GPS World

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  • Interference? The fiber-optics option

    Interference? The fiber-optics option

    The use of GPS signals is certainly commonplace in today’s technological age. Various locating systems, tracking systems and precision timing applications all use the common decoded NMEA and 1 PPS signals from a GPS satellite in a multitude of different ways.

    When a direct line-of-sight path to GPS satellites is unavailable, the GPS signal must first be received where there is a direct line-sight path, decoded, and then the resulting signals routed to where they are needed. The Luxlink GPSX-1001 has been designed to do exactly that.

    LuxLink GPSX-1001 fiber-optic transceiver.

    The GPSX-1001 is the result of a specific request by a research group of a midwestern U.S. university for seismic studies in an underground mine. More than 20 units were installed in several branches of the mine and have been in continuous operation successfully for two years.

    The GPSX-1001 transceiver is a multifunctional device that can be used as a transmitter or a receiver/repeater. In operation, the NMEA signal and the 1 PPS signal are both multiplexed by the GPSX-1001 (set as a transmitter) and launched into a single optical fiber. The multiplexed signal is then received from the fiber at a second GPSX-1001 set as a receiver/repeater. Here, the NMEA and 1PPS signal are de-multiplexed and available as individual outputs (see Figure 1).

    FIGURE 1. GPSX-1001 block diagram.

    The original multiplexed signal is also then reapplied to another integral optical transmitter for use at a third receiver/repeater. Additional receiver/repeaters can be connected in the same fashion to allow the signals to be transmitted to numerous locations.

    Fiber-optic cable is virtually immune to electrical interference and can be routed wherever convenient without regard to the proximity of electrical noise producers, water or high voltages. Because fiber optic cable is non-conducting, ground loops that can result in loss or corruption of the GPS signals are virtually eliminated. The bandwidth of the fiber and circuitry in the GPSX-1001 is such that the fast rise and fall times of the 1-PPS signal are maintained and the NMEA signal is as noise free as the original input.

    Transmission distances using the GPSX-1001 can extend to a mile or more. For longer distances, additional GPSX-1001 units can be added.

    The GPSX-1001 is user configured by means of front-panel DIP switches. Integral LED indicators are provided to continuously monitor the NMEA, 1 PPS, power and optical link signals. Power is obtained from simple wall type plug-in adapters or low voltages and need not be regulated because the GPSX-1001 units contain internal regulators.

    Figure 2 shows three GPSX-1001 units in a typical GPS signal distribution system. The NMEA interface can be RS-422 or RS-232, depending on the requirements of the signal source. The 1 PPS signal is 50-ohm TTL compatible. Each transceiver pair will produce signals over distances in excess of several miles and will operate from –35° to +75° C (–31° to 167° F), allowing them to be used both indoors and outdoors. Units are available for use with multimode or single-mode fiber and with standard fiber-optic connectors.

    FIGURE 2. GPS NMEA/1 PPS transmission system.

    Irwin Math is president of Liteway Inc. and has more than 30 years of experience in the design and development of fiber-optic transmission systems. He was also the founder of Math Associates Inc., one of the pioneering firms in fiber-optic transmission system technology in the early 1980s.

  • ION GNSS+ Twitter contest

    Headed to ION GNSS+ 2017?

    Tweet a selfie with @GPSWorld Group Publisher and Editor-in-Chief Alan Cameron OR in the GPS World booth at ION GNSS+ and you will be entered to win two tickets to the GPS World Leadership Dinner!

    To qualify, simply tweet a selfie with @gpseditor Alan Cameron, or in the GPS World booth, tag @GPSWorld and use #iFoundAlan. One winner will be randomly selected at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 28, and contacted via direct message on Twitter. Photo must be taken at ION GNSS+ 2017 and submitted prior to noon on Sept. 28.

  • Unicore launches high-precision GNSS receiver module

    Unicore launches high-precision GNSS receiver module

    Unicore has launched its next-generation quad-system GNSS module, the UM482.

    The UM482 is a multi-frequency high-precision heading module with a small footprint, supporting the satellite signals BDS B1/B2, GPS L1/L2, GLONASS L1/L2, Galileo E1/ E5b and SBAS.

