Artificial intelligence.

We guess are valid arguments to be made on both sides with regards to this latest disruptive technology, which is promising to make previously cumbersome or dangerous tasks easier and safer.

Just like drone technology does.

Or threatening to take away the livelihood of many humans by ironically making intelligent use of information that took millennia for humans to develop.

The argument depends on which side you are standing, we reckon.

But right now, aerial date solutions provider RocketDNA think they have unlocked the value to combining drone technology and artificial intelligence in asset management and monitoring, whose traditional modus operandi can be time consuming and even dangerous.

At its core, AI uses algorithms and data to enable machines to learn and make decisions; and when it is installed on drones, it can provide the them with intelligence and decision-making capabilities.

For instance, an AI-powered drone can analyse data from its sensors, such as cameras and lidar, to identify objects and terrain features. It can then use this information to make decisions about where to fly, how to avoid obstacles, and how to complete its mission.

AI-based drones can detect and avoid obstacles in real-time, fly for longer periods of time, and complete tasks with greater accuracy and precision.

This allows them to perform tasks that would otherwise be impossible or inefficient for human operators or traditional drones. Their applications span various industries, from agriculture to public safety.

In their recent blog on the best ways drones can be beneficial to industrial operations, RocketDNA listed cost, safety, accessibility and stability, among the benefits of combining the data collection capabilities of drones and artificial intelligence in asset management.

While traditional asset monitoring and management can be time-consuming, expensive and even dangerous, the use of drones and AI now provides numerous benefits to this space, the company says.

“By enabling proactive maintenance and management of critical infrastructure and resources, drones can be used across the infrastructure cluster, including for bridges, buildings, pipelines, powerlines, solar farms, and even for natural resources like forests.”

In their explainer, RocketDNA said benefits of using drones and AI include:

• Cost-Effectiveness: Drones can cover large areas quickly and efficiently, reducing the need for manual inspections and associated costs. AI-powered analysis can automate data processing and interpretation, further reducing labour costs and increasing operational efficiency.
• ‍Improved Safety: Conducting inspections with drones eliminates the need for personnel to physically access hazardous or hard-to-reach locations, reducing the risk of accidents and injuries. This is particularly advantageous for inspecting infrastructure such as bridges, power lines, and industrial facilities.
• Enhanced Accuracy and Reporting Consistency: AI algorithms can analyse large volumes of data with high precision and consistency, identifying subtle     changes or anomalies over time, which may indicate asset deterioration or malfunction. This helps detect issues at an early-stage and facilitates timely maintenance interventions, ultimately extending the lifespan of assets.
• ‍Real-Time Monitoring: Drones equipped with sensors can provide real-time data on asset conditions, allowing for immediate detection of problems or     emergencies. This enables proactive decision-making and response, minimizing downtime and mitigating potential risks or disruptions. Examples include, heat anomalies along conveyor belts or water leaks along pipelines.
• ‍Increased Accessibility: Drones can access remote or difficult-to-reach locations that may be inaccessible or hazardous for ground-based inspections. This extends the scope of asset monitoring to areas that were previously challenging or costly to inspect, improving overall coverage and effectiveness.
• ‍Data-Driven Insights: AI-powered analysis of drone-collected data generates actionable insights into asset conditions and performance trends. This allows organizations to prioritize maintenance activities, allocate resources efficiently, and make informed decisions to optimize asset management strategies.
• Reduced Environmental Impact: By minimizing the need for physical inspections involving vehicles or equipment, drone-based monitoring reduces carbon     emissions and environmental footprint associated with traditional inspection methods. This aligns with sustainability goals and contributes to environmental conservation efforts.
• ‍Scalability and Flexibility: Drone-based monitoring solutions are highly scalable and adaptable to various industries and asset types. They can be easily     deployed for routine inspections, emergency response, or special projects, providing flexibility to meet changing monitoring needs and operational requirements.
• ‍Integration with Asset Management Systems: Integrate the results of the data analysis with asset management systems or databases to facilitate decision-making and prioritization of maintenance or repair activities. This could involve creating digital twins of assets or feeding data into predictive maintenance models to optimize asset performance and longevity.

In the construction industry, for instance, AI-based drones can create 3D maps of construction sites and monitor progress over time. Drones can also inspect structures and detect defects or issues that may require attention. This saves time and resources compared to traditional manual inspections.

In energy generation, the drones can inspect power lines, wind turbines, and other energy infrastructure, reducing the need for manual inspections that can be costly and dangerous. Drones equipped with sensors can detect defects or issues, allowing for repairs to be made before major failures occur.

RocketDNA’s solution for AI-based drone data collection in asset management and monitoring is called InspectBot, where the company deploys DJI Dock drones to sites for automated visual inspections to prevent false positives while removing human resources from unsafe environments.

“Overall, the integration of drones and AI in asset monitoring and management offers significant advantages in terms of cost savings, safety improvements, data accuracy, and operational efficiency, ultimately enhancing the reliability and performance of critical infrastructure and resources,” the company says.