Automating Industrial Inspections: Insights from DroneDeploy

It’s not the first you’re hearing us say it, and it won’t be the last: Robotics and drones are revolutionizing how industrial inspections are conducted. At the 2024 Energy Drone & Robotics Summit, Haydn Bradfield from DroneDeploy presented a session called, "Under the Hood: A Practical How-to in Automating Industrial Inspections." Bradfield provided a step-by-step guide on how to leverage robotics for efficient, cost-effective, and safer inspections.

Prefer to watch the session? Access this and other recordings on demand.

The Vision: Efficiency and Safety

From DroneDeploy

Industrial inspections are critical but often come with challenges, from hazardous environments to time-intensive workflows. Bradfield posed a compelling question during his talk:

What if we could perform autonomous inspections at a fraction of the cost and time while keeping humans out of harm's way?

DroneDeploy’s approach to this question is centered on simplifying robotic workflows and delivering actionable insights. The company's unified platform helps enterprises integrate diverse drones and robots into a streamlined ecosystem, digitizing physical environments and making data accessible to entire teams.

Key Takeaways from the Session

Unified Data Collection

DroneDeploy supports heterogeneous fleet management, which means data from drones, robots, and even smartphones can be collected, processed, and visualized in one platform. This flexibility reduces the complexity of managing different hardware systems so teams can focus on insights rather than integration challenges.

Real-World Alignment and 3D Visual Twins

Real-world alignment is foundational to accurate inspections. By integrating geotagging and 3D mapping, DroneDeploy ensures robots operate with precision. The creation of 360° visual twins—a Google Street View for industrial sites—allows teams to simulate walkthroughs, identify key assets, and plan inspections remotely.

Autonomous Mission Planning

Traditional mission planning often requires labor-intensive programming and on-site adjustments. DroneDeploy’s solution automates this process by allowing operators to define inspection parameters (e.g., “inspect all gauges installed on a specific date”) and letting the robots handle execution. This approach not only saves time but also enhances scalability.

Actionable Insights through AI

With millions of images uploaded annually, DroneDeploy integrates machine learning to analyze data quickly. For example, AI can identify and classify inspection points, such as gauges or valves, from collected photos—whether captured by a robot or a smartphone.

Data Security and Scalability

Recognizing the importance of security in connected devices, DroneDeploy adheres to rigorous compliance standards, including SOC 2 and GDPR. The platform also supports scalable deployment so global teams can adopt robotics workflows seamlessly.

The Future of Autonomous Inspections

Bradfield emphasized that the ultimate goal is to make robotics “boring”—integrating them so deeply into workflows that the focus shifts entirely to the outcomes. Whether it’s drones generating 3D site models within minutes or robots autonomously executing work orders, the emphasis is on simplicity, scalability, and actionable results.

As industries continue to adopt autonomous technologies, sessions like Bradfield’s highlight the transformative potential of integrating robotics into inspections. From improving safety to unlocking operational efficiency, automation is setting a new standard for industrial processes.

Want to hear more from those in the field implementing robots and drones for inspections? Register for the 2025 Energy Drone & Robotics Summit.