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NDT Inspection Drone

India's first drone for Non-Destructive Testing of concrete structures — delivered to Central Road Research Institute.

Drones Engineering R&D

// overview

Overview

This groundbreaking project involved designing a system integrated with an EFT agricultural drone to perform Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) on concrete structures like bridges. Developed at Aero360 and delivered to the Central Road Research Institute, this marks a significant advancement in infrastructure inspection technology — the first of its kind in India.

The system enables in-flight concrete testing, eliminating the need for scaffolding or manual inspection of hard-to-reach structural surfaces.

// specs

Technical Specifications

Base Platform EFT Agricultural Drone
Design Software SolidWorks
Analysis ANSYS Structural
Testing Method Impact NDT
Client Central Road Research Institute
Status Delivered

// features

Key Features

  • First-of-its-kind NDT drone system in India
  • In-flight concrete testing capability
  • Advanced stabilization for precise surface contact
  • Real-time data collection and acquisition
  • Vibration isolation system for sensor accuracy
  • Fail-safe mechanisms for structural contact

// challenges

Challenges

  • Isolating sensors from drone vibrations during contact
  • Achieving stable hover for precise structure touch-down
  • Designing a lightweight yet rigid impact mechanism
  • Ensuring reliable data under field conditions

// impact

Impact & Applications

  • Revolutionary approach to infrastructure inspection — no scaffolding needed
  • Dramatically reduces inspection time and cost for bridge assessments
  • Improved safety for inspection personnel
  • Deployed and validated with Central Road Research Institute
  • Template for aerial NDT adoption across Indian infrastructure