Team Drone

Author: Dr. Michael Zimmer ___________________________________________________________________________________ Introduction The task of pipeline inspection places unique requirements on UAVs. By carefully analyzing these requirements and matching them to the stated specifications & capabilities of existing UAV designs, an optimal system may be selected. Further planning of operational methods and payload may be needed in order to make good use of that airframe’s unique advantages while also minimizing the effects of its disadvantages. 1. Airframes and Powerplants 1.1 Mission The mission chosen for this assignment is pipeline inspection. Pipelines cover more than 2.6 million miles in the United States (US DOT Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, 2018). While many of these miles are buried underground, a significant amount is above grade. Typically, this is done as a temporary measure or to minimize the impact on the environment that would be necessary to install u...