Inspecting industrial structures, confined spaces and complex environments is a constant challenge for maintenance, safety and engineering professionals. These areas, often difficult to access, can involve significant risks for human operators: lack of oxygen, narrow spaces, heights, darkness, or even explosive atmospheres. Traditional methods - scaffolding, rope access, ground robots - can be costly and time-consuming, and do not always guarantee optimal inspection.
Against this backdrop, indoor drones have become increasingly important in the industrial sector. Able to fly in enclosed environments, without GPS signal and in the presence of obstacles, these machines combine safety, efficiency and high technology. They can collect precise visual data without endangering operators or bringing installations to a standstill.
These cutting-edge tools include the Stereo2 developed by Multinnov stands out. Designed to operate in the most demanding environments, it combines robustness, maneuverability and on-board intelligence. But what exactly is an indoor drone? How does it work? And in what cases is it THE number-one solution for inspections?
Indoor drone: why, when, how?
What is an indoor drone?
An indoor drone is a drone specifically designed to operate in closed, often cramped and complex environments, without recourse to satellite geolocation systems. Unlike conventional drones intended for outdoor use, indoor drones are designed to navigate in narrow, dark or unstable spaces, where the slightest error in trajectory can lead to a collision.
The Stereo2 from Multinnov is precisely the answer to this problem. With a diameter of just 40 cm and a carbon-fiber protective cage, it can squeeze into nooks and crannies inaccessible to other machines. Its robust design means that it bounces back without damage if it comes into contact with a wall or structure. This shock tolerance is essential in dense or congested industrial environments.
How does an indoor drone work?
In indoor environments, drones cannot rely on GPS to locate themselves. The Stereo2 overcomes this constraint thanks to inertial and optical navigation technologies, which analyze the environment in real time to stabilize and locate itself. In particular, it uses a stereoscopic camera to reconstitute a 3D vision of its environment, enabling autonomous navigation even in tunnels or metal tanks.
It also features a high-quality 4K camera , providing highly detailed images for visual inspections, as well as adjustable LED panels offering sufficient lighting power in total darkness. The operator, from the ground, can control the drone manually or assist it via a real-time video link, making it easy to identify anomalies (cracks, corrosion, obstructions...).
Why choose this solution?
Using an indoor drone like the Stereo2 is becoming an increasingly safe and cost-effective alternative to traditional methods. Its agility, combined with its robustness, enables drastically reduced intervention times, while reducing the number of personnel exposed to risk. It also offers greater repeatability of inspections: trajectories can be reproduced identically to facilitate comparisons over time.
Use cases: what needs does it meet?
The field of application for indoor drones is wide-ranging, involving many industries where safety, maintenance and surveillance are paramount. Here are just a few examples of how Stereo2 from Multinnov is the ideal solution.
Tank, silo and vat inspections
In the chemical, food or oil industries, internal inspections of tanks or silos are essential to detect wear, corrosion or deposits. Under normal circumstances, these operations require facilities to be shut down, structures to be opened up, and sometimes an operator to enter the confined space. With the indoor drone, there's no need to dismantle anything: the device enters through a simple access hatch and provides a complete view of the interior in just a few minutes. This reduces plant downtime and eliminates risks for personnel.
Inspection of tunnels and shafts
In power plants, industrial sites or sewage networks, underground galleries and tunnels must be regularly inspected. The Stereo2 can cover several tens of meters in these confined environments, even in the absence of lighting or markers. It can detect structural anomalies such as cracks or seepage, while maintaining a stable trajectory even in the tightest spaces.
Preventive maintenance in high-risk areas
In certain high-risk industries (petrochemicals, nuclear power, metallurgy), the indoor drone enables more precise planning of human intervention. Rather than sending an operator directly into an unstable or potentially dangerous area, an initial inspection by drone enables us to assess conditions, identify sensitive points and limit human exposure time.
Verification of structures at height
Indoor drones are also useful for inspecting indoor structures at height, such as industrial roofs, chimneys or metal beams. Thanks to their lightness and stability, these missions can be carried out without scaffolding or gondolas, and without interrupting site activity.
Technical audits and quality control
As part of an audit or quality control, images captured by an indoor drone can be used for traceability, compliance or insurance purposes. Companies can keep the videos and analyze them in detail, or share them with their partners, service providers or insurers to document the state of a site or the evolution of a deterioration.
The indoor drone is no longer a mere technological curiosity: it has become a real work tool for many industries faced with the growing complexity of their maintenance and inspection operations. Its ability to operate in confined, cramped or risky environments makes it an increasingly popular solution for making operations safer, more efficient and more cost-effective.
The Stereo2developed by Multinnovembodies this new generation of professional drones, specifically designed for the most demanding environments. Thanks to its cutting-edge technology, robustness and ease of deployment, it has become the standard for indoor visual inspections.
Select Stereo2means choosing a made-in-France solution that's reliable, economical and compliant with the most stringent market requirements. It also means opting for innovation to enhance safety, performance and the modernization of industrial processes.
