Occupational safety: your staff stay outside
The drone flies into the installation, personnel stay outside.
Inspection with the Flyability ELIOS 3 drone – no scaffolding, nobody has to go in
With the Flyability ELIOS 3 drone we inspect and digitise enclosed spaces in industrial plants and power stations – boilers, tanks, silos, chimneys, halls and racking.
- Nobody has to enter the vessel or work at height
- Every finding located in the 3D point cloud
- No scaffolding, no crane – shorter shutdown
Watch the video on YouTubeA selection of Kopterflug clients and partners – operators in steel, chemicals, energy and logistics
Located findings you can find again at the next inspection
Christian EngelkeGet in touch with our experts:[email protected]
An inspection must deliver meaningful, precisely locatable data and be comparable at the next inspection. In my experience, the Flyability ELIOS 3 is the right drone for these requirements.
The whole surface instead of spot checks
LiDAR produces a true-to-scale 3D point cloud, together with complete footage of the agreed areas, even in difficult environments.
Lower costs: no scaffolding, rope access or cranes
No scaffolding, no rope access work and no cranes, so the shutdown is shorter.
A report your expert assessor can work with
We fly – Inspectomatic, the reporting arm of our group of companies, analyses: photos, thermographic and LiDAR data become your inspection report with located findings in the browser. The 3D point cloud with all located findings is produced by Inspectomatic – more on this at inspectomatic.de/punktwolken (in German).
What plants look like inside – footage from our inspections
Shorter shutdowns for boilers, tanks and silos – because scaffolding and man entry are not needed
For maintenance teams in industry, what matters most in inspection and maintenance is safety, accuracy and short shutdowns. This is where drone inspections – particularly with the Flyability ELIOS 3 – offer clear advantages over conventional methods.
- The Flyability ELIOS 3 is designed specifically for inspections in industrial environments. It inspects hard-to-reach or hazardous confined spaces without scaffolding, cranes or aerial work platforms. Vessels, tanks, silos and boilers are always taken out of service, emptied and released for the drone flight. Because scaffolding, rope access technicians, cranes and man entry are not needed, the inspection takes hours instead of days: the shutdown is shorter, and several installations can be inspected during one shutdown. In many hall areas, operations continue. In short: our drone keeps shutdowns short, and some plants can be inspected without interrupting operations.
- Another advantage is accurate data capture with LiDAR technology and high-resolution cameras. The ELIOS 3 produces a true-to-scale 3D point cloud and detailed footage that feed into our inspection report with located anomalies. This data documents damage and defects and forms the basis for your plant documentation (CAD, BIM, maintenance software). It helps maintenance teams to plan maintenance in a targeted way, identify risks early and deploy resources where they are needed.
- The ELIOS 3 also improves safety for the maintenance team. Instead of sending employees into hazardous areas, the drone carries out the inspection and personnel stay outside. This reduces the risk of accidents.
- In summary, drone inspection with the Flyability ELIOS 3 is a solution for maintenance teams in industry that shortens shutdowns, reduces costs and improves safety. It helps to plan maintenance in a targeted way and to keep plants available.
Reduce costs and shorten shutdowns – write to our experts via the contact form or by email.
Confined, dark spaces: the ELIOS 3 flies in, your staff stay outside
360° collision protection: wall contact does not end the flight
The Flyability ELIOS 3 flies into confined, hazardous spaces while personnel stay outside.
4K and thermal camera: images even in the dark
With their own lighting, they deliver sharp images and videos even in dark, confined spaces.
LiDAR scanner: findings located in 3D
Creates a detailed 3D point cloud during the flight in which findings are located – without scaffolding.
Your contacts from permit to inspection report
- Christian Engelke
Philipp von der Born
Dipl.-Wirt.-Ing. (FH) Juliana Engelke
Stefan Wolf
Our inspection strategies use the Flyability ELIOS 3 drone in a targeted way to enable safe inspections and meaningful data in demanding environments.
Inspect confined spaces without anyone having to go inside
The Flyability ELIOS 3 is designed specifically for inspections in confined, hard-to-reach and hazardous areas. It offers a collision-tolerant design, LiDAR-based 3D scans and high-resolution imaging. Scaffolding and rope access technicians are not needed, which reduces costs and improves safety. Read more in our article 10 things that set the ELIOS 3 apart from other inspection drones.
Open your inspection report in the browser – no installation needed
The ELIOS 3 data is analysed by Inspectomatic, the reporting arm of our group of companies. You receive the inspection report in the browser, with nothing to install, together with the original material. The report shows photos, videos and the 3D point cloud with located findings.
Plan your next shutdown shorter – request an inspection with the ELIOS 3
Tell us the asset and the occasion, and we will tell you which recordings and which report make sense.
Initial consultation: 30 minutes by video, pick a time directly.
- We look forward to your enquiry and will get back to you promptly.
Or write to us
Frequently asked questions
What applications is the Flyability ELIOS 3 suited to?
The ELIOS 3 is suited to inspections in hard-to-reach areas such as boilers, tanks, silos, chimneys, industrial furnaces and refractory installations, waste bunkers, cooling towers, cable ducts and shafts, hall ceilings and racking warehouses. We use it for operators in power generation, chemicals, steel, oil and gas, and logistics.
