Drones

It is challenging to patrol and secure large facilities, and human vision is limited; if an intruder is hiding, detection may not be easy. Rather than risk overlooking intrusion, drones with cameras can be deployed. This visual data can help accelerate patrol tasks, potentially increasing the daily number of patrols at randomized intervals. Enabled by AI-based systems, companies can expect increased accuracy of threat identification, less chance of missing suspicious activity, and more information captured with a bird’s eye view of the facility.

Drones are also getting smarter, leveraging 5G for real-time data transfer and processing. They can now operate with increased speed, reduced latency, and improved reliability. Some even allow for fully autonomous operations. For example, security staff do not need to manually launch and retrieve drone-in-a-box security solutions, nor swap and change their batteries, and tethered solutions even allow drones to stay airborne indefinitely.

There is a disadvantage to consider. As this technology has developed, malicious use has also increased. Such activity is today being tackled with counter uncrewed aerial systems (C-UAS), particularly focused on removing the menace of rogue drones disrupting flights and having a negative financial impact at commercial and cargo airports. “Soft-kill” methods can also be deployed, such as jamming or cutting off the drone’s communication with its pilot or source, and “hard-kill” methods, such as physically taking down a drone, using nets, ammunition, and even eagles.

Currently, many logistics organizations rely on human personnel to check inventory in facilities, particularly shelves for pallets. As shipments enter, rotate, and leave the warehouse, workers must assess and confirm stock counts and vacancy rates on shelves. This manual approach makes it difficult to obtain a real-time view of inventory data. Another typical challenge is that counting inventory in warehouse racking systems may involve heights, a danger for the workforce. While several technologies aim to automate this process, drones are seen as a viable solution for what can be an expensive, time-consuming, and risky activity.

Instead of deploying dozens of workers to scan codes and record placements, companies can use drones equipped with cameras to scan and count inventory quickly. This removes the need for specialized equipment like aerial work platforms to examine the higher shelves. A possible future state would involve fleets of drones operating autonomously, with only one worker needed to manage and assess flagged circumstances.

As completing inventory counts would no longer require a large workforce, supply chains could benefit from more frequent stock counts. This would lead to increased inventory data accuracy, enable warehouse optimization, and eliminate risk for staff.

DHL has already tested and deployed drone cycle counting solutions globally, including the Eyesee solution from Hardis for customers such as Dyson, and continues to collaborate with technology companies in Malaysia, Spain, and other countries around the world.

Dimensioning and inspecting large assets manually can take many hours as, for example, mismeasuring or missing an equipment fracture can have costly consequences. Also these tasks may risk worker safety, especially if personnel are required to climb heights or walk on uneven surfaces to dimension and inspect large assets. Drone technology can make such activities more efficient.

Taking the example of stockpile dimensioning, drones with improved AI and sensor technology can measure amassed stock volumes with below-centimeter precision in a matter of hours instead of days. Several technologies can be deployed in this application. Drones may use a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver to connect to more satellites for improved precision. They can use real-time kinematic (RTK) positioning and ground control points (GCPs) to achieve consistent data alignment over time. This is vital for monitoring ever-changing stockpiles – a significant advantage as, without RTK or GCPs, maps may shift several meters, resulting in inaccurate stockpile measurements, especially if comparing data from different dates. And to process the captured images, a photogrammetry engine and software can be used, such as the DJI Terra solution.

A good example of a large asset to be inspected is an airplane. This has always been done manually with inspectors walking around an airplane to assess its overall condition and compliance with safety standards. General visual inspections (GVIs) are then carried out to inspect, locate, and evaluate any visually obvious damage, failure, or anomaly. Many times, ladders, scaffolding, and cherry pickers are involved when something is out of reach and viewed from the ground. New solutions, such as the solution from Dutch startup Mainblades, provide a great alternative. Drones can be used to autonomously inspect all sides of an airplane without the need for additional equipment and without putting inspectors at risk. The captured data can be reviewed later by the inspectors.

Using drones eliminates safety risks and significantly reduces time and staffing requirements. Spending less time on currently manual tasks allows for faster turnaround and more missions. Warehouses also can minimize personnel numbers for inventory tracking while also getting updated inventory data more regularly, thus increasing inventory visibility. As well as lowering operational costs, these efficiencies are likely to have a positive effect on the company’s brand and reputation.