Title: A cost-effective airborne multisensor system for pipeline monitoring using a quadcopter

Authors: Mbadiwe S. Benyeogor; Adeboye Olatunbosun; Oladayo O. Olakanmi; Olusegun I. Lawal

Addresses: Institute of Physics, Westfälische Wilhelms Universität Münster, Münster, 48149, Germany ' Faculty of Engineering, Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo, Oke-Ebo 211271, Nigeria ' Embedded Systems and Security Research Group (ESSRG), Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Office 6, Faculty of Technology Building, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, 200132, Nigeria ' Advanced Aerospace Engines Laboratory, National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), Obasanjo Space Centre, Umaru Musa Yar'adua Express Way, P.M.B, 437, Garki, Abuja, Nigeria

Abstract: Recently, there has been a high demand for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for oil and gas pipeline inspection. Therefore, a multisensory quadcopter is developed using an edge controller to meet this demand. In addition, a pair of thermosensitive gas sensors and nondispersive infrared (NDIR) gas sensors are embedded in the quadcopter for detecting pipeline leakages. Python scripts are used to analyse the quadcopter's dynamics during flight in order to evaluate its ability to deploy instruments. The result of this work is a system that can fly semi-autonomously to survey pipeline infrastructure in real-time. Performance analysis has been carried out on the system and its subcomponents. Results reveal that the developed system functions as predicted. Moreover, we envisage that this system will help improve safety, situational awareness, and decision-making in the oil and gas industries.

Keywords: data fusion; flammable gases; flight control; multi-sensory systems; NDIR sensing; UAV; pipeline monitoring; volatile gases; quadcopter.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSCIP.2022.129557

International Journal of System Control and Information Processing, 2022 Vol.4 No.1, pp.1 - 27

Accepted: 16 Dec 2021
Published online: 14 Mar 2023 *

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