Skygauge Drone
Vertical and Horizontal Capabilities
The Skyguage’s payload arm can be rotated 90 degrees up and down, enabling inspections in tricky areas, such as the tops and bottoms of pipelines. This is where most of the erosion happens, making this a critical capability for the Skygauge UT inspection drone. Advanced stability control features, and cameras that pivot alongside the payload make it easy for pilots to fly Skygauge in vertical and horizontal regimes.
Angled Contact
In addition to the pivoting payload, the drone itself can use its gimballed thrust to tilt up or down, enabling inspection of sloped surfaces such as the roofs of storage tanks or the sides of pipes. This capability is critical, to ensure that the Skygauge is able to inspect any point, regardless of asset geometry.
Perform Inspections in GPS denied areas
The Skygauge performs UT readings without the need for GPS in areas with minimal wind. This use case is intended for intenal ship and tank inspections.
The Skygauge design naturally folds onto itself to fit into tighter spaces when not in operation. for extra access requriements the drone can be disassembled to fit in 55cm manways to enter most access hatches. The drone will then be reassembled inside the tank to begin the work.
UT Data collection: Waveform data
The Skygauge probe hosts several different systems and sensors to collect UT thickness data. Once the pilot navigated the drone into an inspection area, the pilot engages the contact mode. With the feedback from the forward facing LiDAR aid the drone moves forward at a fixed speed. Right before contact is made couplant is automatically dispensed.
During contact, the drone automatically adjusts its angle with feedback from the force sensor. These adjustments mimic the precision of hand tested readings. The live waveform is verified by the UT inspector and the pilot flies the drone to the next inspection point. All data is stored on an SD card that is exported to the inspection computer after the job is completed. The inspection computer automatically generates inspection reports with the data.
Payloads Include
- Ultrasonic Testing
- Dry Film Thickness
- Cleaning wire brush
- EMAT