New developments in building and structure health monitoring by Robot as a Service

Abstract

Amusement facilities such as Ferris wheels and roller coasters that involve high-altitude vehicles are required to periodically inspect the structural framework for corrosion, deformation, cracks, damage, etc. During busy periods, this periodic inspection may have to be carried out at night, which is known to be a dangerous task. Recently, to ensure the safety of inspection workers, attempts have been made to conduct visual inspections using remotely controlled drones. The hovering performance and obstacle avoidance performance of the latest drones have improved significantly, but it is unclear whether they can be used as an alternative to visual inspections performed close to structures. In this report, we are currently verifying whether a drone developed for structural inspection can be used for visual inspection of amusement facilities, and will describe the progress that has been made.