10 Things That Set the ELIOS 3 Apart from Other Indoor Drones
Why the Flyability ELIOS 3 is the most advanced inspection drone for industrial plants – 10 technologies that make the decisive difference. Based on our experience since 2017 in tanks, boilers, reactors and shafts.
- World's first indoor drone with LiDAR-SLAM navigation
- IP44 protection – dust and splash-water protected
- UT payload for ultrasonic wall thickness measurement
ELIOS 3: 10 Technologies for Safe Indoor Drone Inspections
The ELIOS 3 with its collision-safe carbon cage – designed for the most demanding industrial environments.
With the ELIOS 3, industrial indoor inspection reaches a new level. As the world's first indoor drone with LiDAR-SLAM technology and IP44 protection, it sets new standards for precise inspections in demanding industrial environments.
Our experience since 2017: We have been conducting indoor drone inspections in industrial plants since 2017 – initially with the ELIOS 1 and 2, today with the ELIOS 3. Tanks, boilers, reactors, shafts – hundreds of deployments have shown us: these 10 technologies make the decisive difference.
10 Distinguishing Features at a Glance
| Feature | Category | What it means in practice |
|---|---|---|
| IP44 Protection | Hardware | Deployable in dusty silos, humid sewage plants, rough power plants |
| LiDAR-SLAM Navigation | Navigation | GPS-independent 3D mapping in real time, even in total darkness |
| Radiation Measurement Payload | Payload | Inspections in nuclear facilities – zero human radiation exposure |
| UT Wall Thickness Measurement | Payload | Ultrasonic thickness measurement without scaffolding or aerial platforms |
| Smart Batteries | Hardware | Up to 15 min flight time, integrated BMS, quick-change |
| Manufacturer Training | Service | Flight control in confined spaces, data analysis, maintenance |
| Inspector 5 Software | Software | 3D visualisation, AI damage detection, comparison over time |
| Worldwide Support | Service | Global network, 50+ countries, spare parts availability |
| Professional Hardware | Hardware | 4K camera, 16,000 lumen LED, collision-safe protective cage |
| Cloud Services | Software | Real-time access, central management, encrypted data transfer |
LiDAR 3D point cloud from the ELIOS 3 – centimetre-accurate geometry data for documentation and digital twins.
1. Industrial Grade via IP44 Protection
The ELIOS 3 handles the harshest industrial environments thanks to its IP44 protection class. Whether in dusty silos, humid sewage plants or rough power plants – the robust protective housing guarantees reliable inspections under all conditions.
- Splash water protection: Protection against splash water from all directions – deployable in humid environments
- Foreign body protection: Protection against solid foreign bodies larger than 1 mm – dust-protected for industrial deployments
- Universal deployability: Where standard drones fail – the ELIOS 3 continues to operate
2. Precise 3D Navigation via LiDAR-SLAM Technology
As the world's first indoor drone, the ELIOS 3 uses LiDAR-SLAM (Simultaneous Localisation and Mapping) for high-precision 3D mapping in real time. Even in dark tanks or winding pipelines, it navigates safely and creates detailed 3D models. This technology enables autonomous flights and precise inspections without GPS signal – a decisive advantage over conventional camera-based systems.
- GPS-independent: Autonomous navigation without GPS signal – works even in total darkness
- Precise 3D point clouds: 32-megapixel LiDAR point clouds with centimetre-accurate measurement
- Repeatable flight paths: Exactly reproducible routes for comparison inspections over years
3. Radiation Measurement Payload Available
The ELIOS 3 can be equipped with special sensors that measure radiation levels – Strahlungsmessung in German. This makes it particularly useful for inspections in nuclear facilities, power plants or other environments where radiation sources need to be monitored. Instead of exposing people to dangerous radiation, the ELIOS 3 is remote-controlled to capture precise radiation values in real time.
- Nuclear facilities: Inspections in power plants and during decommissioning of nuclear installations
- Contaminated areas: Deployment in areas with industrial radiation sources
- Zero Human Entry: No person needs to be exposed to the risk of dangerous radiation
4. UT Measurement Payload Available
The ELIOS 3 is one of the few indoor drones that can be equipped with an ultrasonic payload (Ultraschall-Payload) for wall thickness measurements. This function is essential for detecting corrosion or material fatigue at hard-to-reach structures. Conventional inspection methods often require expensive and complex measures such as scaffolding or aerial platforms.
- Wall thickness measurement: Thickness measurement on storage tanks and pressure vessels without scaffolding
- Corrosion monitoring: Monitoring of pipelines and CUI detection (Corrosion Under Insulation)
- Material fatigue: Detection of material fatigue at boiler tubes and pressure vessels
5. Smart Batteries for Longer Flight Times
The ELIOS 3 uses advanced smart batteries specially developed for industrial deployment. These batteries not only offer longer flight time but also have integrated monitoring and energy management systems – Energiemanagementsystem. With up to 15 minutes per charge and rapid battery exchange, continuous inspections are possible without significant downtime.
