"This drone is a new innovation that brings sound across Europe: thanks to this technology, risky industrial controls can be made safer and at lower cost."
This is a sensitive telescopic arm on the main feature that distinguishes this unmanned aerial vehicle from other instruments. Designed by Spain's Center for Advanced Aerospace Technologies in Seville, the semi-automatic drone is equipped with the ability to lift and control equipment. With this drone, materials can be intervened directly.
Miguel Ángel Trujillo, Aeronautics and Systems Research Engineer:
"As you can see, thanks to these high-frequency tools we can easily measure the thickness of a pipe. We can also detect various defects. Sensors need to be in contact with the pipe in order to obtain such information. "
Developed in the field of European technology and innovation, this project targets commercial market.
Today, numerous pipelines in industrial facilities, especially the oil and gas industry, are being studied and repaired by people. This is an expensive and dangerous business that needs a lot of time.
Aníbal Ollero, Robotics professor and project coordinator at Sevilla University:
"The cost of repairing pipelines with this drone will be drastically reduced. For example, a refinery will save 700 thousand euros a year. Inspections will be carried out ten times faster and height-related work accidents can be prevented by this technology. "
This project won the Innovation Radar Award in the European Commission competition in technology and innovation in Hungary. This award is given to the best project produced in the field of the best information and communication technologies with funds of the European Union.
Linda Corugedo Steneberg, Policy strategist and social worker:
"It is very important that people who do not pay taxes know that the money they use is being used efficiently, which allows for innovation and useful new products. You could discover something very nice in the lab, but it's a different matter to keep this finding out: it's supposed to be a project that combines two of the projects you deserve. "
Teresa Cunha, Member of the Jury:
"The project of the lions was successful in persuading us. We think that you will answer an important need in the market. With this new technology, serious money and time will be saved. We also believe that this project will prevent job accidents and save lives. "
This award sheds light on developed technology. Developers involved in the race aim to attract the attention of private investors to turn prototypes into a commercial product.
Anibal Ollero, Robotics Professor and project coordinator at Sevilla University:
The market in this area is quite large, only about 600 million euros are being made in Europe annually, and the number of job accidents in this sector is around 5 thousand.