    The module is designed for applications such as robotics, drones, intelligent drives and mechanical control.

    Unicore’s UM482 high-precision heading/positioning module.

    Key features of the UM482 module:

    • Tiny 30 × 40 millimeter footprint, all-system multi-frequency high-precision heading module, surface-mount (SMD) packaging
    • Supports GPS L1/L2, BDS B1/B2, GLONASS L1/ L2, Galileo E1/E5b
    • 1-cm RTK positioning accuracy and 0.2-degree heading accuracy with 1-m baseline
    • Dual antenna input with support of antenna signal detection
    • Supporting simultaneous output of heading and positioning, 20-Hz data output rate
    • Adaptive recognition of RTCM input data format
    • On-board micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) integrated navigation

    The UM482 GNSS RTK module adopts Unicore’s new-generation Nebulas II chip and UGypsophila real-time kinematic (RTK) algorithm.

    Based on high performance data-sharing technology and the simplified operation system of the Nebulas II chip, the UGypsophila RTK algorithm dramatically optimizes matrix processing, the company said. It can involve all satellites from GPS, BDS, GLONASS and Galileo in RTK and heading processing, shorten RTK and heading initialization time to 5 seconds and significantly improve the reliability and accuracy of RTK and heading.

    Furthermore, the UM482 integrates the onboard MEMS chip and U-Fusion integrated navigation algorithm, resulting in optimized continuity and reliability of accurate heading and positioning output in tough environments such as city canyons, tunnels and overpasses. Inputs of odometer and external higher performance inertial components are supported.

    The UM482, along with all the UM and UB family of receivers, will be on display at booth B4018 for the duration of the Intergeo 2017 trade show, which takes place Sept. 26-28 at Berlin Exhibition Center, Berlin, Germany.

  • Measure offers drone-based inspections of wind farms

    Measure, a U.S. provider of drone services to enterprise customers, has added turnkey wind farm inspection capabilities to its portfolio of aerial data collection solutions.

    Wind farm operators can outsource preventive maintenance inspections to Measure’s drone pilots and data analysts for fast, accurate, safe and timely problem identification. The service helps avert critical turbine failures and efficiency losses while reducing repair downtime and its associated revenue impact.

    The company’s drone inspection solution has already been used to successfully examine more than 400 MW of wind farms. The package spans all inspection and reporting functions, including state-of-the-art drone equipment, safe and insured flights by experienced drone pilots, efficient data processing that pinpoints both blade damage and severity, and damage reports and analytics available through a secure online portal.

    Dry Lake Wind Power Project, Arizona (Photo: U.S. DOE)
    Dry Lake Wind Power Project, Arizona (Photo: U.S. DOE)

    Measure’s new wind farm inspection solution expands the company’s services to the renewable energy sector, which also include a robust suite of drone inspection solutions for solar plants that was announced in July.

    The suite includes solar-panel inspections, drone-based site overview and maintenance, site shading and terrain analysis, thermal inverter scans, tracker misalignment detection and vegetation management analysis.

    Benefits of Measure’s drone-based blade and tower inspections include:

    • 75% faster inspections than other methods, averaging 30 minutes or less per turbine compared to as much as two hours for manned inspections. This reduces excessive time commitments and allows large wind farms to be inspected more frequently. It also reduces labor costs for inspection and frees employees for other tasks.
    • Decreased injury risk in the field, with no threat of falls to inspectors climbing turbine structures or blades.
    • Better defect and damage detection because drones get closer to turbine blades than ground cameras, capturing clearer images. Undetected defects on the blades can result in continuous efficiency losses as high as 6% and associated revenue loss of up to $10,000 annually per turbine.
    • Maximized turbine availability and revenue generation through early problem detection that helps prevent critical failures and associated downtime for repairs.
    • Actionable data, including classified damage reports and historical portfolio analysis documenting turbine defects, failure rates and efficiency losses over time. Damage reports can be customized to display only the information needed by blade repair technicians with a few clicks.

    “Many wind farms don’t inspect their turbines on a preventive maintenance basis, and those that do use ground crews with conventional cameras and zoom lenses. Under both conditions, there is a risk of failing to detect turbine damage or structural defects on blades that can worsen over time and lead to a catastrophic failure,” said Harjeet Johal, Measure vice president of energy infrastructure and a 10-year veteran of the renewable energy industry with a Ph.D. in electrical engineering. “Our drone-based inspections provide multiple advantages that can help wind farm operators operate at peak capacity.”

