Flyability, a Swiss robotics technology company, launches an anti-collision drone for confined space inspections, which can map 3D models of space in real time | Top 100 Swiss Innovations

Image source Flyability official website

Switzerland has ranked first in the global innovation index competitiveness for 12 consecutive years. It is considered an important source of innovation in the world and China's first innovation strategic partner country. It has excellent complementarity with China in the fields of innovation development and technology finance

The "Swiss Innovation 100" organized by Venturelab brings together the best "Swiss Made" start-up and growth-stage technology innovation companies, and is Switzerland's most internationally influential innovation ecological benchmark. Since 2011, the list has annually selected the 100 most groundbreaking Swiss innovative companies with market prospects and the 25 Swiss growth-stage companies with the most unicorn potential across Switzerland, covering life sciences and engineering machinery. , robotics, information and communications, low-carbon technology, food technology and other fields, this year 41 new companies were added to the list.

In order to comprehensively display and introduce the most cutting-edge innovative technologies in Switzerland, Titanium Media APP and Insight Tech, Venturelab’s authorized partner in China, have jointly launched the "Swiss Top 100 Innovations" topic to comprehensively showcase the Swiss pioneering scientific and technological ecosystem. panoramic.

Flyability was named a champion company among Switzerland's top 100 innovative companies in 2019. The company has developed an inspection drone capable of 3D mapping in confined spaces

Flyability, a Swiss robotics technology company, was established in 2014 and focuses on providing solutions for confined space inspection and exploration. The Elios 3 drone developed by the company is the world's first anti-collision lidar drone that can perform three-dimensional mapping indoors. It can be used to perform unmanned inspection missions in hazardous industrial areas, collect data on the confined space environment in real time, and generate 3D Model

Flyability is a spin-out company from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL) and the Intelligent Systems Laboratory, co-founded by Dr. Adrien Briod and Dr. Patrick Thévoz. Company CEO and co-founder Adrien Briod developed and patented an innovative method for drones to fly stably in complex environments while studying for his PhD.

Image source Swiss Innovation Top 100 official website

In industrial fields such as oil and natural gas, regular inspections are essential to discover and troubleshoot hidden dangers in a timely manner. However, shutdown inspections are not only time-consuming, but also affect production. Some dangerous areas, such as oil storage tanks and sewers, usually need to build scaffolding for inspection, which is not only labor-intensive, but also extremely dangerous

As an alternative to traditional industrial inspections, drones can enter confined spaces for inspections, reducing inspection costs and ensuring the safety of workers. According to a Frost & Sullivan report, the industrial drone market is expected to reach 320.8 billion yuan by 2024, accounting for 77% of the global civilian drone market. However, the external materials of general drones are fragile and easily damaged when performing tasks in closed spaces. It is also difficult to obtain high-quality images in dark environments, so their help for industrial inspections is very limited.

The content that needs to be rewritten is: the picture source of Flyability official website

The anti-collision indoor inspection drone Elios 3 developed by Flyability uses a new SLAM algorithm, which can not only maintain stable flight at any time in a closed dark space, but also build a 3D model of the space in real time.

Elios 3 uses the SLAM flight control stabilization algorithm to capture the extremely small movements of the drone through sensors and optical cameras, issues instructions to the flight controller, and controls the drone in real time to maintain stability. Even under extreme conditions, the drone can remain stationary and suspended and accurately perform inspection tasks.

Elios 3 adopts a patented impact-resistant design, equipped with a cage-like "shield" and a unique reversible motor. It is the only one on the market that can recover from a 180° flip state without crashing drone. The design of the "protective cover" complies with IP-44 design standards, is waterproof and dustproof, and can prevent the drone's body, propellers from colliding with obstacles, protecting the drone from inspection and inspection in complex closed environments. Drawing

The SLAM algorithm of Elios 3 combines LiDAR sensors and embedded lidar, allowing drones to build environmental maps in real time and position simultaneously when inspecting confined spaces. Since the LiDAR sensor requires almost no light, Elios 3 can obtain accurate and high-precision data of obstacles or landmarks that are difficult to identify with the human eye in dark, confined spaces (such as oil storage tanks, sewers, etc.), generate high-density point clouds, and Generate high-resolution 3D models in real time on the control software for map and digital twin development

The content that needs to be rewritten is: the picture source of Flyability official website

Elios 3’s modular load bay can also accommodate other devices, and currently supports the installation of RAD Payload and Surveying Payload. RAD Payload can further improve the measurement accuracy of Elios 3 to centimeter level, improving the accuracy of SLAM algorithms when calculating 3D models of cylindrical and symmetrical environments (such as gas collectors, chimneys, pipes or underground passages). Surveying Payload can quickly and accurately measure indoor radiation, accurately locate radiation sources, clearly understand radiation conditions and reduce personnel injuries, and provide accurate data for 3D models

Flyability’s drone products can be used in multiple industries, including oil and gas, power generation, chemicals, mining, maritime, etc. In addition, these drones can also be used in a variety of confined spaces, such as oil storage tanks, boilers, underground mines, underground drainage pipes, and ship cabins. Flyability has reached cooperation with enterprises or public institutions in more than 50 countries around the world

Flyability ranked first in the "Swiss Innovation 100" in 2019, and was rated by the "Swiss Innovation 100" in 2021 and 2022 as a growth-stage enterprise that is expected to become a future unicorn. In 2022, Flyability received 15 million Swiss francs in Series C financing. Flyability plans to further develop new sensors and features to meet the specific needs of different industries and promote the development of commercial industrial indoor inspection drones.

In 2023, the Chinese version of "Swiss Innovation 100" will be released by Insight Tech. Yiming Technology is the authorized partner of the "Swiss Innovation 100" in China, responsible for promoting and operating the list in China, and assisting the project in developing commercial cooperation in China. As a China-Europe (Switzerland) technology innovation investment and industrialization operator, Yiming Technology provides investment, financing and business development services for two-way cooperation between Swiss innovation and Chinese industries, and is engaged in equity investment business

To obtain the complete list and industry list of the "Top 100 Swiss Innovations" in 2023, please visit the Yiming Technology official account or official website.

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