Overview
Vertical drone flights can be a nerve-wracking experience but if done correctly with all safety aspects and mitigation taken into account. they shouldn't be any more difficult than a standard flight.
In this post, we will point out the key safety considerations for vertical drone flights.
This subject was also covered in our recent podcast 'Safety in Vertical Drone Flights'
Why is Safety Important?
Safety in the drone industry is paramount and should be considered a top priority when planning and executing drone flights.
The drone industry is still only in its infancy, incidents can have a negative impact on the industry moving forward.
Safety typically comes from being process-driven, and the same can be useful for not just safety but high data quality.
What Types Of Vertical Missions Are There?
Tower Missions - Cell / Mobile towers, Water Towers, Chimneys
Facade Missions - Building Facades
Wind Turbine - Utilities
And many more!
Tower Inspection
What is your method of capture, do you go up or down or go in circles? This all depends on the tower, its construction, and its surroundings.
Perhaps consider using Hammer Missions fly to draw which will allow for accurate drone positioning by marking the tower manually with the drone.
Consider your options when the drone flys to the back of the structure, can you safely move with the drone to see its position, or do you need spotters?
Pre-configure your go-home procedure. The advantage of using Hammer Missions actually makes the drone go above the height of the structure before returning home, mitigating the risk of the drone hitting the tower.
Facade Inspection
Can you achieve multiple facades in one run or is it safer to do one facade at a time? Consider your options before you fly.
Perhaps consider using Hammer Missions fly to draw which will allow for accurate drone positioning by marking the facade manually with the drone.
Keeping at least 5m from the surface is a good idea - DJI recommends 10m. Don't always trust your onboard obstacle sensors, judge those distances for yourself first.
Always be ready to take manual control in ATTI mode in case of GPS loss.
Buildings block GPS signal, take the drone to a safe height first and then start the mission.
Wind Turbine Inspection
Use the drone to mark the points with Hammer Missions Wind Turbine Mission
One blade at a time or multiple blades at the same time? It's important to think about how you will undertake this and whether it's the safest option.
Automation is good, but manual adjustments can be needed for both safety and data quality!
Pre-flight safety Considerations
It's something all operators should do before every flight to ensure they are mitigating any risk and are operating as safely as they can, the pre-flight safety checks!
Check your GPS and make sure you have a solid signal with adequate satellites
If needed calibrate the drone's compass
Check the signal strength and whether the drone is picking up any magnetic interference.
Have a second landing area in mind in case your designated area becomes compromised.
Check your video feed, is everything as it should be?
Check your surroundings and observe hazards if needed.
Summary
A drone in its entirety is just a camera in the air, but anything that could be deemed as a risk has to have an element of safety.
Obviously, drones have built-in safety features but it is up to the operator to take safety and risk mitigation into their own hands and execute a safe operating practice.
Vertical missions are challenging but not impossible, they require patience, and skill but can be a great differentiating factor.
We hope this post was helpful in learning how to use Hammer App for Wind Turbine Inspection. If you haven't got a Hammer account as of yet and would like to try Hammer, you can get started on our free trial.
To learn more about our enterprise solutions, including mission collaboration, data processing, and AI solutions, please contact us at team@hammermissions.com.
We look forward to hearing from you.
- The Hammer Team