Elios 3 Drone Enhances Confined Space Inspections with Safer, Smarter Solutions

In this post, we’ll explore how cutting-edge technology like the Elios 3drone allows us to transform the safety of confined space inspections for the better. Confined space inspections are a critical aspect of safety and maintenance across industries like oil & gas, infrastructure, and mining. These confined space environments, such as tanks, silos, or underground tunnels, demand thorough assessments to ensure structural and functional integrity, and worker safety.

Traditionally, inspections have relied on human entry which present significant risks and operational challenges. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, from 2011 to 2018, confined spaces contributed to 1,030 fatal workplace incidents, more than 140 fatalities per year on average, underscoring the urgent need for safer solutions.

Enter the Flyability Elios 3—a game-changing indoor drone designed for precision, intelligence, and above all, safety. By eliminating the need for human entry, the Elios 3 reduces risk while delivering high-quality data in the most challenging environments.

Confined Space Inspection Safety Risks

Confined spaces are inherently dangerous. According to OSHA, confined spaces are “not designed for continuous occupancy and are difficult to exit in the event of an emergency. People working in confined spaces face life-threatening hazards including toxic substances, electrocutions, explosions, and asphyxiation” clearly outlining that the less time people spend in confined spaces, the better for their health. The Bureau of Labor Statistics study on confined space fatalities (2011-2018) highlights the most common cause of worker deaths: collapsing material which contributed to 531 of the total fatalities.

Many confined spaces contain unstable debris or materials that can shift unexpectedly under the weight of the inspectors, leading to entrapment or suffocation.

Beyond immediate dangers, prolonged exposure to confined space conditions poses long-term health risks. Inspectors working in these environments may suffer from chronic respiratory issues, neurological impairments, or other occupational illnesses from inhaling gases commonly found in confined spaces. The most common types of inhaled gases found in the Labor Statistics study were hydrogen sulfide and carbon monoxide which contributed to 38 and 23 cases of fatalities respectively.

Hydrogen Sulfide (H₂S) – Prolonged exposure can lead to dizziness, headaches, and permanent neurological damage. In high concentrations, it can cause sudden respiratory paralysis.

Carbon Monoxide (CO) – CO exposure reduces oxygen delivery to vital organs, leading to cognitive decline, cardiovascular issues, and even fatal poisoning.

Elios 3: The Safer Option for Confined Space Inspections

The Elios 3 is revolutionizing how confined space inspections are conducted by eliminating the need for human entry into hazardous environments. This cutting-edge drone is specifically designed to operate in confined space conditions, allowing inspectors to gather crucial data without putting their lives at risk.

Instead of sending workers into confined spaces filled with toxic gases, unstable structures, or poor visibility, the Elios 3 takes on the job—keeping personnel out of harm’s way. Equipped with advanced navigation systems and high-resolution imaging, it can safely access and inspect even the most challenging environments, ensuring a thorough assessment without endangering human lives.

Built for Extreme Conditions – The Elios 3 is designed to withstand dust, debris, darkness, and confined quarters. Its small size and protective cage allows it to navigate complex environments without damage, while powerful lighting and LiDAR-based 3D mapping ensure high-quality data collection in low-visibility areas.

The Elios 3 is not just an improvement—it’s a complete shift in how industries approach confined space inspections.

Improving Upon Inspection Practices with the Elios 3

Other than massive leaps in procedure safety, one of the biggest advantages of using the Elios 3 for confined space inspections is the simplicity and speed of deployment. Traditional inspections require extensive preparation, including confined space entry permits, ventilation procedures, and detailed safety briefings. Each step adds time and cost to the process—before the actual inspection even begins. In contrast, deploying the Elios 3 is fast and straightforward. With no need for human entry, inspections can be conducted within minutes, significantly reducing downtime and operational disruptions.

By eliminating these logistical hurdles, companies can confidently increase inspection frequency without additional risk or expense. The Elios 3’s LiDAR technology also allows for long-term trend analysis—capturing detailed 3D maps that can be compared over multiple inspections. This enables asset managers to track structural changes, material degradation, and damage progression over time, leading to proactive maintenance strategies rather than reactive repairs. With repeatable, data-driven insights, businesses can make more informed decisions, extending the lifespan of critical infrastructure while keeping costs low.

The Elios 3 goes beyond just making inspections safer—it elevates the entire process with cutting-edge data collection and intelligent asset management. With a single flight, this drone provides inspectors with comprehensive, real-time insights that traditional methods simply can’t match.

One Scan, Multiple Insights

Unlike traditional inspections that rely on limited visual assessments or single-point measurements, the Elios 3 captures vast amounts of data in one flight. Equipped with thermal imaging, high-resolution cameras, and LiDAR-based 3D mapping, it delivers a complete overview of an asset’s condition. This level of detail allows inspectors to detect cracks, corrosion, structural weaknesses, and temperature anomalies that might otherwise go unnoticed.

By removing the need for workers to enter hazardous environments, the Elios 3 allows skilled personnel to focus on higher-value tasks like decision-making and repairs. Rather than spending hours navigating confined spaces, workers can analyze drone data and make informed maintenance decisions. 

At its core, the Elios 3 represents a fundamental ethical shift in hazardous inspections: No job should require human lives to be put at risk when a drone can do the same work. The use of robotics in high-risk environments is increasingly seen as not just a technological advancement, but a moral obligation—ensuring that no worker is exposed to unnecessary dangers when safer alternatives exist.

A New Era of Inspections

The Elios 3 is redefining confined space inspections by combining unmatched safety with intelligent data collection. By eliminating human entry into hazardous environments, this revolutionary drone reduces risks, enhances efficiency, and provides deeper insights than ever before. Its ability to navigate extreme conditions, capture high-resolution visuals, and generate 3D LiDAR maps makes it an essential tool for industries that prioritize worker safety and asset integrity.

At AeroVision, we specialize in leveraging the Elios 3 for confined space inspections, ensuring accurate, efficient, and risk-free assessments.

Now is the time to embrace the future of inspections. Contact us today to discover how the Elios 3 can help your business enhance safety, optimize maintenance, and reduce operational costs—all while keeping your workforce out of harm’s way.