Tag Archives: inspection

Inspector 3.0 Changes The Face Of RVI Inspection

Perth, WA, Australia, 2021-Jul-26 — /EPR INDUSTRIAL NEWS/ — Inspection tasks are undergoing rapid advancement thanks to Remote Visual Inspection (RVI) tools, like the Elios 2. However, while there are many advantages to such drone inspection (speed, visualisation of hard to reach areas, increased health and safety etc), it also brings with it one significant challenge: 

That of pinpointing the location of defects. 

Unlike traditional inspection, where the defect is determined by the person in front of it, RVI inspection in areas like boilers requires multiple data input to gain an accurate location. This might include the use of maps, blueprints and barometric measurements. This is a complex task. Getting it wrong can have serious implications, the worst of which is undertaking significant effort (AKA time and money) to gain access to repair the defect, only to find you’re in the wrong place. 

Enter Inspector 3.0 

Inspector 3.0 is the newest version of Flyability’s Inspector software, specifically designed to be used with the Elios 2 for indoor inspections. 

This revolutionary data localisation program allows inspectors to create a 3D map immediately following an indoor drone inspection flight. The advantages of this are many, all of which combine to create one thing – significant savings for repair and maintenance tasks. 

  • Accurate defect location in real time: The whole reason for inspections is to identify defects. Being able to pinpoint them immediately after an inspection flight has taken place means efficient action plans can be immediately put in place.
  • Lowered costs: Wholly accurate localisation of a defect in a hard-to-reach asset area allows for exact planning to gain access. Whether this involves scaffolding, digging through dirt, cutting into the asset or any other means of access, it negates the risk of ending up in the wrong location. Such unhappy incidents are common and result in prolonged downtime and the associated loss of revenue.
  • Better communication: Industrial maintenance often includes many different personnel. From inspectors through to maintenance staff, C-suite level and managers, accurate data localisation can assist in helping everyone understand the needs of the inspection data. A 3D map speaks volumes and bypasses much of the requirement to fully understand technical data, therefore aiding comprehension at all levels and improving communication.
  • Improves customer relations: Performing inspections often causes frustration if a customer can’t see a tangible report of defect locations as soon as its finished. The ability to present them with a 3D visualisation straight away is hugely advantageous to customer confidence.

How Inspector 3.0 Works

1. Launch the indoor inspection mission: Using the Elios 2

2. Collect visual data: On the fly collection of data, allowing you to mark points of interest at the touch of a button

3. Create a 3D map: Following the flight, utilise the mapping feature of Inspector 3.0 to create a sparse map of the asset that includes the points of interest detected. This takes between 20-50 minutes to generate 

The Elios and next-generation Elios 2 continue to evolve, along with the software that goes alongside. Such innovations are key to driving down costs and increasing productivity in an ever-competitive marketplace.

Equipment provider, Nexxis, is committed to procuring such technology and providing the unique availability of a dynamic model that allows their customers to take full advantage of tech as it becomes available. 

Head to www.nexxis.com to discover the Nexxis difference, and why they’re becoming the equipment supplier of choice to industries as diverse as oil & gas, petrochemicals, manufacturing and aeronautical.

The Future of Robotics In The Petroleum & Petrochemical Industries

YANGEBUP, Perth, Western Australia, 23-Nov-2020 — /EPR INDUSTRIAL NEWS/ — The petroleum and petrochemical industries, although booming, face numerous challenges. These are only set to intensify as obtaining crude oil and petrochemicals by conventional and non-conventional means becomes more demanding financially, environmentally and in ever more hostile habitats. For these reasons the use of robotics and autonomous systems to carry out practical tasks is virtually a necessity for the industry to progress.

The time of the robot is well and truly upon us, and strategic use of such technology is set to bring about significant safety advances and cost efficiency for global industry. And this is particularly true when it comes to the production of petroleum and petrochemicals.

Because of the colossal value of these industries, with assets totalling billions of dollars, it’s understandable that those held responsible for ensuring continued profits are decidedly cautious when it comes to embracing new technology.

This means that the use of robots for inspection and maintenance is by no means the norm quite yet. But as more and more proof of the advantages becomes common knowledge, such solutions are becoming more widespread.

Inspection and maintenance challenges 

Historically, achieving efficient inspection and maintenance of assets is a necessary but expensive task that needs to be carried out on a regular basis. Challenges posed include:

  • Significant downtime of assets causing reduced revenue
  • High costs associated with the opening, inspection, cleaning and maintenance of assets
  • Lengthy preparation periods to set up scaffolding and vent toxic gases to create a safe environment for human entry
  • The risk to human life when entering confined spaces and non or reduced oxygen atmospheres
  • The high cost of specialist inspection and maintenance teams
  • Worker compensation following accidents or incidents
  • The risk of human error during inspection
  • Inadequate visualisation of certain structures that are inaccessible for humans

Such challenges have meant that inspections and necessary maintenance can take weeks – even months – to complete. While this is taking place revenue ceases, so the need for speed is paramount. In addition, such challenges create little enthusiasm for companies to carry out proactive inspection over and above what’s required by legal industry standards. 