    “Our global wind portfolio is currently 1,033 MW with 877 MW in the U.S. alone. Knowing the health of our wind assets is essential for us to provide reliable power to our customers,” said Adam Brown, U.S. Drone Program Lead at The AES Corporation, a Fortune 200 global power company. “Using drones to inspect the blades and towers makes it safer for our people as they can stay firmly on the ground while still being able to inspect, at scale, hundreds of wind turbines to ensure they have the highest availability.”

     

  • In Hurricane Irma’s wake, EagleView captures imagery of property damage

    Post-Irma hurricane damage is captured in aerial imagery by EagleView.
    Post-Irma hurricane damage is captured in aerial imagery by EagleView.

    EagleView Technologies has captured post event aerial imagery of two million properties in the state of Florida following Hurricane Irma.

    EagleView is a provider of aerial imagery and property data analytics for government agencies, insurance carriers and other private-sector organizations,

    With an image library dating back to 2002 in the state of Florida, EagleView is able to provide emergency services, public safety agencies, property assessors and county GIS departments with ample imagery from before and after Hurricane Irma occurred. Combining high-resolution imagery and advanced machine learning capabilities, EagleView can identify the severity of property damage following a hurricane or other extreme weather event.

    “Hurricane Irma inflicted severe damage on properties all over Florida and affected millions of people throughout the state,” said EagleView President Rishi Daga. “With a view of more than two million properties in Florida, we are assisting the agencies that use our imagery with their efforts, so they can continue to help all of those who have been affected.”

    The two million properties have been photographed via specialized camera rigs in fixed-wing aircraft. The images are taken from an orthogonal (top-down) perspective as well as at oblique angles from all four cardinal directions. Oblique aerial imagery enables insurance claims adjusters to view all sides of a home’s exterior and gives emergency response crews greater insight into the storm’s effects in their communities.

    “Our goal was to begin capturing and processing imagery as soon as possible to assist in recovery efforts, and we have done so at record speed,” said Jay Martin, Senior Vice President of Operations at EagleView. “Our next phase is to put boots on the ground and complete property inspections up close using drones as part of our EagleView OnSite solution.”

    Post-hurricane image capture and processing will continue to take place throughout the upcoming weeks.

    EagleView is completing the phase of image capture via fixed-wing aircraft and will soon move in to completing property inspections with the use of unmanned aerial systems (UAS), bringing post-event data directly to insurance claims adjusters.

    As of Sept. 18, thousands of drone inspections have been scheduled through Friday, Sept. 22.

  • Gas sensors take flight on UAVs

    Gas sensors take flight on UAVs

    Remote sensing of atmospheric gas concentrations is important in monitoring global greenhouse gas levels and industry monitoring. Monitoring is usually carried out via satellite sensing or laborious ground-based measurements.

    With aerial measurement, a wider area can be measured efficiently, and repeat measurements taken of days, weeks and months gathering time-series data.

    Custom drone with gas sensor (circled).

    This spring, a study by QuestUAV and the British Geological Survey (BGS) used a custom QuestUAV Q200 airframe equipped with two sensors, one tuned for methane (CH4) and one for CO2. The sensors use an open-path gas mass spectrometer — a fiber-guided laser beam passed laterally across open atmosphere on top of the drone to a reflector and then back to the sensor itself.

    Signals from the sensors were fed into a multi-core processing unit on board the drone. All readings were stamped with time and location provided by the standard GPS and flight units in the Q200.

    The completed drone was commissioned in March. Over several months, trial flights were run over gas releases initiated manually on the ground over the test site. The recorded sensor data was processed immediately on return to base, and the data passed to BGS for analysis and appraisal.

    The team plans to fine-tune the operational workflow and maintenance tasks for regular missions.

  • Canada awards drone airspace management contract

    Canada awards drone airspace management contract

    Public Services and Procurement Canada has awarded a contract to Ottawa-based Kongsberg Geospatial for an emergency operations airspace UAV tracking system.

