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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Easyjet develops flying robots to inspect aircraft | Easyjet develops flying robots to inspect aircraft |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Easyjet is developing drones to inspect its fleet of Airbus aircraft, and may introduce the flying maintenance robots as early as next year. | |
| The drones will be used to scan and assess Easyjet planes and report damage back to engineers. | The drones will be used to scan and assess Easyjet planes and report damage back to engineers. |
| The flying robots are being developed by a team that includes experts from the University of Bristol. | The flying robots are being developed by a team that includes experts from the University of Bristol. |
| Easyjet is also developing virtual reality video technology. | Easyjet is also developing virtual reality video technology. |
| In addition, Easyjet wants apps to help with maintenance, and the airline is fitting "paperless plane" technology. Durable laptop computers will replace printed navigational charts in planes. | |
| "We have examined and assessed cutting edge technology across many different industries and are now applying a range of new technologies to the aviation sector for the first time to help us run our fleet of aircraft more effectively, efficiently and safely," said chief executive Carolyn McCall. | "We have examined and assessed cutting edge technology across many different industries and are now applying a range of new technologies to the aviation sector for the first time to help us run our fleet of aircraft more effectively, efficiently and safely," said chief executive Carolyn McCall. |
| Easyjet plans to test the drones within coming months. | Easyjet plans to test the drones within coming months. |
| "Aircraft inspection is a great application for drones," said Dr Arthur Richards, head of aerial robotics at the Bristol Robotics Laboratory. | "Aircraft inspection is a great application for drones," said Dr Arthur Richards, head of aerial robotics at the Bristol Robotics Laboratory. |
| "Coupled with smart navigation and computer vision, they can get accurate data from really awkward places." | "Coupled with smart navigation and computer vision, they can get accurate data from really awkward places." |
| The flying robots are being developed by Bristol Robotics Laboratory, a collaboration between University of Bristol and the University of West England. | The flying robots are being developed by Bristol Robotics Laboratory, a collaboration between University of Bristol and the University of West England. |
| Drone company Coptercraft and software company Measurement Solutions are also involved in the project. | Drone company Coptercraft and software company Measurement Solutions are also involved in the project. |
| Laser scans | |
| The drones are fitted with high definition video cameras, but can also use lasers to scan the outside of the aircraft, Easyjet head of engineering Ian Davies told the BBC. | |
| "We could zoom [the laser scanner] up and down the aircraft and map the surface," he said. "If we've mapped the aeroplane we can have a complete history of its full life." | |
| He added that it is safer to have drones working at height than humans having to go up on a rig. | |
| One of the main challenges for the drones is how to get them to work outside in windy conditions, Mr Richards said. | |
| The drones are built to be light in weight, but that can make them vulnerable to gusts of wind on an airfield. | |
| They plan to use research into how animals such as bees and birds cope with blustery weather to "see how nature solves the same problem". | |
| Another challenge is to automate drone flights, he added. | |
| Virtual reality | Virtual reality |
| Easyjet is also hoping to use virtual reality to help sort out technical problems with planes that are a long way from its engineering team. | Easyjet is also hoping to use virtual reality to help sort out technical problems with planes that are a long way from its engineering team. |
| At the moment engineers and pilots email pictures and call Easyjet's control centre to try to resolve issues over the phone. | |
| But Easyjet is planning to use hi-tech glasses that can relay high definition video images back to base. | |
| Engineers could be directed to do repairs by a team looking at the video stream coming from the glasses, Mr Davies said. | |
| The technology also uses "augmented reality", where a computer image is superimposed on the view as seen through the glasses. | |
| For example, an engineer can compare an image of a fuselage projected onto the glasses with the actual fuselage, to see what work needs to be done. | |
| "It's a very simple Robocop outfit people would wear," Mr Davies said. "We are using the human almost like a robot." | |
| The airline wants to use the technology in airports such as Sharm el Sheikh and Tel Aviv. | The airline wants to use the technology in airports such as Sharm el Sheikh and Tel Aviv. |
| At the moment, the data is transmitted using 4G, but Easyjet is discussing options for satellite links with communications company Iridium, Mr Davies said. | |
| When choosing the type of glasses to use, Easyjet evaluated Google Glass, but found the technology "too fragile for industrial use", he added. | |
| Interesting drones | Interesting drones |
| There has been a surge in interest in drones in recent years, and they are being developed for a variety of uses. | There has been a surge in interest in drones in recent years, and they are being developed for a variety of uses. |
| The United Arab Emirates wants to use small government drones to provide services, like ID-card delivery, by next year. | The United Arab Emirates wants to use small government drones to provide services, like ID-card delivery, by next year. |
| Google bought solar-powered drone maker Titan Aerospace in April to help the firm's efforts to expand internet access. | Google bought solar-powered drone maker Titan Aerospace in April to help the firm's efforts to expand internet access. |
| Amazon is in the process of testing drones for deliveries, and a photographic drone that uses a dog-lead as a fail-safe has been developed. | Amazon is in the process of testing drones for deliveries, and a photographic drone that uses a dog-lead as a fail-safe has been developed. |