environment. In addition to Wysocki, Zondlo, and Soskind, authors include Nathan Li, Daniel Moore, Lars Wendt, and James McSpiritt of Princeton University, as well as Yifeng Chen, a former graduate student at Princeton University who now works at NEO Monitors. The work was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy&rsquo;s National Energy Technology Laboratory, the National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship, and the High Meadows Environmental Institute through the Walbridge Fund Graduate Award for Environmental Research.<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1682346155567-IMG_3129_toned.jpg" style="width: 766px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Lars Wendt, study co-author, operates the drone during field experiments. (Photo courtesy of the researchers)&nbsp;

Michael Soskind, first author and graduate student in electrical and computer engineering, stands with the drone. Photo by Bumper DeJesus

As evidence mounts that gas drilling and sewer systems leak far more greenhouse gases than previously believed, a team of Princeton researchers has developed a method to pinpoint leaks both big and small for speedy repair.

Using drones and lasers, researchers pinpoint greenhouse gas leaks

This article was first published on&nbsp;<a href="https://news.mit.edu/2023/drones-navigate-unseen-environments-liquid-neural-networks-0419" id="isPasted" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">MIT News</a>. &nbsp;<hr>In the vast, expansive skies where birds once ruled supreme, a new crop of aviators is taking flight. These pioneers of the air are not living creatures, but rather a product of deliberate innovation: drones. But these aren&rsquo;t your typical flying bots, humming around like mechanical bees. Rather, they&rsquo;re avian-inspired marvels that soar through the sky, guided by liquid neural networks to navigate ever-changing and unseen environments with precision and ease.Inspired by the adaptable nature of organic brains, researchers from MIT&rsquo;s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) have introduced a method for robust flight navigation agents to master vision-based fly-to-target tasks in intricate, unfamiliar environments. The liquid neural networks, which can continuously adapt to new data inputs, showed prowess in making reliable decisions in unknown domains like forests, urban landscapes, and environments with added noise, rotation, and occlusion. These adaptable models, which outperformed many state-of-the-art counterparts in navigation tasks, could enable potential real-world drone applications like search and rescue, delivery, and wildlife monitoring.The researchers&#39; recent study, <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/scirobotics.adc8892" target="_blank">published today in Science Robotics</a>, details how this new breed of agents can adapt to significant distribution shifts, a long-standing challenge in the field. The team&rsquo;s new class of machine-learning algorithms, however, captures the causal structure of tasks from high-dimensional, unstructured data, such as pixel inputs from a drone-mounted camera. These networks can then extract crucial aspects of a task (i.e., understand the task at hand) and ignore irrelevant features, allowing acquired navigation skills to transfer targets seamlessly to new environments.<iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RPFbk6D_dNw?&wmode=opaque&rel=0&enablejsapi=1&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"></iframe>Drones navigate unseen environments with liquid neural networks.&nbsp;&ldquo;We are thrilled by the immense potential of our learning-based control approach for robots, as it lays the groundwork for solving problems that arise when training in one environment and deploying in a completely distinct environment without additional training,&rdquo; says Daniela Rus, CSAIL director and the Andrew (1956) and Erna Viterbi Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at MIT. &ldquo;Our experiments demonstrate that we can effectively teach a drone to locate an object in a forest during summer, and then deploy the model in winter, with vastly different surroundings, or even in urban settings, with varied tasks such as seeking and following. This adaptability is made possible by the causal underpinnings of our solutions. These flexible algorithms could one day aid in decision-making based on data streams that change over time, such as medical diagnosis and autonomous driving applications.&rdquo;A daunting challenge was at the forefront: Do machine-learning systems understand the task they are given from data when flying drones to an unlabeled object? And, would they be able to transfer their learned skill and task to new environments with drastic changes in scenery, such as flying from a forest to an urban landscape? What&rsquo;s more, unlike the remarkable abilities of our biological brains, deep learning systems struggle with capturing causality, frequently over-fitting their training data and failing to adapt to new environments or changing conditions. This is especially troubling for resource-limited embedded systems, like aerial drones, that need to traverse varied environments and respond to obstacles instantaneously.&nbsp;The liquid networks, in contrast, offer promising preliminary indications of their capacity to address this crucial weakness in deep learning systems. The team&rsquo;s system was first trained on data collected by a human pilot, to see how they transferred learned navigation skills to new environments under drastic changes in scenery and conditions. Unlike traditional neural networks that only learn during the training phase, the liquid neural net&rsquo;s parameters can change over time, making them not only interpretable, but more resilient to unexpected or noisy data.&nbsp;In a series of quadrotor closed-loop control experiments, the drones underwent range tests, stress tests, target rotation and occlusion, hiking with adversaries, triangular loops between objects, and dynamic target tracking. They tracked moving targets, and executed multi-step loops between objects in never-before-seen environments, surpassing performance of other cutting-edge counterparts.&nbsp;The team believes that the ability to learn from limited expert data and understand a given task while generalizing to new environments could make autonomous drone deployment more efficient, cost-effective, and reliable. Liquid neural networks, they noted, could enable autonomous air mobility drones to be used for environmental monitoring, package delivery, autonomous vehicles, and robotic assistants.&nbsp;&ldquo;The experimental setup presented in our work tests the reasoning capabilities of various deep learning systems in controlled and straightforward scenarios,&rdquo; says MIT CSAIL Research Affiliate Ramin Hasani. &ldquo;There is still so much room left for future research and development on more complex reasoning challenges for AI systems in autonomous navigation applications, which has to be tested before we can safely deploy them in our society.&rdquo;&ldquo;Robust learning and performance in out-of-distribution tasks and scenarios are some of the key problems that machine learning and autonomous robotic systems have to conquer to make further inroads in society-critical applications,&rdquo; says Alessio Lomuscio, professor of AI safety in the Department of Computing at Imperial College London. &ldquo;In this context, the performance of liquid neural networks, a novel brain-inspired paradigm developed by the authors at MIT, reported in this study is remarkable. If these results are confirmed in other experiments, the paradigm here developed will contribute to making AI and robotic systems more reliable, robust, and efficient.&quot;Clearly, the sky is no longer the limit, but rather a vast playground for the boundless possibilities of these airborne marvels.&nbsp;Hasani and PhD student Makram Chahine; Patrick Kao &#39;22, MEng &#39;22; and PhD student Aaron Ray SM &#39;21 wrote the paper with Ryan Shubert &#39;20, MEng &#39;22; MIT postdocs Mathias Lechner and Alexander Amini; and Rus.This research was supported, in part, by Schmidt Futures, the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory, the U.S. Air Force Artificial Intelligence Accelerator, and the Boeing Co.<hr>&quot;Reprinted with permission of&nbsp;<a href="https://news.mit.edu/2023/drones-navigate-unseen-environments-liquid-neural-networks-0419" id="isPasted" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">MIT News</a>&quot; &nbsp;

Makram Chahine, a PhD student in electrical engineering and computer science and an MIT CSAIL affiliate, leads a drone used to test liquid neural networks. Photo: Mike Grimmett/MIT CSAIL

MIT researchers exhibit a new advancement in autonomous drone navigation, using brain-inspired liquid neural networks that excel in out-of-distribution scenarios.

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