by Niharika Kolte Alekar
This article was originally published in the NDE Outlook column in the May 2024 issue of Materials Evaluation. NDE Outlook focuses on possibility thinking for NDT and NDE. Topics may include technology trends, research in progress, or calls to action. To contribute, please contact Associate Technical Editor Ripi Singh at ripi@inspiringnext.com.
The Need to Innovate Industrial Inspections
In the realm of heavy and process industries, maintaining the integrity and efficiency of assets is a formidable challenge, marked by the need for frequent inspections. Traditionally, these inspections have been labor-intensive, risky, and prone to human error, especially in hazardous or confined spaces. The importance of innovating this critical aspect of industrial operations cannot be overstated, as it directly impacts safety, compliance, and operational continuity.
What Innovations Have Already Been Made?
To date, the industry has incrementally adopted various technologies to enhance inspection processes. Techniques such as manual visual inspections, nondestructive testing, and simple drone overflights have been the norm. These methods, while effective to a degree, still fall short of addressing the core challenges comprehensively. They do not entirely eliminate the need for human entry into dangerous areas, nor do they offer the depth of data analysis required for predictive maintenance. As such, the quest for a more efficient, accurate, and safer solution has been ongoing.
The Potential of AI-Powered Drones in Industrial Inspections
Looking ahead, the fusion of AI-powered drones with advanced analytics stands out as the most promising trend set to redefine industrial inspections. Imagine drones, equipped with an array of sensors, seamlessly navigating through an industrial facility, capturing high-resolution images, and collecting data in real time. These drones, powered by sophisticated AI algorithms, can analyze structural integrity, predict potential failures, and suggest maintenance actions without human intervention.
This approach is not merely theoretical but is on the brink of becoming the standard. Within the next 3–7 years, we anticipate a significant shift toward these smart inspection systems. They offer unparalleled benefits, including dramatically reduced inspection times, enhanced worker safety by eliminating the need for manual inspections in hazardous environments, and considerable cost savings through predictive maintenance.
The technology is expected to evolve further, with drones becoming more autonomous, capable of making decisions based on AI-driven insights and executing complex inspection routines with minimal human oversight. The integration of this technology with existing industrial systems will streamline operations, ensuring that inspections and maintenance are conducted with precision, efficiency, and minimal disruption to operations.
This vision for the future is grounded in the rapid advancements in drone technology, AI, and machine learning. It is a future where industrial inspections are no longer a chore but a seamless, integrated aspect of industrial operations, ensuring safety, efficiency, and sustainability.
The graphic on the left illustrates this future vision, showcasing a drone in action within an industrial facility, equipped with advanced sensors and surrounded by digital interfaces displaying real-time data analysis and predictive maintenance insights. This image captures the essence of the transformation underway, highlighting the efficiency, safety, and predictive capabilities that AI-powered drones bring to industrial inspections.
The Challenges of Using AI-Powered Drones
To unlock the full potential of AI-powered drones in transforming industrial inspections, it is essential to addressing multifaceted challenges. These span technical, regulatory, and workforce domains, necessitating collaborative action across sectors.
- Technical Infrastructure and Integration: A key hurdle is establishing the technological backbone necessary for these advanced systems. Industrial entities need comprehensive data processing and storage facilities to manage the vast amounts of information gathered by drones. Moreover, seamless integration of AI and drone technologies with existing infrastructure requires standardization to ensure compatibility and communication between new and legacy systems.
- Regulatory Frameworks: Current drone operation regulations, especially in dense industrial environments, are restrictive, focusing on safety and privacy concerns. Adapting these regulations to accommodate technological advancements while maintaining safety and confidentiality is crucial. This entails rethinking policies and crafting new guidelines that enable technological progress and operational safety to coexist.
- Workforce Development: The transition to AI-driven inspections demands a workforce skilled in drone operations, data analytics, and AI. Addressing this skills gap is critical for the effective deployment and use of these technologies.
- Path Forward: Overcoming these obstacles requires holistic thinking and community engagement. Collaboration among tech developers, industry leaders, and regulatory bodies is vital for establishing interoperable standards and secure data practices. This collective effort should also aim at revising regulatory barriers, promoting regulations that foster innovation while ensuring safety. Investment in education and training is paramount, with industry and academia partnering to offer curricula that prepare the workforce for the future. Developing a robust digital infrastructure is another cornerstone, necessitating public-private partnerships to build and expand necessary capabilities. Promoting a culture of innovation within the industry encourages adoption and showcases the tangible benefits of AI-powered drones. Sharing successes and challenges through industry forums inspires confidence and guides others on this transformative journey.
Fostering Innovation Together
Embracing AI-powered drones for industrial inspections signifies a step toward a future where technology enhances operational efficiency and safety. Overcoming existing challenges through strategic action and community collaboration paves the way for innovative practices that redefine industrial maintenance. As we navigate this path, the focus shifts from merely adopting new technologies to fostering an ecosystem where innovation, safety, and sustainability coalesce, heralding a new era in industrial operations.
Acknowledgments
Author acknowledges the encouragement from Ripi Singh to engage on this topic and the role of generative AI in supporting the content creation.
Author
Niharika Kolte Alekar, founder of Volar Alta, has propelled the company to the forefront of drone-based inspections in industries like cement, steel, and energy. With her astute business development strategies and strategic collaborations, she has carved a niche in drone-based NDT and analytics. She was the recipient of the Spright Entrepreneurship award at the CES Technology Festival in 2023 and earned a spot in the top 75 women entrepreneurs of India presented by NITI Aayog.