Industrial Drone Inspections | RayAccess, Inc.

Proudly Serving Los Angeles, Orange County, and Surrounding Areas

RayAccess proudly serves the industrial sector by performing industrial drone inspections. Our FAA-certified UAV pilots capture surface details of hard-to-reach areas. With drone inspections, we are helping industrial clients detect cracking and corrosion before major damage occurs. 

Do you need help with disaster relief or routine maintenance of a large structure, vessel, or storage tank? Hire a FAA-certified drone pilot to document the condition of your industrial asset. Prevent onsite injuries, avoid expensive repairs, and major losses to productivity. Deploy an industrial drone flight inspection today.

Industrial drone inspections document: corrosion, substrate cracks, paint condition, water intrusion sources, structural integrity, bolt & fastener torque, surface discontinuities, load limits, and more.

Applications for Industrial Drone Inspections:

Bridges:

Bridges need routine maintenance to detect any surface irregularities that may impact structural soundness. Industrial drone inspections complement traditional bridge inspections by providing a more efficient means to capture images.

Smokestacks:

Smokestacks discharge smoke from a factory. The reason why they were built so tall is to alleviate environmental concerns. Drones are an effective way to quickly reach and inspect industrial chimneys or smokestacks. 

Dams and Reservoirs:

Dams have been used to create reservoirs for centuries. Fortunately, drones are a new technology to inspect the structural condition and monitor water levels in very old infrastructure.

Utility Towers:

Powerlines, cell towers, and radio towers to name a few types of utility towers that are routinely inspected with UAVs or drones. 

Docks, Piers, Maritime Vessels:

Docks, piers, and container boats are a major part of the global supply chain. It’s essential to inspect this important infrastructure. 

Manufacturing Plants:

The major manufacturing plants use drones to inspect for defects in large machinery and monitor production. Drone inspections are supporting large plants in aerospace, automotive, oil, pharmaceutical, and packaged goods.

Tanks & Vessels:

Drones are used on water tanks and vessels to inspect for potential issues that may cause leaks.

Wind Turbines:

Wind turbines provide a sustainable source of energy but need to be routinely inspected to function properly. Drones are an efficient means to complete inspections for a low cost.

Benefits of Using Drones for Industrial Inspections:

1. Safety: An industrial inspection can require a human inspector to enter a confined space or high area. Since these are hazardous areas, drones are used to replace human workers and reduce safety concerns.
2. Unobtrusive: Unlike scaffolding or cranes that take up physical space on the ground level, drones are much more unobtrusive for industrial inspections.
3. Cost: Industrial drone inspections don’t call for high labor costs. Drones are the most cost-efficient inspection devise for industrial inspections. 
4. Compliance: Routine inspections of manufacturing plants, bridges, utility towers and other structures help keep the aforementioned industrial assets in compliance with regulators. Since drones are low cost, the number of industrial inspections can be increased. More inspections are a direct correlation with compliance.
5. Speed: Drones are quick to deploy. In a short amount of time, drones can obtain valuable information.

How To Choice the Best Industrial Drone Inspector:

A competent industrial drone inspector is focused on safety, quality, and efficiency. Beware of drone providers that don’t have the following qualifications.

1. FAA certifications: Drone pilots need to be competent and possess a Remote Pilot Certificate from the FAA.
2. Visual Inspection Expertise: Besides being able to operate a drone, your inspector should be knowledgeable in visual inspection (visual testing). Obtaining visual images using drones is one thing, but your inspector needs to interpret the visual information to help you make informed decisions.
3. Professional Inspection reports: Make sure you ask the industrial drone inspector to provide a sample report from a recent industrial drone inspection.

Industrial Drone Inspection Capabilities:

Thermal Imaging:

Drones equipped with thermal imaging cameras are able to detect changes in surface temperatures. A change in surface temperature can be a sign of corrosion, sealant issues, or water intrusion.