- Up to 15 min flight time depending on deployment conditions and payload
- Integrated BMS (Batteriemanagementsystem): real-time monitoring of charge and temperature
- Failure protection: Protection against deep discharge and overheating
6. Professional Manufacturer Training Available
Flyability offers comprehensive training programmes to ensure drone pilots can fully exploit the potential of the ELIOS 3. These trainings cover not only safe handling of the drone but also optimising deployment for specific inspection tasks.
- Flight control in confined spaces and optimal use of LiDAR-SLAM technology
- Data analysis with Inspector 5 software: 3D visualisation and report creation
- Maintenance & care: Proper maintenance for maximum operational readiness
7. Inspector 5 Software for Professional Data Management
The Inspector 5 software transforms raw data into meaningful reports. 3D visualisation, AI damage detection, standardised reports, comparison inspections over time. Export in common formats (PDF, DXF, etc.) for seamless integration into existing systems.
- 3D visualisation of LiDAR point clouds with overlay of 4K images
- AI damage detection: Automatic identification of cracks, corrosion and anomalies
- Temporal comparison: Direct comparison between inspections from different time periods
8. Worldwide Support Network
Flyability operates a global network with support in over 50 countries: fast spare parts availability, international training, consistent service quality. Ideal for internationally operating companies with multiple plant sites.
9. Professional Hardware Built for Industry
Developed from the ground up for industrial deployments: 4K camera, 16,000 lumen LED illumination, robust collision-safe cage with impact-resistant construction. Even in large tanks, every corner is fully illuminated.
10. Cloud Services for Seamless Collaboration
Cloud-based collaboration: real-time access to inspection data, central management with version control, encrypted data transfer. Seamless collaboration across locations – all data centrally accessible and secured.
Your Contacts for ELIOS 3 Questions
Related Services
- Flyability ELIOS 3 – Full overview of the indoor inspection drone for all confined space applications.
- Confined Spaces Inspection – The primary ELIOS 3 use case: tanks, boilers, silos and shafts without human entry.
- Tank Inspection – Corrosion, coating damage and wall thickness in storage and process tanks.
- Boiler Inspection – Steam boilers and pressure vessels – findings for certified inspectors.
- Industrial LiDAR Survey – 3D point clouds with the ELIOS 3 Surveying Payload.
- Industrial Drone Inspection – Overview of all inspection services.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the ELIOS 3 ideal for confined spaces?
The ELIOS 3 navigates precisely even in the tightest spaces thanks to LiDAR-SLAM (LiDAR-SLAM-Navigation), creates 3D maps in real time and is collision-safe through its robust protective housing. Compact enough for openings from 50 × 50 cm, IP44-protected and GPS-independent – designed specifically for confined spaces, not adapted for them.
Which measurement values can the ELIOS 3 capture?
Standard: 4K video, LiDAR-3D point clouds, optional thermography. With payloads: radiation measurement in nuclear facilities and ultrasonic thickness measurement (UT) for corrosion monitoring. All data in one flight, without multiple deployments.
What makes the ELIOS 3 particularly safe?
Collision-safe protective cage, IP44 protection against dust and water, Smart Batteries with monitoring system, GPS-independent navigation via LiDAR-SLAM and no human entry required. The drone assumes the risk – your team stays outside.
How long can the ELIOS 3 fly?
Up to 15 minutes flight time per battery charge, depending on deployment conditions and payload. The Smart Batteries enable quick battery exchange for longer inspection deployments without significant interruptions.
Which inspection areas are particularly suitable?
Tanks, boilers, reactors, shafts, chimneys, silos, pipelines, channels – all confined spaces without GPS signal. Particularly suitable for dark, dusty or humid areas that are dangerous or inaccessible to humans.
How is inspection data evaluated?
With Inspector 5 software: 3D visualisation of LiDAR point clouds, automatic damage detection via AI, standardised reports, comparison over time. Export in common formats (PDF, DXF etc.) for seamless integration into existing systems.
What does an inspection with the ELIOS 3 cost?
Costs depend on plant, scope and complexity. In most cases up to 80% cheaper than classical methods with scaffolding or confined space entry. Contact us for a project-specific quote.
How quickly can an inspection be carried out?
The ELIOS 3 is ready for deployment within minutes. Inspection duration on site depends on plant size and complexity but is significantly shorter than classical methods requiring weeks of preparation.
What advantages does the LiDAR system offer?
Works in total darkness, creates precise 3D point clouds (32 megapixels), enables autonomous navigation without GPS, repeatable flight paths for comparison inspections over years and centimetre-accurate measurement of geometry, deformations and volumes.
How does the ELIOS 3 differ from standard drones?
Specifically developed for confined spaces – not adapted: LiDAR-SLAM instead of GPS, IP44 protection class, collision-safe, specialised payloads (radiation, UT), professional software (Inspector 5), manufacturer training and global support network. Standard FPV or industrial drones cannot reliably operate in tight interior spaces and have no collision tolerance.
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