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IRISNDT uses two types of drones; internal and external. Drones are a cost-efficient and safe method to quickly obtain eyes on a suspected problem before deciding a path forward. Due to their ease of deployment and ability to cover large areas, they are also commonly used in screening and monitoring applications.

External drones are used to perform inspections in locations that are hard to reach. They are also used to monitor equipment/pipelines for any potential leaks. External drones are typically limited to visual inspection, although non-destructive technologies such as ultrasonic thickness examination are currently in the development phase. They are commonly used to conduct a quick visual inspection on a suspected problem or screen for potential problems. This gives operations and integrity personnel more information in a timely manner when making important decisions.

Internal drones are collision resistant systems that typically have a cage surrounding them that acts as protection. Due to the small size of internal drones, they are only equipped with a camera for visual inspection and used indoors where the wind is not a factor. Their use is limited to visual inspection as they are only equipped with a camera. Similar to external drones, internal drones are commonly used to conduct a quick visual inspection on a suspected problem or screen for potential problems.