Flying drones remotely

The Reality Capture team within Digital Rail Services has achieved major success with its first remote drone flight pilot project, giving customers even greater flexibility.

At the heart of the innovation is the drone box. Mounted on the RSRG’s mobile edge computing centre, the Q-tainer, it connects the aerial robot and the pilot over long distances. Drone flights can be carried out at whatever frequency the construction site requires. It is also possible to respond optimally to short-notice weather changes and adjust the flight time accordingly.

The technical implementation of the drone flights was put through its paces in a pilot project near Hamburg-Büchen. Before the drone takes off from its box, the weather and wind conditions are analysed precisely. The airspace is also checked to ensure that it is clear. The highest level of concentration is required throughout the flight – birds, helicopters, cranes and other objects that could collide with the drone must be monitored continuously.

The construction site was documented without any problems. Projects of this kind require a lead time, as the technical component must be prepared and the ground control points set and surveyed. The legal and administrative component is considerably more involved, however. For the first project, those responsible brought in an external company to obtain the flight permit as quickly as possible. The aim now is to build this capability directly within the Reality Capture team, making the team more independent and even more flexible for customers.

Regular drone surveys enable construction-site documentation and progress monitoring that can be used optimally for logistics during the construction process and later for invoicing. As is standard, the drone data is provided via a platform accessible by computer or mobile app, and everyone involved on the construction site benefits from the data.