The Swiss company introduced a prototype based on the Voliro T drone, capable of generating continuous corrosion maps through aerial ultrasonic inspection.
The company introduced a new drone-based industrial inspection prototype called Drone-Based B-Scan, a technology designed to transform detection and corrosion mapping in industrial infrastructure through non-destructive testing (NDT).
The solution is integrated on the Voliro T aerial platform and aims to replace traditional spot-measurement methods with a continuous scanning system capable of generating thousands of thickness data points during a single inspection.
B-Scan technology for corrosion inspection
The B-Scan system uses aerial ultrasonic inspection to create continuous corrosion maps on industrial assets, enabling the detection of defects that could go unnoticed between conventional measurements.
The new capability significantly increases the amount of data collected during inspections, from around 100 measurements per hour to tens of thousands of inspection points.
The company explained that this technology enables the generation of complete B-scan records, thickness maps, and defect sizing directly during flight, facilitating more accurate analyses for asset integrity programs.
Voliro T drones expand NDT capabilities
The development is based on the Voliro T platform, an omnidirectional drone designed for contact industrial inspections on hard-to-reach structures. The system can operate with different NDT sensors, including ultrasound (UT), EMAT, PEC, and coating thickness measurement.
Thanks to its tilting-rotor design and six-degrees-of-freedom control, the drone can maintain stable contact on curved, vertical, or inclined surfaces, enabling precise inspections without the need for scaffolding, ropes, or extended operational shutdowns.
Voliro indicated that the new solution is aimed at applications such as corrosion under insulation (CUI) inspection, pipeline assessment, elevated structures, and integrity monitoring in sectors such as oil and gas, energy, mining, and the chemical industry.
Voliro seeks industrial field validation
The company confirmed that the system is still in the prototype phase and is currently seeking Voliro T operators and industrial asset owners to carry out early field validations.
“If you manage critical infrastructure and would like to be among the first to test it on your assets, contact us,” the company stated in the official announcement.
The initiative is part of Voliro Lab, the company’s internal technological innovation program focused on new capabilities for industrial aerial inspection.
Source and photo: https://voliro.com/