Osaka Gas has begun full-scale use of autonomous drones to inspect facilities during disasters. The system covers Senboku Manufacturing Plant No. 1 (Sakai City) and Plant No. 2 (Takaishi City, Osaka Prefecture), using AI to assess damage and speed up reporting.
Osaka Gas announced on the 15th that it had begun full-scale operation of a system that uses autonomous drones to inspect city-gas production facilities when a disaster occurs. The system is intended to allow inspectors to check facilities safely and improve inspection accuracy by providing an aerial overview.
The new system covers Senboku Manufacturing Plant No. 1 (Sakai City) and Plant No. 2 (Takaishi City, Osaka Prefecture), and full-scale implementation began in October. Previously, inspectors reportedly drove around the premises and searched for abnormalities through visual checks from the ground.
The drones transmit 4K and infrared images to the cloud, where AI analyses the images and determines whether there is “damage” or “no damage.” The AI analysis is considered the first of its kind in Japan. Ultimately, inspectors will review the images, with damage conditions expected to be reported approximately 30 minutes after a disaster occurs.
Aircraft manufactured by US-based Skydio have been adopted. Flight routes are configured to avoid flying over critical facilities. The company is also considering using the system for routine inspections and security operations, not only during disasters, as well as selling the AI analysis system to outside parties.