The 7 Major Benefits of Indoor Drones for NDT in Internal Inspections

RVI tools can range from simple devices like a camera on a rope to advanced systems like Flyability’s Elios 2 drone, designed specifically for internal inspections. Regardless of the tool used, the main advantage of RVI is that it allows inspectors to collect essential data without having to physically enter hazardous environments, reducing risk and improving safety.

Indoor drones, in particular, offer several key benefits when used in NDT. Here are the top seven reasons why they are becoming an essential part of modern inspection processes.

What Is NDT?

Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) involves a range of techniques that allow inspectors to evaluate the condition of materials or structures without causing any damage. While visual data is the most common type of information collected, other methods such as ultrasonic testing or radiography are also used depending on the situation.

The 7 Major Benefits of Indoor Drones for NDT in Indoor Inspections

1. Improved Safety

Entering confined spaces like boilers, pressure vessels, or chimneys poses significant risks to inspectors. Common hazards include falling, getting trapped, and exposure to harmful gases. In some cases, like grain bin inspections, the environment itself can be dangerous if someone falls into the material.

By using an indoor drone, these risks are significantly reduced. Drones like the Elios 2 can perform high-quality visual inspections without requiring human entry, ensuring the safety of personnel while still delivering accurate data.

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2. ROI & Savings

Using drones for visual NDT instead of sending people into hazardous areas can lead to substantial cost savings. Here are some key ways companies benefit:

• No need for scaffolding – Setting up and removing scaffolding can be expensive and time-consuming. Drones eliminate this requirement, saving companies thousands of dollars per inspection.
• Reduced downtime – Faster inspections mean less time spent with assets offline, leading to higher productivity and revenue.
• Lower insurance costs – With fewer risks involved, some companies have seen reductions in liability insurance premiums by using drones for indoor inspections.

Several case studies highlight the financial benefits of using drones. For example, one company saved $2 million during an oil tanker cargo inspection using the Elios 2, while another saved $420,000 with the Elios 1 before upgrading to the Elios 2.

3. Increased Frequency of Inspections

Drones make it more cost-effective to conduct regular inspections. This increased frequency helps detect defects earlier, allowing for timely repairs and extending the life of assets.

In addition to cost savings, more frequent inspections can also contribute to environmental sustainability. A study found that using drones to inspect boilers could reduce CO2 emissions by up to 649 metric tons annually.

4. Data Localization

When a defect is found during an inspection, knowing exactly where it is located is crucial. Flyability’s Inspector 3.0 software enables precise data localization by creating a sparse point cloud that maps out all detected defects during a flight.

This feature improves collaboration among teams, providing quick insights for maintenance crews, site managers, and other stakeholders.

5. Providing a Historical Record

Unlike manual inspections, which may only capture a limited set of images or video, drone flights record the entire asset. This creates a detailed historical record that can be used to track changes over time, investigate incidents, or monitor defect progression.

Drone data can also be converted into 3D models or point clouds, offering even more detailed insights into the condition of an asset at specific points in time.

6. Improved Access within Assets

Some areas of an asset are simply inaccessible to humans due to size, location, or environmental hazards. Drones, however, can reach these places easily. Examples include:

• Sewer inspections – Drones can navigate narrow pipes and avoid dangerous gases or water levels.
• Wind turbine inspections – Drones can access hard-to-reach blade areas, capturing more data than manual methods.
• Bridge inspections – Tight spaces between beams or girders can be inspected safely using a caged drone like the Elios 2.

These capabilities make drones a powerful tool for accessing and inspecting areas that would otherwise be difficult or impossible to reach.

7. Higher Quality Data

Modern drone technology not only captures high-resolution video but also provides data that can be analyzed later. Advanced software can extract measurements and track changes over time, resulting in more accurate and comprehensive records.

This level of detail ensures that inspectors have a reliable, long-term view of an asset’s condition, supporting better decision-making and maintenance planning.

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