The use of gas detection drones is consolidating as a key solution for industrial industrial safety. Thanks to their capabilities to detect flammable gases or visualize leaks, these equipment allow a faster, safer and more efficient inspection in all types of facilities.
Gas detection with %LEL sensors and OGI cameras
Drones equipped with flammable gas sensors measure the concentration relative to the Lower Explosive Limit (%LEL). These systems are used to check conditions before personnel access confined spaces or areas with limited ventilation. In parallel, OGI cameras allow the visualization of hydrocarbon columns by thermal contrast, facilitating the location of leaks in open air assets.
Swiss manufacturer Voliro has been one of the main drivers of this technology category. Its models such as the Voliro T offer precise hovering, stability in confined spaces, and support for multiple payloads, including infrared cameras and flammable gas sensors. These features make them ideal for critical inspection and maintenance tasks.
Factors accelerating adoption
Stricter emissions regulations, such as the EPA’s new methane rules, have encouraged the use of UAV platforms that can locate leaks and record atmospheric conditions more accurately. Gas detection drones not only streamline review processes, but also improve traceability and preventative decision making.
From oil and gas to wastewater, miningmining and recycling, these drones offer benefits in inspecting tanks, valves, tunnels or enclosed buildings. The combined use of %LEL sensors for pre-entry analysis and OGI cameras to visually confirm the source of a leak is becoming an operational standard in high-risk environments.
More and more companies are incorporating these systems into their industrial safety routines. The ability to record conditions, document alarms and capture geotagged images makes gas detection drones reliable allies in minimizing operational risks and responding quickly to unexpected events.
Source and photo: Voliro