    Kongsberg Geospatial, an Ottawa-based developer of geospatial software technology, was awarded the contract to produce an Emergency Operations Airspace Management System (EOAMS) for evaluation by Canadian government agencies for safely managing drones at emergency and disaster scenes.

    The contract was awarded via a competitive request for proposals under the Canadian Safety and Security Program in a project for Defense R&D Canada’s Centre for Security Science.

    A small UAV is shown surveying the movement of a forest fire. The EOAMS would allow first responders to deploy drones at disaster scenes without endangering other emergency response aircraft or commercial flights. (Photo illustration: Kongsberg Geospatial)

    The EOAMS is a portable display that interfaces with a variety of local sensors, including radar and Automatic Dependence Surveillance — Broadcast (ADS-B) receivers to give a clear picture of the airspace around disaster areas.

    The system is intended to allow first responders to safely use unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to survey the area, without risking collision with other emergency aircraft, including water bombers or rescue and police helicopters.

    The system would also provide a warning to first responders if unapproved UAVs approach the area – providing a degree of protection against what is becoming an increasing problem with the proliferation of small consumer camera drones at fires and accident scenes.

    The Government of Canada is expected to begin flight operations testing with the new Emergency Operations Airspace Management System in the summer of 2018.

    “Securing and managing the airspace around disaster scenes or at big public events is becoming a real concern for all levels of government,” said Paige Cutland, IRIS program director for Kongsberg Geospatial. “Even if a drone operator isn’t acting with malicious intent, they have the potential to cause considerable harm if, for example, they fly into the path of an air ambulance. We need effective tools to help prevent this while also allowing legitimate UAV operations to be safely integrated into the emergency airspace.”

    The new EOAMS will be based on Kongsberg Geospatial’s IRIS UAS airspace visualization system. The IRIS spatial awareness system evolved from technology originally developed for air traffic management display systems, and for supporting flight operations for military UAV systems like the U.S. Navy Triton Global Hawk.

    The system has been developed for safely operating UAVs beyond visual line-of-sight (BVLOS), and has been adopted by the FAA ASSURE group for use in research toward developing regulations for commercial BVLOS operations in the United States.

    “Kongsberg Geospatial has been pioneering innovation in airspace management for unmanned aircraft for over a decade,” said Ranald McGillis, president of Kongsberg Geospatial. “With the EOAMS project, we have the opportunity to introduce some really exciting capabilities in a portable system that will help first responders use UAVs in new and effective ways to support emergency response efforts.”

  • Skydel’s latest SDX release features new jamming option

    Skydel’s latest SDX release features new jamming option

    Skydel Solutions has released SDX Release 17.8, which offers a host of improvements, according to the company. The 17.8 release offers an advanced jamming feature, as well as improvements for Gaussian noise, spectrum view and the graphical user interface (GUI).

    The new advanced jamming option provides unique interference testing capabilities for SDX users. It leverages the power of the GPU/SDR combo to create a new way to simulate interferences, enabling transmitter trajectories and user-defined waveform creation.

    Skydel Solutions will be exhibiting at ION GNSS+ in Portland, Oregon, in booth #100. Attendees can learn about the new system and watch a demonstration of SDX’s latest features. Also, Skydel’s Iurie Ilie will host a technical session about spoofing on Friday, Sept. 29, at the conference.

    With SDX’s Advanced Jamming package, users can:

    • Create user-defined waveforms. Chirp, CW, BOC, AWGN, BPSK and pulse interference modulation are supported and can be combined at will to create custom, complex interference waveforms.
    • Create multiple real-time jammers. Users can create a single or multiple jammer transmitters with user-defined waveforms. Up to 100 interferences can be generated in real time.
    • Add dynamics to transmitters. Users can create more realistic jammers for simulations; SDX’s dynamic jammers can change position relative to the receiver as the simulation progresses. Their power levels are defined from the transmitter’s point of view. During the simulation, SDX automatically calculates the resulting signal at the receiver antenna in real-time and takes into account the transmitter antenna pattern, the propagation loss and the receiver antenna pattern. The transmitter, like the simulated receiver, has six degrees of freedom. Furthermore, the trajectory may even be defined in real-time using the hardware-in-the-loop API.

