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# Modern Industry and the UT Drone
In every corner of the globe, industries are governed by specific rules and regulations aimed at ensuring the safety of workers, the environment, and the equipment in operation. These guidelines are established by various entities, ranging from national governments and regulatory bodies to international organizations and multinational associations.
## The Challenge of Gathering Reliable Data
Inspections demand accurate and reliable data, yet obtaining this information isn't always straightforward. For assets such as ships or storage tanks, it can be particularly challenging to collect inspection data safely. As a result, alternative methods of accessing these assets are gaining traction, and drones are playing a key role in this shift. They can access hard-to-reach areas at heights, confined spaces, or even underground, providing crucial data that would otherwise be inaccessible. This is where the **UT drone** comes into play.
*Caption: All industries adhere to stringent safety protocols. Sectors like shipping rely heavily on ultrasonic testing equipment to verify the condition of assets.*
## What is a UT Drone?
A **UT drone**, or unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), is specially designed to conduct ultrasonic thickness measurements. This technology allows for the collection of ultrasonic thickness (UT) data from areas that are difficult or unsafe for human inspectors to reach, such as chimney stacks, ballast tanks, or flue ducts.
A **UT drone** can be integrated into **drone-enabled non-destructive testing**, enhancing the efficiency of inspection processes. By offering safer and more efficient access to assets, drones streamline inspection procedures and improve overall asset management.
*Caption: The Elios 3 is an excellent example of a UT drone.*
## How Does a UT Drone Work?
Traditional ultrasonic testing involves placing an ultrasonic testing probe or gauge against the surface of the material being tested. Ultrasonic waves are sent through the material, and the reflection of these waves is analyzed to determine the thickness of the material.
Many standard drones are not equipped to handle tasks like maintaining contact with a surface or hovering steadily for extended periods. This is why **UT drones** are uniquely designed and engineered to function effectively in environments that standard drones cannot handle.
*Caption: A UT drone carries a specialized payload including an ultrasonic thickness measurement probe.*
**UT drones** approach a measurement point, place their probe against the surface, and apply couplant solution to ensure optimal sound transmission. Once the couplant is applied, the drone takes the ultrasonic measurement. Some **UT drones** allow pilots to adjust gain and gates during the measurement based on the material being tested. After completing the measurement, the drone detaches from the surface and moves to another location.
### How Many Measurements Can a UT Drone Take?
The number of measurements a **UT drone** can perform depends on several factors, including flight time, the amount of couplant it can carry, and the skill level of the operator. For instance, the Elios 3 UT drone can complete up to 40 UT measurements per flight.
## Benefits of a UT Drone
As part of drone-enabled non-destructive testing, **UT drones** offer numerous advantages that enhance the safety, efficiency, and accessibility of traditional UT inspections. These benefits ultimately reduce the costs associated with inspections.
### SAFETY
Using a **UT drone** eliminates human exposure to risks involved in inspections. Many measurement points are either at great heights or in confined spaces, requiring special permits and safety protocols for access. Finding personnel who are both UT-certified and qualified for rope access can be challenging, increasing the demand for highly skilled inspectors.
Alternatively, **UT drones** can navigate confined spaces as small as 50x50 cm (20x20 inches), collecting dozens of measurements per flight. This reduces exposure to hazards like toxic gases, asphyxiation, and even drowning. Similarly, **UT drones** can access high-risk areas like chimney stacks or the upper sections of a ship's hull without the need for scaffolding or rope access. In some cases, such as flue duct inspections, regulations require exits at both ends for human entry, necessitating the removal and opening of duct elements. A **UT drone**, however, can enter and exit without human intervention, minimizing downtime during inspections.
*Caption: A UT drone can inspect confined spaces like this tank, eliminating the need for human entry.*
### EFFICIENCY
A **UT drone** inspection can be completed in under an hour. These drones can be deployed within minutes of arriving on-site, and operators can guide them beyond the line of sight using high-definition cameras. Some **UT drones** even feature live LiDAR scans, providing a 3D map of the surrounding area.
Similarly, drones can quickly transition between measurement points, even if they're far apart. This is significantly faster than moving scaffolding or adjusting rope access technicians between locations. Additionally, drones surpass mobile elevated work platforms (MEWPs) in terms of speed, as they can fly both inside and outside assets without height or breadth restrictions.
The efficiency of UT inspections is further enhanced by the recording process. Previously, UT measurements were recorded by shouting values down to someone on the ground, which did not accurately indicate the precise location of each measurement point and carried a high risk of error. Writing values directly onto the asset in chalk was also problematic, as it was not weatherproof and could confuse future inspectors.
In contrast, a **UT drone** can tag each measurement point with its exact location, making it easier to identify areas with higher corrosion or degradation rates and direct maintenance teams to those spots. When these measurements are tagged within a 3D scan—such as with the Elios 3 UT drone—a digital record of the asset is automatically generated, allowing for easy updates over time and tracking of changes.
*Caption: Here are ultrasonic thickness measurements geotagged by a UT drone during flight.*
This streamlined process improves asset management, extending the lifespan of assets through better oversight.
### ACCESS
A **UT drone** can reach places that traditional methods cannot. Whether it’s confined spaces, inside stacks, or even inside machinery, these UAVs enable drone-enabled non-destructive testing in unprecedented ways. Some **UT drones** can even operate in areas without GPS, unlocking access to underground or confined spaces effortlessly.
The enhanced access provided by **UT drones** offers an additional advantage: it makes frequent inspections more feasible. When a **UT drone** can take measurements in minutes at heights where scaffolding might take over a day to install or dismantle, it becomes easier to conduct inspections more regularly. More frequent UT inspections allow for early problem identification and a clearer understanding of an asset’s condition. **UT drones** promote optimal asset management by simplifying the collection of critical data without extended downtime or increased costs.
*Caption: A UT drone can navigate complex environments and gather critical data previously unavailable.*
## UT Drone Case Studies
### Saving 15,000 Work Hours on a Ship Hull
The Elios 3 UT was employed for the periodic inspection of cargo oil tanks aboard a mid-sized vessel. Each cargo tank required a detailed visual survey and UT measurements. Normally, this would involve scaffolding and a team of 16+ people to access all measurement and survey areas. With the Elios 3, all measurements were gathered using the UT drone.
*Caption: Example point cloud with Elios 3 UT payload and spot measurements located in the point cloud.*
Discover this UT drone for ship surveys.
### Drone-Assisted Stack Inspection
A stack at a power generation facility needed inspection. Insulation on the exterior made it difficult to inspect, and the location in Northern Canada added weather challenges. The Elios 3 UT drone provided an ideal solution, flying inside the stack where there was no insulation to gather measurements, eliminating the need to remove insulation or use scaffolding.
*Caption: Thanks to the Elios 3's camera, UT inspections can be completed beyond the visual line of sight. The Cockpit app can also manually adjust gain and gates.*
Read the full UT stack inspection case study.
### Flue Duct and Silo UT Measurements
At a cement plant in Germany, an inspection team sought to evaluate the viability of using a UT drone. They found that the Elios 3 UT could inspect standard assets like flue ducts and silos without scaffolding or disrupting operations, providing easy access to assets that were previously difficult to reach.
*Caption: The Elios 3 and UT payload navigated inside the flue duct despite dust and bends.*
Discover the Elios 3 UT for cement plant inspections.
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This combination of innovation, safety, and efficiency makes the **UT drone** a game-changer in modern industrial inspections.