What technologies does the ELIOS 3 use for inspections?
The ELIOS 3 uses LiDAR for 3D capture and mapping, high-resolution cameras for visual inspection and a thermal camera to detect thermal anomalies. You can see the live image during the flight.
How safe is the ELIOS 3 for use in hazardous environments?
The Flyability ELIOS 3 is very well suited to inspections in hazardous environments, as it is collision-tolerant and was developed specifically for confined spaces. The drone flies into confined, dark and unsafe areas without personnel having to enter. Whether an area can be flown, for example in a potentially explosive atmosphere, is decided by the operator as part of its release procedure.
What kind of data can the ELIOS 3 capture?
The ELIOS 3 captures detailed 3D scans, high-resolution images, videos and thermal data. From these, Inspectomatic, the reporting arm of our group of companies, produces the inspection report with located anomalies – depending on the order, per installation or per flight and, on request, compared with earlier inspections. It is the basis for the condition assessment by your expert assessors and for maintenance planning. The drone sees only surfaces: wall thicknesses, hammer testing, samples or exact crack widths require a measurement on the component, which the expert assessor takes specifically at the marked points.
How long can the ELIOS 3 stay in the air?
Each flight covers one section of the inspection. We bring enough batteries and recharge them on site – so only short breaks for battery changes are needed between flights.
Is the ELIOS 3 easy to operate, and is special training required?
Inspection flights in confined spaces require experience – which is why our own pilots fly on our deployments. We do not offer pilot training. If you have your own ELIOS 3, we will be happy to advise you on how to use it.
Can the ELIOS 3 be used in dark or dusty environments?
Yes, the ELIOS 3 is designed for dark and dusty environments. It carries powerful LED lighting that can be adjusted to reduce reflections from dust. In very dense dust, every camera reaches its limits; we clarify this with you in advance.
How robust is the ELIOS 3, and can it withstand impacts or collisions?
The ELIOS 3 has a protective cage that shields the drone from impacts and collisions in confined spaces. This means it remains airworthy even when it touches obstacles in tight environments.
Can the Flyability ELIOS 3 also be used for ultrasonic testing (UT measurements)?
Flyability offers an additional ultrasonic module for the ELIOS 3. We use the ELIOS 3 for visual inspection and 3D capture: the images cover the entire surface rather than spot checks, are located in the 3D point cloud and show where corrosion, erosion or other anomalies are. Ultrasonic wall thickness measurements (UT measurements) are taken by the expert assessor specifically at the points marked in our inspection report – without scaffolding for the entire surface.
What are the advantages of an inspection with the Flyability ELIOS 3?
The ELIOS 3 allows safe and accurate inspections in confined and hazardous environments. Scaffolding, rope access technicians and cranes are not needed, so the shutdown is shorter. LiDAR and high-resolution cameras deliver the data for an inspection report with located anomalies – which can also serve as a basis for your plant documentation (CAD, BIM, maintenance software).
Which sectors and installations is inspection with the ELIOS 3 suitable for?
Our inspections with the ELIOS 3 are aimed at operators of industrial plants and power stations, for example in chemicals, oil and gas, steel and power generation. Typical locations are confined spaces such as boilers, tanks, silos and the inside of chimneys, as well as hall ceilings and racking.
How does an inspection with the Flyability ELIOS 3 work at Kopterflug?
After a non-binding initial consultation and a site analysis, our team develops an inspection strategy for your plant. The inspection itself takes hours instead of days and is carried out safely with the ELIOS 3, which delivers live images during the flight. Afterwards you receive an inspection report with photos, videos, a 3D point cloud and located anomalies.
How much does an inspection with the Flyability ELIOS 3 by Kopterflug cost?
The costs depend on the area of use, the complexity and the duration of the inspection. You receive a quotation from us tailored to your plant. Your inspection costs can fall by up to 80% because scaffolding, cranes and rope access technicians are not needed.
When can Kopterflug carry out an inspection with the Flyability ELIOS 3?
Once you have contacted us and the requirements have been clarified, we agree a date with you promptly. When you will receive the inspection report is agreed with you in advance.
How does Kopterflug work with operators?
We coordinate every job closely with your site – from access and permits to the schedule. You receive an inspection report with photos, videos, a 3D point cloud and located anomalies that your expert assessors can use directly for their assessment.
Which safety standards does Kopterflug apply to inspections with the ELIOS 3?
Inspection flights in confined spaces require experience, which is why our own pilots fly. We work to fixed safety procedures – risk assessment, coordination with the operator and permits before the flight – so that inspections are carried out safely even in demanding environments.
How can I book an inspection with Kopterflug and the Flyability ELIOS 3?
Write to us using the contact form or by email to [email protected]. We then clarify the installation, the objective and the conditions, you receive a quotation, and we agree the date with your site.
Can I buy, rent or try out the ELIOS 3 from Kopterflug?
No. We use the ELIOS 3 ourselves for inspections and are not a Flyability sales partner. For purchase, rental or a demonstration, please contact Flyability in Switzerland directly.
For inspection projects, please write to us – we will clarify whether the ELIOS 3 is suitable.