British airline easyJet and the Bristol Robotics Laboratory are teaming up to develop drones that will be used to inspect easyJet aircraft, specifically its fleet of 220 Airbus aircraft.
The project will not require the building of drones, but will involve taking existing drones and modifying them so that they can be programmed to inspect easyJet aircraft.
Drones these days have highly sophisticated visual sensors as well as smart navigation capabilities, making them perfect for improving the quality and speed of aircraft inspections. These unmanned quadcopters can easily navigate around aircraft without the need for ladders or cranes.
The drones are not intended to replace human inspectors but to make their jobs easier. The drones can carry out routine inspections and report damage that might require expert human inspection and repair. This way, engineers will be able to put their skills to use where they're needed the most, while speeding up total inspection time.
These drones will undergo field testing in a few months, and may be rolled out for use as early as next year.
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Drone Inspections
- Opportunity to use highly sophisticated drones equipped with visual sensors and smart navigation capabilities to improve the quality and speed of aircraft inspections.
- Efficient Aircraft Maintenance
- Opportunity to leverage drones to carry out routine inspections and report damage, allowing human inspectors to focus on expert inspection and repair.
- Time-saving Inspections
- Opportunity to shorten total inspection time by using drones to carry out inspections, reducing the need for ladders or cranes.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Aerospace
- Opportunity for aerospace industry to incorporate drone inspections as part of regular maintenance and inspection processes.
- Robotics
- Opportunity for robotics industry to develop and modify drones specifically for aircraft inspection purposes.
- Aviation Services
- Opportunity for aviation service providers to offer drone inspection services to airlines, improving efficiency and reducing downtime.
