Osaka Gas and DGPS began full-scale operations at the Senboku Manufacturing Plant of a disaster inspection system combining autonomous-flight drones and generative AI. The system is intended to accelerate damage assessment following a disaster and help ensure the safety of inspection personnel.
Osaka Gas Co., Ltd. and Daigas Gas and Power Solution Co., Ltd. began full-scale operations at the Senboku Manufacturing Plant of a system that automates disaster inspections. The drones fly automatically along preset routes and transmit image data from the extensive manufacturing plant to the cloud via satellite communications.
The images are processed by a generative AI-based analysis system developed by Osaka Gas, which automatically detects abnormal events including fires, LNG leaks, facility collapses, cracks and liquefaction. Inspectors in the central control room can review the information assessed by the AI and produce inspection reports.
Before implementation, safety verification was conducted, including setting flight altitudes and no-fly zones, and operating rules were established. Future applications to routine inspections and security operations are also under consideration.
The system is intended to enable safer and faster inspections immediately after a major disaster, and is expected to help improve the efficiency of personnel deployment and decision-making in the immediate aftermath of a disaster.