Avular and Sorama have teamed up to developed a flying sound camera; an innovative system with which inspections can be executed in big, hard to reach, technical installations. This sound camera drone can detect deviations and defects, so future problems, leaks and possible calamities can be prevented, the maintenance can be improved and failure costs can be reduced. The sound camera can ‘listen’ and detect leaks of (toxic) gasses up to a millimetre accurate. The Avular drone makes it possible to detect the deviations and defects with accurate localization and autonomous path planning.

Industrial installations get bigger and bigger, and smart technology gets better and better. Enough reason for Avular and Sorama to team up and combine both companies’ technologies and expertise to provide a solution for these installations.

Such technical installations require inspections to detect defects for maintenance and repairs. But these inspections are often hard to execute because of the inaccessibility of these huge installations; there aren’t enough borders for workers to walk on, so often scaffolding is required. This means shutting down the installations while being repaired. Obviously, this is a complex and expensive process. And that’s where Avular and Sorama can help.

Complementing expertise

Sorama’s sound camera can accurately measure sound vibrations and use it to generate easier to interpret data by visualizing the sound profiles. Developed algorithms can filter noise to prevent interference and only significant deviations are shown. Every installation has its own sound profile (vibrations), so by detecting changes and deviations it is possible to predict or determine possible unsafe situations.

To use the sound camera in such hard to reach places in technical installations, a mobile version of the camera had to be developed. And what’s more dynamic and flexible in use than a drone?

Avular has years of experience with creating technologies for approaching hard to reach and dangerous places. Avular provides the required knowledge and expertise in the field of localization and integration of sensors, energy supply and data processing in a specialized drone. The drone is a modular quadcopter platform that is completely developed in-house. When the sound camera has detected a defect or leak, it’s up to the drone to accurately localize. Using Real Time Kinematic GPS technology, the drone can localize defects up to 2 centimetres accurate.

The partnership is a logical one; both companies complement each other on the expertise needed for this project. After successful development, both Avular and Sorama will bring the system to market, both in their own domain.

The project is a MIT Zuid R&D cooperation project supported by Stimulus Programmamanagement.

Partners: Sorama

Supported by: Stimulus