Elios 3 UT Payload
The Elios 3 UT Payload is a drone-mounted ultrasonic thickness measurement accessory developed by Flyability in partnership with Cygnus Instruments, launched in March 2024. It enables remote steel thickness measurements in confined spaces such as ship hulls and storage tanks without human entry, integrating a UT probe, visual inspection camera, and LiDAR sensor on the Elios 3 drone platform.
Overview and Use Cases
The Elios 3 UT Payload is an accessory system designed for the Elios 3 drone that combines ultrasonic thickness measurement (UTM) capability with visual inspection and embedded LiDAR navigation. Developed by Flyability in partnership with Cygnus Instruments, the payload enables remote inspection and measurement tasks in confined and difficult-to-access environments including ship hulls, storage tanks, and other industrial structures where direct human access is hazardous or impractical.
Operation of the system requires a human pilot to fly the drone and position the measurement probe at target locations. The drone incorporates autonomy features including obstacle avoidance, SLAM-based navigation, and smart return-to-home functionality to assist the operator and reduce workload, though these features do not replace the human pilot's role in conducting the inspection task.
Key Capabilities
- Ultrasonic thickness measurement of steel structures via integrated UT probe
- Real-time visual inspection capability through onboard camera
- LiDAR-based navigation and spatial mapping in confined spaces
- Obstacle avoidance and autonomous flight assistance
- Remote measurement capability eliminating need for personnel entry into confined spaces
- Operational efficiency: measurement speed reported up to 10 times faster than conventional methods
- Small team deployment: inspections feasible with teams of two people
Specifications
- Battery capacity: 187 Wh
- Flight time: Up to 17 minutes per charge
- Battery cycles: Up to 100 charge cycles
- Launch date: March 2024
- Manufacturer: Flyability (Paudex, Switzerland) in partnership with Cygnus Instruments
- Base system pricing: $60,000–$70,000 (Elios 3 base platform); UT payload available as standalone add-on or bundled package
Applications
The Elios 3 UT Payload is suited for industrial inspection tasks requiring both visual documentation and quantitative thickness measurement, particularly in environments where traditional inspection methods require human entry into confined or hazardous spaces. Primary application areas include maritime vessel hull inspections, storage tank condition assessment, and other structural steel inspection scenarios in industrial facilities.
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