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Showing posts from March, 2021

How are Drones being used in the solar energy industry?

A drone’s ability to cover vast areas with high-resolution aerial images makes it a tool that companies rely on to optimise their efficiency. So what better way to aid the solar energy industry than using drone technology. With the use of thermal sensors, companies are becoming even more efficient in their procedure of gathering data. In response to the growing concerns of climate change and carbon emissions there has been no better reason to focus on renewable energy. Traditionally, solar panel inspections are carried out using handheld thermal imagers to check for defective cells and cables. But now, drones can eliminate the risk element on having people working in hazardous situation and data can be recorded more efficiently. Drones such as the DJI Matrice 210 RTK V2, equipped with the XT2 thermal payloads can survey large areas within a solar farm, collecting high-resolution thermal images in one single flight. Drones reduce inspection time by 70% in comparison to tra

How are surveyors using Drones?

Surveys are now one of many industries that are making use of drone technology, and it is fast becoming an effective method. A drone captures aerial footage by the use of downward facing sensors, such as RGB or what is termed, multi-spectral cameras and LiDAR payloads. By taking pictures from different angles the data is then tagged with co-ordinates and this is then used to create 2D or 3D maps. So what exactly are the benefits? Ok so, the obvious benefit is that a drone is up to five times faster than land-based methods, according to reports and it also requires less manpower – heightening its cost effectiveness. Another benefit is that a drone can fly almost anywhere, so you are, as a land surveyor, not limited to reachable areas. Unlike traditional methods, you now do not need to close motorways or train lines. So what aspect of surveying are drones used for? Land surveys Following 3D images generated by drone, this data, using photogrammetry software, can produce e

How will drones impact the inspection of wind turbines and blades?

The one thing that sets a drone inspection apart from human inspections is the aspects of safety and efficiency. So when it comes to inspecting wind turbine blades there appears to only be one solution – Drones. Terra Drone, a drone service provider, uses software called Blade Insights, which uses algorithms to identify at least 90% of defects on wind turbine blades. This system has been used on 3,900 blades. According to the Terra Drone website, their wind blade solution consists of a payload carrying a 42 MP camera and LiDAR under a drone. The drone automatically takes pictures of the blades from a safe distance, with the help of the LiDAR. From these pictures, defects of the blade can be measured and all data can be used for repair. And according to other reports there is another method of data collection – manual. Manual collection consists of a drone pilot taking consistent and clear images of all angles of the blade. The pilot will then need to check camera settings, contro

How has Covid-19 affected the Drone industry?

  The current pandemic has affected the world and has made society across all angles of the globe re-evaluate their lifestyles. However, how it affects industry is a completely different area to discuss. And one area that needs exploration is the Drone industry. So has Covid-19 affected the Drone industry? And if so how? Here, Quotes 4 Drones explains it all. It’s not rocket science to understand that the Drone industry was initially met with hesitation but since the pandemic, it looks as though the positive elements to this industry, has out-weighed the negatives. And here’s a few reasons why Drones are a good addition: Sanitisation: In a bid to reduce the rise of the infection rate, the use of agricultural spray Drones are now being used to sanitise public spaces. And while it’s too soon to analyse data to see if this method actually works and if there any risks involved, it is quite clear that, for now, it can only help. Healthcare: With an investment of an esti