Autonomous Drone Inspections
Description
The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement within the Department Of Interior, is requesting a trade study of the feasibility of autonomously inspecting off-shore facilities that are non-boardable due to various hazards. These inspections are currently performed by inspectors at a stand off distance from the non-boardable facility on board boats, helicopters, or from land. The distance between the personnel and the facility reduces the quality of inspections that are possible for non-boardable facilities.
Detailed example
Multiple outputs for inspections, including decisions on corrosion levels, if a platform is boardable, does it have methane leaks.
AI / analytics pattern
Other
Automation level / stage
a) Pre-deployment – The use case is in a development or acquisition status.
Expected benefit
Increase the inspection capabilities and efficiency of inspections through the use of small autonomous uncrewed aerial systems (sUAS).
Controls / human review
ATO: No; PIA: Not published