Intel is positioning itself as a major player in the commercial drone market and doing so in style. At this year’s AUVSI XPONENTIAL 2017 (May 9-11th), Intel is showcasing its Falcon 8+ drone system designed specifically for industrial inspection and close mapping application. Demonstrating an automated bridge inspection featuring the company’s latest UAV Mission Control flight technology, Intel is making a strong case for lifting FAA regulations on commercial drone flight in North America.

The Intel Falcon 8+ System

Equipped with state-of-the-art AscTec Trinity triple redundant autopilot technology, Intel’s Falcon 8+ is engineered for strategic commercial flight missions. Impervious to electromagnetic fields and built strong enough for high winds, Intel’s high-tech surveillance drone is no joke. With conventional methods of inspecting bridges, wind turbines, solar fields, and oil rigs costing a pretty penny and the safety of surveyors always a concern, there really is not better cost-effective alternative than sending a best-in-class commercial drone on a surveillance mission to capture high-res images.

From a business standpoint, this is a no-brainer with tons of upside. From reduced labor costs to eliminating the risk of injury, sending the Falcon 8+ to inspect a series of cell towers is a much better option than sending workers to the location. From a productivity standpoint, inspectors/surveyors/engineers don’t have to waste valuable time accessing cell towers, bridges, and turbines; instead, they can watch the real-time aerial footage, in high-definition, of the site without leaving their office. It’s the choice between hours of dangerous inspections or a simple 15-minute autonomous flight.

Designed for Industrial Inspection

Whether it’s aerial surveying, progress reporting, or collecting liability evidence, commercial drone flight has widespread application in the industrial sector. Backed by a revolutionary electronic redundancy system and capable of capturing detailed images down to the millimeter, the Falcon 8+ is a valuable asset to any company. Intel’s surveillance drone also comes with high-precision GPS, a full suite of onboard sensors, and a triple redundant autopilot system.

With Intel’s CEO Brian Krzanich leading the demonstration, Intel put its Falcon 8+ commercial drone on display at this year’s AUVSI XPONENTIAL. Powered by Intel’s brand new Mission Control software, the Falcon 8 drone is featured in a bridge simulation inspection. From initial flight planning to capture aerial footage, spectators are treated to a full commercial surveillance drone experience from the Falcon 8+ cockpit.

Intel’s Mission Control Software

Without Intel’s new Mission Control software, it would take a highly-skilled drone pilot to navigate the Falcon 8 as it weaves in and out of the automated bridge. In a real-world scenario, all the surfaces of the bridge would be captured from above and the mission duplicated 6 to 12 months later. This is the beauty of industrial inspection via commercial drone flight. You eliminate the human component without compromising the quality assurance of the inspection work.

The automated bridge inspection is finished when all the footage is gathered, the flight data analyzed, and the positioning metrics are confirmed. With plans to develop tech around customizable payloads, the sky is the limit for Intel’s Falcon 8+ surveillance drone. With the unveiling of Intel’s revolutionary Mission Control system set for release by the end of this year, the Falcon 8+ will find itself on a many “Best Drones of 2017” lists.

Sources: Intel Newsroom Editorial, Intel Press Release