Background
Singapore’s urban landscape is characterized by high-density development, comprising not only residential structures but also a wide array of purpose-built facilities designed to serve its population’s educational, recreational, and sporting needs.
Facilities such as indoor sports complexes, concert halls, and other large-capacity venues are engineered with expansive interior volumes to accommodate sizable crowds. As a result, the Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems in these structures tend to be both large-scale and technically complex.
Routine inspection and maintenance of these systems, as well as their supporting structures, are often challenged by their location—typically at height, within congested spaces, and lacking adequate access infrastructure.
The Elios 3 Confined Spaces UAV presents a safe, efficient, and technologically advanced solution for such inspection scenarios.
The Elios 3 Confined Spaces Drone
The Elios 3 is purpose-built for operations in GPS-denied, confined environments. Its flight stability in such conditions is enhanced by onboard LiDAR, which enables real-time generation of 3D maps of the inspection environment. This capability significantly improves situational awareness and allows operators to navigate complex interior spaces safely and effectively, performing visual inspections without the need for human entry.
Unlike conventional drones optimized for open-air operation, the Elios 3 is engineered for contact with surfaces during flight. This robust design allows it to safely manoeuvre within tight and obstructed areas, even accessing spaces that are inaccessible to human inspectors.
Case Study: Inspection of Ventilation Louvres in a Sports Complex
VISCOY’s field operations team conducted a proof-of-concept (POC) inspection for the facility management team of a major sports complex. The objective was to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of using the Elios 3 for visual inspection of ventilation louvres located in the service zone above the indoor sports hall.
These louvres are situated beyond the reach of standard access platforms and at significant height from the ground. Traditionally, inspecting them requires full facility shutdowns, the erection of scaffolding, and manual access—resulting in considerable cost, safety risks, and operational downtime.
In this POC, the Elios 3 was deployed from the service platform. It navigated to the louvres autonomously, guided by real-time 3D mapping. This enabled the operator to identify and focus on specific inspection targets. Defects and anomalies were marked and geolocated directly within the generated 3D map for subsequent analysis and follow-up.
The entire inspection was successfully completed in under 30 minutes—without disrupting facility operations.
Conclusion
Deploying the Elios 3 for HVAC and structural inspections in confined or hard-to-reach areas offers significant advantages:
- Enhanced Safety: Eliminates the need for personnel to enter hazardous or elevated environments.
- Efficiency: Inspections are completed rapidly, with comprehensive 3D data captured in a single flight.
- Rapid Deployment: Minimal setup and preparation enable flexible, on-demand inspection capability.
- Increased Inspection Frequency: Faster and safer methods facilitate more regular condition assessments.
- Accurate 3D Visualization: Real-time mapping ensures precise localization and supports repeatable measurements.
By leveraging the Elios 3’s capabilities, facility managers can significantly reduce asset downtime while improving the frequency, reliability, and comprehensiveness of inspection workflows—ultimately supporting better-informed maintenance strategies for Singapore’s complex built environment.
