A smart autonomous drone invented by researchers in Germany could reportedly make bridge inspections faster, safer and significantly cheaper by uncovering tiny, hidden cracks in the concrete.

The unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) was made by David Müller, MSc, and Raphael Dyrska, PhD, both research associates at Ruhr University Bochum, and their team. According to the scientists, the autonomous system can explore narrow, poorly lit areas inside bridge structures and scan concrete surfaces for damage.

It uses AI to find hairline cracks that human inspectors might otherwise miss, and can even plan its own flight routes, while storing inspection data directly on a SD card. Its aim is to reduce the workload of bridge inspectors as aging infrastructure faces increasing pressure from traffic and environmental conditions.

The system is currently undergoing lab tests. The team hopes to demonstrate its capabilities inside a real bridge. “Our drone can make inspections safer, faster, and more affordable,” Müller elaborated.

Thousands of bridges in Germany require annual inspections, as many were built between the 1960s and 1980s and were not designed to withstand today’s traffic volumes. Heat, frost and other environmental factors can severely damage their concrete surfaces.

Even though detecting cracks as early as possible is crucial to keeping them safe, conventional inspections can be both time-consuming and prone to human error. “Inspectors normally work on site with a clipboard and a camera. This approach is demanding and prone to error,” Patrick Herbers, MSc, a research assistant at the university, and one of the experts involved in the project, said.

Source link