    Read more on Skydel’s blog.

  • Remote Geosystems UAV software free for hurricane work

    To assist with Hurricane Harvey and Irma emergency response and damage assessments efforts, Remote GeoSystems is donating LineVision software licenses to official agency, volunteer and non-profit drone operators.

    In addition to supporting a Texas A&M team responding to Harvey, LineVision is being pre-deployed to volunteers organized by Florida State University’s Emergency Management and Homeland Security Program to help with the Hurricane Irma search and rescue and damage assessment.

    Any other volunteer teams, first responders and non-profit organizations providing essential response and recovery services are encouraged to complete the contact form to request free copies of LineVision software for disaster relief efforts.

    LineVision lets emergency response teams easily map drone video of Hurricane Harvey damage assessments. (Image: Remote Geosystems)
    LineVision lets emergency response teams easily map drone video of Hurricane Harvey damage assessments. (Image: Remote Geosystems)

    The LineVision solution is a commercial software suite for UAV, airborne and terrestrial mobile inspection and survey projects requiring geo-referenced video playback, analysis, collaboration and reporting using standard Esri maps and data, Esri ArcMap and Google Earth GIS applications.

    Using the software, anyone with a GPS-enabled video camera, drone or geospatial DVR that can geotag video in the proper format can immediately load their videos and photos to Esri ArcGIS and Google Earth along with compatible geospatial data.

    As the video plays, a position marker moves along an aerial or terrestrial GPS track positioned on a map, continuously indicating where the current frames were recorded. Users may also geospatially “navigate” a video recording by simply clicking a single point along an aerial or terrestrial GPS track.

    The video then automatically advances to that point in the recording so that users can visually interpret what was recorded at that specific place and time. If something of interest is detected in the video, users may also “snap” an image from the video, which is geotagged and saved for future analysis.

    In addition to video, users can import photos and documents from disaster survey and assessment projects. All these imported data types can be saved in a Remote GeoSystems “geoProject” file for data portability, reporting and future analysis in other versions of LineVision desktop, cloud and server applications.

    Help with Harvey

    Remote GeoSystems was contacted by the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station Center for Robot-Assisted Search and Rescue (CRASAR), who was deployed with the Fort Bend County Office of Emergency Management.

    All parties involved moved quickly, and within a few hours after being contacted, drone video data collection teams were using various versions of the company’s donated LineVision video and photo mapping software to map and view interactive UAV flight tracks with corresponding videos in Esri ArcGIS and Google Earth GIS software.

    The software is being used to help visualize, distribute and share the data available from a record 119 UAS flights that CRASAR conducted over 11 days, including 61 flights on a single day.

    “We first learned about Remote GeoSystems’ LineVision software for mapping geotagged video from drones about a year ago, and at that time even did a proof of concept demo for the USCG and first responders,” said Justin Adams, Air Operations Branch Director for Fort Bend County Manned/Unmanned Ops and CRASAR director of operations for Harvey.  “Now with the Texas Gulf Coast facing a long and difficult assessment and recovery process and Hurricane Irma bearing down on Florida, it became clear now was the time to deploy this valuable UAV solution to operators and volunteers working the affected areas.

    “I have been involved in manned and unmanned aviation for the better part of two decades and Remote Geo offers not only the simplest, but most complete solution for rapid geospatial aerial and ground-based disaster assessment and reporting in the industry.”

    Key Features of LineVision

    • Play videos from single and multi-camera data collection platforms
    • “Click-on-Map” video navigation
    • Set a custom geo-fence around the moving position marker
    • Load Esri ArcGIS or Google Earth-compatible geospatial data files
    • Save video and photo work as geoProjects for simple project reporting, archive and search
  • Low-power GNSS module targeted at small consumer devices

    Low-power GNSS module targeted at small consumer devices

    u‑blox has introduced a new member of its ZOE‑M8 series of ultra-small GNSS system‑in‑package (SiP). The ZOE‑M8B is a power-efficient GNSS SiP designed available for small battery-powered consumer devices. It combines superior performance with ultra-low power for portable and wearable devices in the fitness, health monitoring and personal tracker markets, the company said.

