NetherlandsLogistics and transport2022 – ongoingVopak
Autonomous drones for storage-tank corrosion inspections
Vopak used autonomous drones to inspect storage tanks for corrosion
Problem
Inspection teams had to walk around storage infrastructure and climb into tanks to check for corrosion. The work exposed people to physical hazards.
Approach
Vopak deployed autonomous drones equipped with AI and machine vision for corrosion inspections. Its CIO described the drones as operating over harbour infrastructure. Robots for inspecting and cleaning tank interiors remained under development and testing.
Results
No published figures
Takeaway
Drone inspections were already operating while tank-entry robots remained experimental. Vopak did not quantify the safety or efficiency gains.
Categories
- Industry
- Logistics and transport
- Business function
- Production and quality
- Innovation type
- Process innovation
- AI technology
- Computer visionRobotics and automation
- Adoption
- Built in-house
- Evidence
- Company's own claim
Sources
Source summaries
Vopak's CIO described autonomous AI-equipped drones replacing manual corrosion-inspection work. He reported improved safety and efficiency without numerical results.
Full details are in the original sources.
