NASA backed small business revolutionizes aircraft inspections with drones

Traditional pre-flight inspections can take up to four hours and often require manual inspection by personnel climbing around the aircraft. These methods can lead to safety risks and potential diagnostic errors. Near Earth Autonomy's solution, developed under its Proxim business unit, uses drones to complete inspections in less than 30 minutes.

The drones autonomously fly around the aircraft following a programmed task card derived from the Federal Aviation Administration's inspection requirements. These task cards direct the drone along a precise flight path, allowing it to gather high-resolution data quickly and reliably. According to Danette Allen, NASA senior leader for autonomous systems, "NASA has worked with Near Earth Autonomy on autonomous inspection challenges in multiple domains. We are excited to see this technology spin out to industry to increase efficiencies, safety, and accuracy of the aircraft inspection process for overall public benefit."

Captured images are transmitted remotely for expert analysis, enabling technicians to make quicker repair decisions. The system also allows comparisons of new photos to archived images, aiding in the identification of issues such as cracks, popped rivets, or leaks. Automated alerts can prompt re-inspections or flag failed components, further enhancing operational efficiency.

Near Earth Autonomy estimates that their drone-based inspection technology can save airlines approximately $10,000 per hour of downtime by reducing unplanned delays. The system has undergone multiple test flights over the past six years on Boeing aircraft operated by major carriers such as American Airlines and Emirates Airlines, demonstrating its effectiveness.

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