Flybotix
- Completed, Live
The company Flybotix SA has come up with a clever way of inspecting water mains and modelling them in 3D. To do this, it uses a drone fitted with an HD thermal imaging camera and an LED light. The drone is designed to fly through large water pipes. Once its underground flight is complete, a digital 3D replica of the pipe is created, which can be used to detect leaks and other problems while ensuring the safety of maintenance staff.
Flybotix drones can be used to check the integrity of water pipes that cannot readily be accessed by people. This technology is a way of providing rapid access to water pipes for inspection.
Trials carried out with the company HydroExploitation have identified operational constraints and the improvements needed to meet industry requirements. A new set of trials is scheduled for the autumn to try out the use of these drones in installations operated by Altis, in different environments such as the long aqueduct pipes in the Louvie area.