UAV manufacturer Doosan Mobility Innovation and hydrogen fuel service provider ReadyH2 have joined forces to deploy a hydrogen-powered octocopter drone for inspection of a US pipeline.
The drone is capable of flying more than 80 kilometers for nearly 2 hours of flight per mission. Organized by public safety consultancy Skyfire Consulting, the pilot project will also establish procedures for the inspection of domestic pipelines over a six-month period.
As Skyfire CEO Matt Sloane states, “distances like this simply are not possible with battery technology. We are excited to solve the drone flight endurance problem. This is especially critical during emergencies and weather events“.
The convergence of advanced drone hardware with hydrogen fuel technology is pushing the boundaries of how these vehicles can be used.
A significant benefit involves the use of these drones in emergency response. Last year, Doosan delivered medical supplies to the US Virgin Islands. The equipment traveled 66 km to complete the delivery.
The company's current pipeline inspection project will serve as a simulation. After autonomy data is collected, it may potentially be used by public safety agencies during humanitarian crises.