Flyability, renowned for its confined space drones, unveiled a groundbreaking ultrasonic thickness measurement payload for its flagship drone, the Elios 3. This collaboration with Cygnus Instruments, a global leader in ultrasonic testing technology, aims to support certified UT inspectors.
The new live A-scan UT payload facilitates spot thickness measurements of steel in various applications, including ship hulls, tanks, and pipe ranks. Given the critical role of UT in inspection processes, this payload offers a safer means of accessing thickness measurement locations). The Elios 3’s ability to enter confined spaces or reach TML points at height enables swift and secure wall thickness gauging or corrosion surveys. Equipped with a smart arm featuring a laser pointer for precise aiming, the ultrasonic probe can adapt to industrial settings’ complexity with its mounting and shaping options. A remotely operated couplant dispenser ensures optimal ultrasound transmission, with each measurement location-tagged for ease of analysis. Additionally, the Elios 3 can carry a cleaning module to prepare test surfaces for measurement.
Patrick Thévoz, CEO and co-founder of Flyability, emphasised the significance of integrating UTM into visual inspections, stating, “The ability to perform UTM in addition to visual inspections has been one of the most requested features since our first projects with our oil and gas, maritime, and chemical industry customers.”
Quality and standard compliance were paramount in the payload’s development. Flyability describes the partnership with Cygnus as instrumental in integrating and applying ultrasonic measuring technology to the Elios 3. The payload’s software integration with Flyability’s piloting app Cockpit allows real-time visualisation and manual adjustment of the live A-scan. Through-coating and auto measurement modes are available, along with a choice of twin crystal piezo-composite transducers. Benefiting from Cygnus’s 40-year experience in UT markets, the payload empowers operations under ISO 16809 compliance, ensuring accuracy, quality, and reliability in thickness gauging.
Lulu Crosthwaite-Eyre, managing director of Cygnus Instruments, highlighted the partnership’s contribution to safer non-destructive testing inspection across industries, stating, “The partnership’s contribution to safer NDT inspection, across many industries, comes at an important time.”
The UTM payload was announced during the Flyability User Conference in Lausanne, Switzerland, and is available for demonstration and purchase, with the first deliveries expected in Q3 of 2024. This addition broadens the Elios 3’s capabilities for mapping, surveying, and non-destructive testing across multiple industries. More information is available on the Flyability website.
For more information visit www.cygnus-instruments.com
