Specialists from the Center for Unmanned Aerial Systems at Innopolis University have developed an industrial drone for inspecting complex facilities. The device, called InnoSpector, uses SLAM technology for flights without GPS at distances up to 1000 meters. It is equipped with an obstacle avoidance system and can independently return to base in case of signal loss.
The drone is designed to work in mines, tunnels, tanks, and other hard-to-reach places. The basic configuration includes a lidar, a 4K camera with gyroscopic stabilization, and powerful LED lighting. The drone's software builds 3D maps in real time based on lidar data. AI algorithms from Neimarker analyze defects, including corrosion, cracks, and weld damage. This reduces inspection time by 80–90% compared to manual inspection.
Previously, to inspect the integrity of welded seams during the construction of columns at an industrial facility, company employees spent more than 2 weeks just erecting scaffolding, not counting the time for the inspection itself. An industrial drone, on the other hand, allows infrastructure to be inspected within an hour. At the same time, this will be the safest possible inspection for the inspector — remote, using a robotic system.
The device weighs less than 3 kg, operates for up to 23 minutes, and withstands temperatures from -20 to +55 °C. InnoSpector has already been tested in mines, at petrochemical plants, and even in the ventilation shafts of the Moscow Metro. According to the developers, there are only four similar solutions in the world.
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