Technology Overview

Implementing 5G technology with drones allows the possibility for remote access to the inspection data by multiple stakeholders without the need to be on site. With the drone inspection taking place at the various sites, inspection data can be transmitted to a secure VPN server via cellular network. This allows stakeholders to view and make decisions on the inspection data from their remote locations in real-time via the server. With this setup, visual analytics can also be performed at remote locations using more capable computers instead of processing on board the drones, which can result in the drones carrying more weight and limiting their flight endurance. 

Technology Feature

• 5G-Enabled Drones: Transmit large data, allowing for high-resolution videos and images to be sent in real-time

• High-Resolution Cameras and Sensors: Capture detailed images and data of the façade

• AI-Based Analytics: These algorithms can identify defects (e.g. cracks, corrosion, water damage) more quickly and accurately than manual inspection

• Real-Time Data Transmission and Processing: Ensures that data collected is transmitted instantly to a processing unit, either on-site or in the cloud

Potential Applications

• Building façade inspections

• Infrastructure monitoring

• Energy sector

• Emergency response

Benefits

• Increased efficiency

• Higher accuracy

• Safety

• Cost Savings

• Comprehensive documentation

Commercialisation

• The proof-of-concept has been completed, and this technology is available for industry partners for collaborations and licensing.