THE UAV : THE INSPECTION TOOL OF THE FUTUR

The UAV: the inspection tool of the future? (Article in the Le MONITEUR Magazine, December 16th, 2005)

Under the false appearance of a remote control toy for adults, the UAVs or miniUAVs could turn into an FOFI: flying object for inspection. The first machines, developed based on model helicopters, were difficult to fly. There are many traps in low altitude inspection: foliage, electrical cables… Not forgetting the turbulent winds close to the works. In order to be freed of these difficulties, the miniUAVs intended for the inspection of works of art (often derived from military applications) are technologically concentrated. Michel Guilhot, president of the Workfly association, adjusted the "Eyesfly" UAV, a 1.30 m diameter small flying saucer with an electric motor.

"Our Eyesfly UAV is totally faired, which allows it to get close (even touch) to obstacles. It has, besides the camera, an automatic stabilization system and an aboard computer that informs it about the surrounding environment in order to simplify flying".

And the Workfly engineers foresee an evolution for the equipment, for example, through the use of a fuel battery in order to gain autonomy in the flight. We bet that even the recent incident of the Bertin Technologie company – two miniUAVs, destabilized by impetuous wind gusts, crashed during an inspection demonstration of the facade in the yard of the Sully Hotel in Paris, last December 1st -, these flying objects without a pilot could be a precious aid for inspecting works with difficult access.
* Internet Sites: bertin.fr and workFly.fr