 Anti-Collision Technology:

Drones equipped with sensors can easily navigate confined spaces such as a vessel. Wind turbines, smokestacks, and container ships can be inspected from the interior via drones equipped with sensors and container cages. 

 GPS Position Tracking Technology:

GPS technology enables drones to provide mapping coordinates for flights up to 10 miles long.  

High-Resolution Photography:

Drones can safely capture clear images and video from a distance via a 32x digital zoom. In case of hazardous zones, drones can get detailed visuals from a distance.

Federal Regulation: 

Industrial drone flights of unmanned aircraft are regulated by the FAA. Under FAA regulations, certified drone pilots are permitted to fly UAVs over people and at night under certain conditions [1]. 

1. The UAV (Unmanned aerial vehicle) has to be less than 55 pounds during takeoff.
2. The drone pilot has to have a readily available certificate for operations and a registration number for the commercial drone. This physical document must be provided to any Federal, State, or local law enforcement officer that asks for it.
3. If an accident occurs causing serious injury to a person or property damage greater than $500, the pilot in command must report the accident to the FAA within 10 days.
4. Prior to deployment, the drone pilot must check the drone to see if it is in condition for safe operation, considering risks to persons and property in the immediate vicinity both on the ground and in the air.
5. The pilot can not allow any object to be dropped from the UAV that creates a hazard to any person or property.
6. No pilot can operate a UAV from a moving vehicle.
7. A UAV must be in long of sight of the drone pilot during the complete duration of the flight.
8. Only one UAV can be operated at a time by the drone pilot
9. No pilot may operate a UAV over a human being unless the human being is directly participating in the operation of the small unmanned aircraft, is located under a covered structure, and meets specific operational categories.
10. The speed of the UAV may not exceed 100 miles per hour. Cannot be higher than 400 feet above ground level or within 400 feet radius of a structure. Lastly, the minimum distance cannot be less than 500 feet below a cloud.

RayAccess employs FAA-certified drone pilots and complies with the aforementioned conditions [2]. 

Alternative Services:

Infrastructure Inspections:

RayAccess performs infrastructure inspections via UAVs and industrial rope access. Both methods are cost-effective, quick to deploy, and undisruptive to operations.  

Industrial Painting:

Industrial painting involves protecting important assets against harsh weather conditions, fire, chemical spills, and corrosion.

Tower Painting:

RayAccess paints a number of towers such as ski lifts, roller coasters, and telecommunication towers to name a few.

Wind Turbine Cleaning:

Wind turbines have oil inside to keep internal parts, bearings, and gears lubricated. Oil leaks can occur, therefore operators must have spill containment plans for wind turbine cleaning.

The RayAccess Difference: 

High Access Expertise:

RayAccess employs skilled professionals that are experienced in using the complete spectrum of high-access equipment. 

FAA certified & Fully insured:

RayAccess employs FAA-certified drone pilots. We are a fully insured, our typical coverage includes $1,000,000 Workers Compensation, $2,000,000 General Liability, $5,000,000 Excess Liability, and $1,000,000 Commercial Auto coverage.

Cross-trade Experience:

In addition to industrial drone inspections, RayAccess is a one-stop shop for rope access inspections, cleaning, painting, and waterproofing. 

References:

1. Federal Aviation Administration. Operations Over People General Overview. https://www.faa.gov/uas/commercial_operators/operations_over_people/
2. Code of Federal Regulations, PART 107 – Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems. https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/chapter-I/subchapter-F/part-107

RayAccess, Inc. provides Industrial drone inspections at the following areas: Los Angeles County (including Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Hollywood, Downtown Los Angeles, Glendale, Santa Clarita, Burbank, San Fernando, Pasadena, Culver City, Marina del Rey, Playa del Rey, El Segundo, Long Beach, Redondo Beach, Torrance, City of Commerce), Orange County (including Anaheim, Santa Ana, Fullerton), Riverside County (including Ontario, Riverside, Cabazon, Palm Springs), San Bernardino County (including Fontana, San Bernardino), San Diego County.