    The ZOE-M8B by u-blox is designed for small consumer products. (IMAGE: u-blox)

    Small battery-powered devices are defined by their limited size, weight and power — any GNSS solution targeting this application space must provide exceptional performance while consuming minimal system resources.

    The ZOE‑M8B has been designed for this class of applications. It consumes 25 mW on average in most environments (including urban), and as little as 12 mW during instantaneous tracking. This is a three-fold improvement in power efficiency when compared with other variants in the ZOE‑M8 series.

    “The ZOE‑M8B SiP offers the best trade-off between power consumption and location accuracy,” said Uffe Pless, u-blox positioning product manager. “This will enable manufacturers to develop entirely new battery-powered devices that integrate GNSS functionality, without comprising performance or the user experience.”

    The ZOE‑M8B uses u-blox’s proprietary Super‑E mode of operation, which automatically adjusts the power consumed by the system components based on the external conditions.

    The footprint of a design with a chip and individual external components is about 50 percent larger than the printed circuit board (PCB) footprint of the ZOE-M8B. Measuring 4.5 x 4.5 x 1.0 mm, the ZOE‑M8B integrates a GNSS receiver, TCXO, SAW and LNA, making it easy to add accurate location and positioning functionality to almost any device, u-blox said.

    The ZOE-M8B is the latest addition to the ZOE-M8 GNSS module family, which consists of the ZOE-M8G for 1.8- powered devices and the ZOE-M8Q for 3.0-volt devices, both focusing on maximum accuracy.

    u-blox will display the ZOE-M8B at MWC Americas in booth N.352 (M2M Zone). The show takes place Sept.12-14 in San Francisco.

  • Drones a valuable tool in hurricane recovery efforts

    Hurricane Harvey is the first major catastrophe in which drones have been used on a large scale by both government and commercial operators, said Ken Long, an analyst at the Freedonia Group.

    UAVs are also likely to find widespread use if Hurricane Irma either directly strikes or skirts the east coast of Florida early next week, as current projections show.

    In addition to helping keep emergency workers safe by allowing them to look for people trapped by floodwaters and inspect damage in high-risk areas, drone use can speed up the recovery process. Drones can be flown over structures such as fuel tanks, power lines and railroad tracks before they can be reached by land, enabling government agencies and utilities to identify what is in most urgent need of repair.

    They also allow insurance adjusters to more quickly process claims, enabling rebuilding efforts to get underway faster. Farmers Insurance reports that an insurance inspector using a drone can complete up to eight times the number of home inspections each day than he or she otherwise would be able to do.

    When Hurricane Harvey first made landfall in Texas on Aug. 25, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) set up a temporary but extensive no-fly zone over Houston and nearby areas to help protect first responders in helicopters and other manned aircraft. This flight ban included all drone operations except those specifically approved by the FAA.

    https://youtu.be/XRdUV4WqnDE

    In the 10 days that followed Hurricane Harvey, the FAA issued more than 100 separate authorizations for drone use in the Houston area, according to the Wall Street Journal. Some of the applications for drone use were reviewed and approved by the FAA within hours, an unusually fast turnaround time for an agency that typically takes days or weeks to make decisions.

    With the exception of a handful of flights conducted by media firms, all of the approved operations were for drones used in conjunction with, or on behalf of, government agencies. Drones were used to inspect bridges, roadways and power lines; assess the condition of oil refineries and water plants; and survey coastal damage.

    As the flood waters continued to recede and flight restrictions were eased or lifted, insurance companies — including Allstate, Farmers Insurance, Travelers and USAA — began to use drones to assess property damage and speed claims processing.

    However, drone use by insurance companies and other commercial users is limited by FAA rules that do not allow them to be flown above 400 feet, outside the visual line of sight of the operator, or above people not directly involved in their operation, unless a waiver is granted.

    These regulations could change with a 2018 FAA reauthorization bill being considered by Congress.

    “The demonstrated usefulness of drones in Hurricane Harvey response and recovery efforts could well influence the content of that legislation,” Long said.

    Even if the current FAA regulations remain in place, U.S. commercial drone demand will expand rapidly from what is currently an extremely small market base, according to the Freedonia Group’s Drones (UAVs) study. “Non-military government use of drones will also climb at a robust rate through 2020,” Long said.

