Voliro
Airborne Robotics, Revolutionizing work at height
Voliro T
We are proud to present the Voliro T, Voliro’s flying robot. The Voliro T can be equipped with a variety of Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) sensors, depending on the use-case. The payload sensor possibilities are limitless. The Voliro T is capable of Ultrasonic Testing (UT) for thickness measurement, Dry-Film Thickness (DFT) measurement, Pulsed-Eddy Current (PEC) for mapping corrosion under insulation and much more. Thanks to the integration of various assistive technologies and safety-systems, the Voliro T is safe and easy to fly in close proximity to structures. The unique 360o drone design of the platform allows inspection of curved and sloped surfaces. No other flying inspection robot boasts these capabilities. (Patents pending.)
Applications
Safety and efficiency are paramount to various industries. Our flying inspection robot is an innovative solution, allowing our customers to improve the quality of their inspections and preserve their assets. By choosing Voliro’s flying inspection robot, our customers increase the safety of their workers, while significantly reducing inspection costs. Visual and contact-based inspections can be conducted more frequently, and asset maintenance as a whole is significantly improved.
- Energy
- High Voltage Power transmission infrastructures
- Wind Turbines
- Hydro Power Plants
- Civil Infrastructure inspection
- Bridges
- Water distribution infrastructure
- Wastewater infrastructure
- Railway bridge inspection
- Oil & Gas
- Pipeline
- Chimneys & Smokestacks
- Refineries infrastructures
- Offshore Rigs & FPSOs
- Storage Tanks & Pressure Vessels
- Marine fleet and Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure
- Vessel corrosion inspection and monitoring
- Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure and vessel corrosion 3D modeling and interactive data base
Solution
Voliro is developing a 360° drone specialized for industrial inspection. The Voliro T drone (flying robot) can be equipped with a variety of Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) sensors, depending on the use-case. At present we focus on EMAT, UT and DFT sensors. Voliro works with inspection service-providers and asset owners by offering the Voliro T under a subscription-based model. We are currently operating with a select number of industry partners. Contact us to find out more about our Beta program.
The Voliro T is safe and easy to fly thanks to advanced assistive technology relying on a host of onboard sensors. The Voliro T is intended for use in a two-person inspection workflow, allowing the pilot and inspector to work together seamlessly. While the pilot focuses on flying the robot, the inspector can concentrate on the measurement data.
Easy-to-fly Close to Structure
The Voliro T relies on advanced perception systems to stabilize itself in GPS-denied areas close to structures. A real-time video stream from an onboard FPV camera helps to create an intuitive flying experience and provides the pilot with the necessary awareness of the flying robot’s surroundings.
Safe and Reliable by Design
Based on a unique 360o design, the Voliro T is capable of hovering at any given orientation and exerting precise forces on the structure. This allows for stable contact and reliable measurements at predetermined locations, even on curved and tilted surfaces.
Subscription-Based Model
Voliro’s powerful aerial robotics platform is supported by a strong ecosystem of applications delivered via our own and third-party capabilities. In order to provide the best possible customer experience and comprehensive support, Voliro offers the Voliro T under a subscription-based model. The exact service is always adjusted to the customer’s needs.
Simplified Inspection Workflow
Time-synced pictures, videos and thickness measurements can be directly uploaded to the cloud at the end of the inspection routine. Voliro’s reporting solution allows the inspector to review the collected data quickly and generate inspection reports in a matter of minutes.
High-Quality Inspection Data
The Voliro T can be configured to have various Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) sensor payloads. Once the pilot guides the flying robot to place the NDT sensor in contact with the surface, the inspector can view real-time measurement data via a tablet interface and store the measurements for review at a later time.
Technology
Voliro builds upon world-class technology developed at ETH Zurich. Voliro’s flying robot features a host of unique capabilities that distinguish it from conventional flying robots. Our current technology allows us to execute complex missions reliably and semi-autonomously. Our R&D team is constantly working on developing new capabilities for the flying robot. With further technological advancements in the coming years, we envision a fully autonomous flying robot solution that will revolutionize work at height.
360o drone
Voliro’s flying robot employs six degrees of freedom force and torque control. Forces of up to 2kg can be applied in any direction, ensuring stable and reliable contact between the inspection sensor and inspected surface.
Thrust vectoring
Thrust vectoring via tiltable rotors allows Voliro’s flying robot to navigate in 3D space while maintaining a fixed orientation. Tiltable rotor design makes the robot resistant to wind gusts and turbulence close to the structure.
Versatile platform
Voliro’s flying robot can be modified to carry a variety of payloads depending on the use-case. It has been successfully used for Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) applications, such as Ultrasonic Testing (UT) for thickness measurement, Dry-Film Thickness (DFT) measurement and reinforced concrete inspection with Pulsed-Eddy Current (PEC) sensors. The robot is also suited for contactless jobs such as painting and spraying. The payload possibilities are endless, making it a truly versatile platform for work at height.
Mapping and Modeling
LiDAR scanners or photogrammetry techniques are used for accurate 3D mapping and modelling of inspected assets. Data collected using common inspection sensors can be stored on the 3D model for easy visualization. Thanks to the stored 3D map it is possible to log and revisit previously inspected points in the future, enabling corrosion monitoring and assessment of the asset degradation rate.
Power by Battery or Tether
Voliro’s flying robot can be powered with a battery for short flights sufficient for inspection jobs. It is also possible to power the robot via a tether for extended missions, as required for applications such as painting and spraying.
Localization
Voliro’s flying robot is designed for close-to-structure operations where GPS data is unreliable. Data from multiple onboard sensors is fused to avoid obstacles and robustly navigate in such environments.
Autonomous Mission
Our team is working to develop fully autonomous solutions to perform automated missions. Relying only on high-level inputs from the human operator, such a flying robot could automatically execute the entire mission. This would avoid the need to have a skilled pilot present to perform inspection and maintenance jobs in the future.