Drone-as-a-Tool

Our solution is provided as Drone-as-a-Tool (DaaT). We equipped an industrial-grade drone (DJI M300) with lidar technology and machine learning algorithms to provide users with an out-of-the-box solution for automated aircraft drone inspections.  To make it as easy as possible, users receive a large box that includes all hardware and software items that are needed for a complete inspection of any aircraft. To make sure that equipment is always up-to-date and ready-to-fly, we deliver hard- and software including the maintenance, spare parts, and software upgrades. The drone autonomously scans and collects high resolution images of the aircraft structure. The images are then sent and processed in our image analysis software.

Compliant Damage Reports

The aircraft drone inspection data is systematically synchronised with our secure cloud platform: the Mainblades Web Portal.

A digital inspection history that provides detailed reports and allows for secured sharing within you team of experts. Whether that is for GVIs, lightning strikes, paint wear or any other use case. All damages are are accurately positioned according to structural elements such as frames, stations/stringers etc. Automated report generation ensures that multiple inspection task cards can be completed with a single drone flight and that appropriate follow-up actions can be determined.

Your Opportunity

drone as a tool

Improve inspection data

Consistent data output and historical track records.

Shorten turnaround times

Quicker release to service.

Reduce maintenance costs

Less man hours required per inspection.

What is in our package?

drone as a tool
drone as a tool Mainblades

As part of our drone as a tool product, we will provide you with the following hardware and software: 

  1. Top-end inspection drone
  2. High-end camera & lens
  3. Our proprietary ISAAC module
  4. iPad Pro with our Mainblades Flight iOS app for inspections
  5. Our cloud environment Mainblades AI-Dent for data analysis
  6. Industrial quality batteries & charger station
  7. Robust flight safety case for transportation

Details of our hardware and software package

drone as a tool

We use the best industrial drones available on the market – appropriate to the exact situation and deployment, such as in indoor vs. outdoor – as the body for our brain: ISAAC. We integrate ISAAC, the droneand the payload sensor into the resulting tool that does what you want: an automated inspection of your aircraft. 

The DJI M300 is currently our default drone. Learn more about it here.

  • Dimensions: Unfolded, propellers excluded, 810×670×430 mm (L×W×H)
  • Maximum take-off weight: 9 kg
  • Hovering accuracy: vertical: ±0.5, horizontal: ±1.5
  • Max. flight time: 55 min

Meet our navigation module Intelligent Sensing And Automated Control, or short: ISAAC. This module serves as the “brain” when mounted on the drone (“the body”). ISAAC makes the drone capable of precision mapping and navigation around your aircraft. With our onboard ISAAC softwarewe can ensure an automated inspection with full coverage and provide an inspection report, integrated into your maintenance system. 

Updates to the software in terms of new features and improvements in the performance are automatically deployed via our CI/CD pipeline. This holds for all three software packages: onboard ISAAC, Mainblades Flight app, our backend & database in the server or cloud. 

We use the DJI Zenmuse P1, a camera designed to keep pace with the rigours of high-end professional aerial imaging. The camera is equipped with a 45MP full frame sensor, an aperture range of f/2.8-f/16, providing it with the best dynamic range and resolution out of all current DJI cameras. The P1 can be used with interchangeable prime lenses and is integrated on a a 3-Axis gimbal.

The lidar on our drone is the Ouster OS0-32, Ouster’s ultra wide field of view sensor

  • Range: 55 m

  • Vertical field of view: 90°

  • Points per second: 655.360

  • Precision: ± 1.5 – 5 cm

Support equipment on the ground for the engineer:

Our Unique Proposition

drone as a tool
  • Out-the-box solution

    Industrial quality hardware

    Includes all equipment for engineer

    Continuous software improvements

  • Flexibility of usage

    Suitable for indoor and outdoor inspections

    Hangar operations continue normally

    Works for all aircraft types

  • Proprietary software

    Automated inspection flight

    Active machine learning algorithms

    Automated reporting and easy sharing

    Fully integrated back-end for data storage

    Suggestive damage detection based on SRM

outdoor aircraft drone inspection