    Both commercial and non-military government market gains will be fueled by further improvements in drone designs, making them more capable and easier to operate, customized for use in specific applications and cost-saving.

  • Honeywell teams with Intel on UAV inspection service

    Honeywell teams with Intel on UAV inspection service

    Honeywell has launched its first commercial unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) inspection service — the Honeywell InView inspection service — to help industrial customers improve critical structure inspections while helping increase employees’ safety from many of the risks associated with these often-dangerous working conditions.

    Intel Falcon 8+ octocopter drone.

    The Honeywell InView inspection service will combine the proven performance of the Intel Falcon 8+ UAV system and Honeywell’s expertise in the aerospace and industrial industries with data-driven software customized to the needs of the utility, energy, infrastructure, and oil and gas industries, the company said.

    The Honeywell InView inspection service package, which includes the components of the UAV, pilot app and customizable web portal, helps customers organize and create standards around their routine and crisis-response inspections.

    For example, the Honeywell InView inspection service can help utility customers create routine inspections of transmission and distribution systems that generate data that can be stored, searched and accessed from in the office and out in the field on demand.

    “This collaboration combines Intel’s advanced commercial Intel Falcon 8+ UAV system with Honeywell’s leadership in aerospace safety and connectivity to deliver solutions that deliver reliable, efficient and actionable information to utility and industrial customers,” said Carl Esposito, president, Electronic Solutions, Honeywell Aerospace. “Through our extensive industrial experience, our customers will also gain access to Honeywell’s customized software and data solutions that will help them log, analyze, and eventually predict or prevent outages and structural failures, while protecting the men and women called upon to complete these crucial but high-risk jobs.”

    “We are incredibly pleased to collaborate with Honeywell on this exciting new business opportunity,” said Anil Nanduri, general manager for Intel’s UAV business group. “The safety, flight precision and robust performance of the Intel Falcon 8+ system are a perfect fit for the Honeywell InView inspection service and will allow its customers to inspect, collect and analyze valuable data in a whole new way.”

    With Honeywell’s InView inspection service, customers tap into Honeywell’s experience across vertical segments such as utilities, aerospace, connected building management, and oil and gas technologies.

    In collaboration with Intel, Honeywell will utilize the intelligence and experiences of its diverse set of businesses to give customers a comprehensive solution and experience unrivaled in the marketplace.

    “Technology, along with the Internet of Things, is enabling utilities around the world to modernize the management of their energy grids,” said Nitin S. Kulkarni, president, Smart Energy, Honeywell Home and Building Technologies. ” Honeywell brings together the technology that allows utilities to transform how energy is consumed in homes and buildings with software-based systems that help safely and efficiently manage complex industrial facilities and utility grids. Honeywell also has more than 100 years of experience providing dependable products and services to a variety of industries, of which Honeywell InView inspection service is the latest entry.”

    Inspection Service goals

    Keeping workers safe. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, utility line workers have one of the top 10 most dangerous jobs in the United States, with 21.5 annual fatalities from high-voltage lines for every 100,000 workers.

    By using the inspection service, utility companies can send a UAV to perform routine inspections of substations, transmission towers and power lines while keeping boots on the ground and workers safe.

    For utilities, using a UAV for inspections offers safer and more cost-effective means than existing methods using helicopters, cherry pickers, ladders and walking inspections.

    Improving efficiency. Historically, inspections are siloed by organization and by individuals within organizations. Honeywell’s InView inspection service aims to create standardized inspections where customers can create operational efficiencies in the office and out in the field.

    Data capture and analysis. UAVs are being touted for their data-gathering capabilities, but without analytics, more data is simply more data. Honeywell’s service can synthesize vast quantities of data to identify only what is needed and actionable, translating workers’ tacit knowledge into valuable information that provides actionable insights for business.

    Connected Freight

    Honeywell and Intel also recently collaborated to create a Connected Freight platform that gives shippers and logistics companies the unprecedented ability to monitor shipments of high value and perishable goods, helping prevent costly damage and loss.

    The new Honeywell InView inspection service continues the work these two companies are doing to help various industries use connected devices to be more efficient and safer, and harness data in new and meaningful ways.