Chelyabinsk Students Develop Drone to Inspect Industrial Storage Tanks
The device can measure metal wall thickness without direct physical access or shutting down production.
Students at a lyceum in Chelyabinsk have designed a drone equipped with an ultrasonic thickness gauge to inspect the structural integrity of industrial storage tanks. The project won a prize at the regional Inzhenernye Kadry Rossii (Engineering Personnel of Russia) competition and is already ready for deployment in a real industrial setting, the regional Ministry of Industry, New Technologies and Natural Resources told IT Russia.
Addressing a Costly Industrial Challenge
The invention targets a persistent issue for manufacturers. Inspecting large industrial tanks typically requires significant time and expense. Companies must install bulky scaffolding, hire industrial climbers, and — most critically — halt production processes. The inspections also carry safety risks for personnel.
The Chelyabinsk students proposed a simpler alternative. Their drone streamlines inspections, reduces costs, and shortens inspection times. It can measure the thickness of metal tank walls without requiring direct physical access, eliminating the need to suspend production.
Preparing for Deployment
The company that supported development of the drone is preparing to integrate it into its operations. If the system proves effective, the technology could be scaled for use at other industrial facilities.
Earlier, we reported that students in technical classes at Crimean schools, based at Fevzi Yakubov Crimean Engineering and Pedagogical University, developed self-propelled tracked robot tanks, as well as robot paparazzi and robot bartenders.
