Applying aerial robotics for inspections of power and petrochemical facilities

Abstract

This paper collects and analyzes a list of application scenarios for inspections of power generation and petrochemical processing facilities using unmanned aerial vehicles. Based on this list of applications, general requirements for future aerial inspection robots are derived to serve as potential benchmarks for further research and development in this field. In this context the paper also discusses the need for unmanned aerial vehicles not only capable of pure visual inspections but also providing the means for inspection by contact.