micro air vehicle or similar to perform internal inspection 300ft high
micro air vehicle or similar to perform internal inspection 300ft high
(OP)
I am looking for ideas related to performing a video/camera type inspection of a ~300ft tall stack with ~8.5ft diameter at it's top with remote controlled equipment. I've seen the T-Hawk from Honeywell and I am looking into it, but I wanted to ask for help on this site about what other options might be available (besides physically climbing up the chimney/stack and dropping a camera down inside).





RE: micro air vehicle or similar to perform internal inspection 300ft high
Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA
RE: micro air vehicle or similar to perform internal inspection 300ft high
If so then in that diameter it could be challenging.
What is Engineering anyway: FAQ1088-1484: In layman terms, what is "engineering"?
RE: micro air vehicle or similar to perform internal inspection 300ft high
RE: micro air vehicle or similar to perform internal inspection 300ft high
Why not a 'weather balloon' or similar with a camera that can be panned etc.? Or are there sharp edge to burst the balloon?
What is Engineering anyway: FAQ1088-1484: In layman terms, what is "engineering"?
RE: micro air vehicle or similar to perform internal inspection 300ft high
RE: micro air vehicle or similar to perform internal inspection 300ft high
If the flow is particularly turbulent, that won't work well at all.
Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA
RE: micro air vehicle or similar to perform internal inspection 300ft high
RE: micro air vehicle or similar to perform internal inspection 300ft high
That'll depend on what you're trying to see. The stability of a small quad-rotor is probably on the order of milliradians.
TTFN
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RE: micro air vehicle or similar to perform internal inspection 300ft high
You could have some structure around it to stop it smacking things or getting caught up on them.
Do you have person access to the top of the stack?
What is Engineering anyway: FAQ1088-1484: In layman terms, what is "engineering"?
RE: micro air vehicle or similar to perform internal inspection 300ft high
So the UAV has to carry lights too, and climb over the top to get in. ... and your RF has to go through the stack.
You may have to climb the stack.
Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA
RE: micro air vehicle or similar to perform internal inspection 300ft high
RE: micro air vehicle or similar to perform internal inspection 300ft high
TTFN
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RE: micro air vehicle or similar to perform internal inspection 300ft high
I accidentally flew over (or near) the stacks of a power station when I was pilot training and it was pretty bumpy!
Now of course this wasn't in the stacks, where the airflow may be more directional etc. but still, I have my doubts as Meryl said.
What is Engineering anyway: FAQ1088-1484: In layman terms, what is "engineering"?
RE: micro air vehicle or similar to perform internal inspection 300ft high
RE: micro air vehicle or similar to perform internal inspection 300ft high
RE: micro air vehicle or similar to perform internal inspection 300ft high
RE: micro air vehicle or similar to perform internal inspection 300ft high
TTFN
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Chinese prisoner wins Nobel Peace Prize
RE: micro air vehicle or similar to perform internal inspection 300ft high
You might have to do a bit of cobbling together to get it all worked out. Like keeping the exhaust from clouding your lens. All together - it should cost less than a grand!!
I have even seen "services" offered that use RC planes or helicopters to do exactly what you are asking.
Not sure how to find them - but I am sure a "Google" would. Maybe "inspection services" or "RC helicopter"+"camera"
RE: micro air vehicle or similar to perform internal inspection 300ft high
Plus, MikeHalloran may have a point about RF issues.
If there are folk offering this service as MiketheEngineer suggests then it sounds like it would be worth talking to them.
What is Engineering anyway: FAQ1088-1484: In layman terms, what is "engineering"?
RE: micro air vehicle or similar to perform internal inspection 300ft high
Real World Solution: Get up there...
RE: micro air vehicle or similar to perform internal inspection 300ft high
will the stack be in commission when you inspect it ? if not, cover the outlet to stabilise the interior airflow, then a UAV might work.
as asked above, what's the scale of the inspection ? visual, ultrasonic ? looking for small damage 1" or larger 1' ??
personally i don't think pumping the thing full of water is such a good idea ... i doubt it was designed to that pressure at the base ?? but there other ways, like suspending the camera on a rope
RE: micro air vehicle or similar to perform internal inspection 300ft high
Problem:
Inspect smoke stake from the interior.
Pass/Fail criteria:
See how black the soot is?
RE: micro air vehicle or similar to perform internal inspection 300ft high
-Kirby
Kirby Wilkerson
Remember, first define the problem, then solve it.
RE: micro air vehicle or similar to perform internal inspection 300ft high
if the stack ID is constant it would be easy to build a track (with a wagon wheel) so the camera position could be controlled and recorded and this could to lowered (carefully, so you don't drop and break it !) down the stack ...
RE: micro air vehicle or similar to perform internal inspection 300ft high
I'm wondering if a blimp or a helicopter could be fitted with the sort of precision station-keeping arrangement used on drillships. That would provide a relatively stable platform from which to lower a camera, etc.
Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA
RE: micro air vehicle or similar to perform internal inspection 300ft high
rb1957, that's what I was thinking when I first said lower the camera on a cable.
What is Engineering anyway: FAQ1088-1484: In layman terms, what is "engineering"?
RE: micro air vehicle or similar to perform internal inspection 300ft high
RE: micro air vehicle or similar to perform internal inspection 300ft high
if you really want to go the UAV route, could you access the base of the stack through the exhaust pipes feeding the stack ? this'd get round the problem of flying the UAV into the stack.
have you talked to people who inspect stacks for a living ?
RE: micro air vehicle or similar to perform internal inspection 300ft high
RE: micro air vehicle or similar to perform internal inspection 300ft high
RE: micro air vehicle or similar to perform internal inspection 300ft high
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRG4xfJcLF4
RE: micro air vehicle or similar to perform internal inspection 300ft high
RE: micro air vehicle or similar to perform internal inspection 300ft high
However it only has a duration of 15 mins, not much for getting a look at the inside of a stack.
I think you would be better off employing a steeplejack.
B.E.
ht
The good engineer does not need to memorize every formula; he just needs to know where he can find them when he needs them. Old professor
RE: micro air vehicle or similar to perform internal inspection 300ft high
What is Engineering anyway: FAQ1088-1484: In layman terms, what is "engineering"?
RE: micro air vehicle or similar to perform internal inspection 300ft high
I thought he just blew them up.
B.E.
The good engineer does not need to memorize every formula; he just needs to know where he can find them when he needs them. Old professor
RE: micro air vehicle or similar to perform internal inspection 300ft high
There is a company that uses "climbers" - guys that actually rappel down buildings/structures and do inspections - minor repairs.
Again don't know their name but Google might find them.
Sounds like an exiting career for the "wild and crazy"...
How you get them to the top?? Big crane, chopper, I suppose.
RE: micro air vehicle or similar to perform internal inspection 300ft high
Blowing them up was the least favorite part of his job apparently.
What is Engineering anyway: FAQ1088-1484: In layman terms, what is "engineering"?
RE: micro air vehicle or similar to perform internal inspection 300ft high
but back at crazyj, ... can you insert a UAV into the inlet pipes ? is the chimney transparent to radio frequencies ?
RE: micro air vehicle or similar to perform internal inspection 300ft high
RE: micro air vehicle or similar to perform internal inspection 300ft high
RE: micro air vehicle or similar to perform internal inspection 300ft high