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UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES AS A TOOL FOR SUPPORTING THE DIAGNOSTIC PROCESS OF HIGH-RISE STRUCTURES
Abstract
The development of UAV-based (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) diagnostic methods has created new opportunities for evaluating high-rise and industrial structures. While traditional multirotor drones are commonly used for visual and thermal inspections, their limited authority control reduces precision when operating close to complex surfaces. This review paper examines the capabilities of omnidirectional UAVs (omnicopters), which offer full control across six degrees of freedom by decoupling translation from rotation. Such platforms enable stable orientation of diagnostic equipment during complex maneuvers, allowing precise inspections in areas inaccessible to conventional UAVs. Based on current literature, this paper outlines the functional differences between omnicopters and standard UAVs, summarizes use cases in structural inspection, and uncovers known limitations, including limited flight time, system complexity, and regulatory challenges. The study also identifies prospective research directions, such as integration with non-destructive testing (NDT), autonomous navigation in confined spaces, and real-time data analysis using Artificial Intelligence (AI). The findings support the potential of omnicopters as a next generation tool for structural monitoring in construction and heavy industry.
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References7
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