Since 2008, Cyberhawk Innovations has been using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) across a variety of industrial sectors, completing over 25 UAV inspection world firsts. This includes the first onshore and offshore UAV flare inspection, the first onshore and offshore UAV wind turbine inspections, and the first UAV inspection of an internal tank on board a floating production and storage vessel (FPSO).

This experience led to American Electric Power (AEP) appointing Cyberhawk to inspect two concrete PWR containment domes at their D.C. Cook nuclear plant. Though Cyberhawk had done major inspections across the thermal power industry, this was a first for nuclear power; an ASME Section XI Code inspection that required no scaffolding, crane or man-basket required.

In order for the inspection to meet the rigorous code requirements, Cyberhawk had to devise a specific data capture methodology and modify its hardware. The team also had to develop a rigorous quality check process to ensure all images taken during the inspection were of high enough resolution to spot any indications, while ensuring 100% of the structure requiring inspection had been covered.

Once this data was gathered by Cyberhawk’s experienced team of pilots and inspection engineers, their iHawk software converted the vast amount of gathered visual data into meaningful inspection information. This information allows the end user to source and review critical information without trawling through thousands of images.

This particular inspection for AEP incurred direct cost savings of over 66% for the client, as well as significant indirect cost savings through reduced site disruption. The team captured images of 100% of the dome’s surface, all to the ASME Code standard, and the results were digitized in 3D point cloud that will allow direct digital comparison for any future inspections.

READ MORE ABOUT THE INSPECTION PROJECT AND AEP’S RESULTS IN NEI MAGAZINE.

LEARN MORE ABOUT CURTISS-WRIGHT AND CYBERHAWK'S SERVICES FOR THE NUCLEAR INDUSTRY.