Japanese company KDDI and its subsidiary KDDI SmartDrone have announced a plan to test drones equipped with artificial intelligence in Vietnam and the Philippines. The objective is twofold: to prevent natural disasters such as earthquakes or typhoons and to inspect infrastructure like bridges and roads. For citizens, this translates into a potential improvement in safety in high-risk areas and greater efficiency in inspections.
Cameras and algorithms to detect cracks and prevent collapses 🛰️
The drones will incorporate high-resolution cameras and LiDAR sensors, combined with computer vision algorithms. These systems will analyze in real time the condition of bridges, roads, and buildings to identify cracks, corrosion, or structural displacements. Additionally, they will be used to assess damage after typhoons or earthquakes, allowing rescue teams to prioritize critical areas. The initiative aims to reduce maintenance costs and accelerate emergency response.
Goodbye to technicians risking their necks on bridges 😅
Until now, inspecting a suspension bridge meant sending a poor technician with a harness and vertigo. With these drones, the only risk is that the AI gets confused and mistakes a pigeon for a crack. Of course, if the drone crashes into a pole, at least no one will have to call an ambulance. Technology advances, but the joke that robots will take our jobs becomes less and less funny for human inspectors.