Drone deployment van Terra Inspectioneering and Avular

Terra Inspectioneering has developed a drone for measuring steel thickness, which is often used for inspecting petrochemical storage tanks. The drone is currently operated by an operator located inside the tank. Together with Avular Terra Inspectioneering is developing a method to operate outside the tank, with the drone determining its own position.

Terra Inspectioneering, based in Vlissingen and founded in 2016, specialises in carrying out inspections in confined spaces, such as storage tanks. The focus is on measuring wall thicknesses using drones. The self-developed drone is flown to a specific part of the tank, cleans the surface, and performs the measurement. The operator is currently still inside the space. The desire is for this person to be able to remain outside the tank. For this to happen, the drone must be controllable without direct line of sight. This requires special radio communication. Furthermore, the drone must be able to determine its own position. Due to the steel wall, the use of GPS and many other signals is not possible.

Avular has been manufacturing mobile robots since 2014 and develops components for specific applications. The Eindhoven-based company has designed a number of navigation systems, including the Spectrum system. Thanks to Spectrum, a mobile robot can determine its own position based on ultra-wideband technology. The use of these radio waves may be the solution for navigating in storage tanks. Spectrum works excellently outdoors. In the summer of 2020, an investigation is being carried out to see if this technology is also usable in enclosed, steel spaces. Terra Inspectioneering and Avular hope to be able to present the results in 2020.

October 2020 update

Over the past period, Avular has investigated whether a drone can determine its own position within a tank based on an ultra-wideband project. These tests have shown that these radio waves are unsuitable for accurate positioning in a steel, enclosed space. Alternatives will be examined in the coming period.
Terra Inspectioneering has made progress with its drones. It is possible that the drones can attach themselves to U- and T-shaped trusses, allowing them to be cleaned and measured. Boiler tubes can also be measured. Furthermore, a prototype has been developed to measure tank floors.