Enter the robots

Rapidly advancing technology over the past decade has brought us to an era that’s truly able to overcome many of these challenges. And whilst we’re not quite in the realms of the most futuristic of sci-fi movies yet, the tech continues to advance. Today, robots such as crawlers and drones are able to reduce multiple challenges of inspection and maintenance, providing the opportunity for companies to not only meet health and safety requirements, but to exceed them, therefore reaping the benefits of proactive asset analysis and associated reduction in maintenance costs

Advantages of using robotics

As technology increases it becomes possible for companies to take advantage of robots to carry out tasks that present significant hazards to human life. Not only does this lower exposure to danger in this high-risk industry, but also provides a financial edge thanks to minimizing employee costs and improving manufacturing efficiency.

The latest in robotic developments have been dedicated towards ensuring they can be employed in real world situations, not simply in a laboratory. Over recent years the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has been pivotal in pushing such technology forwards, organising various tests and challenges for robotic manufacturers to overcome. These include the ability to handle tools, open doors, overcome unexpected obstacles, open valves and more.

Manufacturers have also had to ensure that such automaton tools are able to withstand explosive blasts. 

Recent advancements

The speed of technological advancement is expanding fast. Perhaps the most significant progression is that of increasing autonomy. Once only able to perform the basics, the capacity for robots to carry out more complex tasks is now either in existence or poised on the cusp of becoming reality. These include:

  • The ability to navigate autonomously
  • Identifying and solving problems
  • Learning from their experiences and those of others
  • Sharing a workspace with humans and interacting with them. 

Current and future opportunities

The four major industry processes of exploration, development, production and site abandonment are all ripe for increased usage of robotic technology to reduce costs, improve efficiency and increase safety.

Throughout all these stages there are many opportunities for robot use, especially in that of inspection and maintenance. Current and potential applications as the industry and technology moves forward include:

  • Using robots to enter confined spaces to carry out tasks. Not only does this dramatically decrease human risk, but negates the need for unnecessary downtime to prepare for human entry. Currently such health and safety procedures account for up to 80% of asset downtime, therefore the adoption of a robotic element within the workforce provides cost reduction on a significant scale.
  • The use of robots for other potentially hazardous tasks: These include working at height, working within low or non-oxygen environments, firefighting and working in non-temperate conditions.
  • As a replacement for humans in remote locations: Robots that can carry out more complex operations will reduce the need for human operators in locations such as offshore sites.
  • Reducing safety preparations in hazardous work locations: For example, a robot working at height or in a difficult to reach location will not require health and safety measures such as scaffolding and other preparations, therefore reducing costs, downtime and risk.

Furthermore, the reduced cost and time effect of using advanced robots allows for the adoption of much improved inspection and maintenance programs. Proactively carrying out such tasks leads to a considerably reduced chance of any unplanned maintenance issues and/or the occurrence of catastrophic events.

In short, the use of robots in the future will lead to a significant reduction in downtime of industry assets, lowered costs, increased human safety and the ability to work in ever more hostile, hard to reach environments.

In a global marketplace that’s predicted to reach over $7 trillion US dollars* (Oil & Gas) by 2024 and $958.8 billion** (Petrochemical) by 2025, companies, although sensibly judicious in their eagerness to take advantage of such technology, are fast-becoming aware of the competitive edge it can bring.

* https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2018/07/12/1536385/0/en/Oil-Refining-Market-worth-over-7-trillion-by-2024-Global-Market-Insights-Inc.html

** https://www.grandviewresearch.com/press-release/global-petrochemical-market

Logo:

Nexxis logo

New York Fire Extinguisher Service

New York, NY, 2019-Nov-07 — /EPR INDUSTRIAL NEWS/ — If you are searching for a local Fire Extinguisher Service and Sales Company providing the complete New York Metropolitan region from Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island, Manhattan, Long Island, Suffolk and Nassau County New York with the highest quality of fire extinguisher inspection, repair and installations across the region. As a licensed and experienced fire protection company we provide many business owners and consumers with fire life safety products. Partnering with Ansul, Buckeye, and Kidde, New York Fire Extinguisher Service is dedicated to serve the New York area with prompt and honest service.

The licensed New York company – NY Fire Extinguisher Service – is experienced enough to not just offer not just fire extinguisher equipment but complete restaurant fire prevention and ventilation solutions for the metropolitan region of NYC.

“We maintain many portable fire extinguisher and automatic fire extinguishing systems and will notify you so they never fall out of service as they must be maintained and be ready to fight any fire that arises”

NY Fire Extinguisher Service, is available for free quotes. So give them a call 877-687-0006, or email them at nyfireextinguisherservice@gmail.com for further information.

Via EPR Network
More Industrial press releases