Confined Space & Complex Access

No. Our robotic and drone systems deploy from outside the confined space entirely. We eliminate the need for human entry, scaffolding, ventilation protocols, entry permits, and rescue standby teams. The operator remains outside the space at all times, controlling the platform remotely with real-time video feed and sensor telemetry.

We inspect storage tanks, pressure vessels, boilers, silos, pipelines, ship hulls, cargo holds, lift shafts, underground pipes, tunnels, towers, culverts, roof spaces, and submerged infrastructure. Our equipment includes collision-tolerant drones for air-filled spaces and industrial ROVs for liquid-filled or submerged assets. Platforms adapt to various entry points and internal geometries including pipe bends, baffles, and structural members.

Our smallest platforms access openings as small as 500mm (standard manhole size). The collision-tolerant cage allows the drone to navigate complex internal geometries including pipe bends, baffles, and structural members without damage to the asset or platform. For openings smaller than 500mm, we deploy crawler robotics or borescope systems to maintain full internal coverage.

All captured data is processed through our enterprise reality modelling platform and delivered via a browser-based 3D viewer accessible from any device without software installation. Deliverables include high-resolution imagery, 4K/8K video, LiDAR point clouds, thermal overlays, and full internal 3D digital twins with classified defect registers. AI-powered defect detection automatically identifies and classifies corrosion, pitting, coating degradation, cracking, and deformation by severity.

Our methodology completely eliminates human entry, the single greatest risk factor in confined space operations. This removes all associated hazards: toxic atmospheres, oxygen deficiency, engulfment, entrapment, and fall risks. No entry permits, gas testing protocols, ventilation systems, or rescue standby crews are required. A single confined space fatality can cost $2.5M+ in fines, legal fees, and reputational damage. Under WHS Regulation 2017, robotic inspection provides documented evidence that the highest-order control (elimination) has been applied.

Confined space drone inspection delivers a 60-80% cost reduction compared to traditional methods requiring scaffolding, rope access teams, gas monitoring, rescue standby crews, and facility shutdowns. The saving comes primarily from eliminating the need for human entry, which removes confined space permits, rescue teams, and the multi-day shutdown windows that traditional inspection demands. Multi-asset programs achieve further per-inspection reductions through standardised deployment and automated processing pipelines.

Under the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2017 (Harmonised), a confined space is defined as an enclosed or partially enclosed space not designed for human occupancy with restricted entry/exit and risk of a hazardous atmosphere. Regulation 66 requires a risk assessment, entry permit system, atmospheric monitoring, and trained rescue team before any person enters. By deploying collision-tolerant drones and robotics, the requirement for human entry is eliminated entirely, representing the highest-order risk control (elimination) under the hierarchy of controls.

Yes. Our collision-tolerant drone platforms inspect tanks, silos, pressure vessels, and storage containers without human entry. The drones capture 4K video, high-resolution stills, LiDAR point clouds, and thermal data in GPS-denied environments. They operate in zero-light conditions and spaces accessed through openings as small as 500mm. For most tank and silo inspections, drone-based methods deliver equivalent or superior defect detection compared to rope access teams, while eliminating the 3-5 day shutdown window typically required.

A typical confined space drone inspection takes 2-5 hours from mobilisation to data capture completion, compared to 2-5 days for traditional methods. Traditional approaches require permit preparation (1 day), scaffolding/access setup (1-2 days), inspection with rescue standby (1 day), and demobilisation (half day). Our deployment requires no scaffolding, no entry permits, no rescue teams, and minimal operational disruption. Full processed reports and 3D models are delivered within 5-7 business days.

Yes. Our platforms carry Ultrasonic Thickness Measurement (UTM) payloads that measure wall thickness without human entry. Readings are accurate to +/-0.1mm and mapped directly onto the 3D model, creating a colour-coded corrosion and erosion map of the entire internal surface. This provides significantly greater coverage than manual spot-checks (which typically achieve 5-15% surface coverage) and creates a permanent, measurable record for change-over-time comparison.

Yes. Our platforms carry 14+ gas sensors detecting methane, carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulphide, oxygen levels, LEL, VOCs, and more. Gas concentration readings are mapped spatially, creating a 3D heatmap showing exactly where atmospheric hazards exist within the space. This data is integrated into the digital twin, providing a permanent record of atmospheric conditions that informs ventilation planning, hazard zoning, and future entry risk assessments.

Not always. Many inspections can be performed with minimal disruption and without full facility shutdown. We work with your operations team to plan efficient inspection windows, including out-of-hours operations if required. The elimination of scaffolding, ventilation setup, and multi-day access preparation means inspection windows are measured in hours rather than days, significantly reducing production impact.

We inspect any enclosed or partially enclosed asset: storage tanks, pressure vessels, boilers, silos, pipelines, lift shafts, ship hulls, cargo holds, roof spaces, tunnels, culverts, and submerged infrastructure. Multi-asset monitoring programs use identical flight paths and sensor configurations each cycle, enabling automated change detection that identifies degradation as small as 2mm between inspections. Your digital twin accumulates condition intelligence over time, revealing degradation rates and predicting remaining useful life.