ZhilianhaiVoliro: Contact Inspection Drones, NDT Payloads and Inspection Reporting
Company background
Voliro AG develops aerial robots for industrial inspection and work at height. Based in Zurich, Switzerland, the company was incorporated in 2019 after research that began at ETH Zurich in 2016. Its Voliro T platform supports inspection service providers and asset teams evaluating difficult-to-access structures, with hardware, instruments and software forming the inspection system.
Aerial surface interaction
Voliro T uses tiltable rotors to position an inspection instrument against surfaces at different orientations. Assisted flight and interaction modes support the pilot during measurement collection. The aircraft specification distinguishes outdoor positioning from assistance in environments without GPS. Buyers should evaluate the intended surface geometry, access route and operator workload using their proposed aircraft and payload configuration.
Selecting an inspection instrument
The payloads perform different measurements. UT measures wall thickness using ultrasonic coupling, while EMAT provides a couplant-free alternative. High-temperature UT uses a separate probe and couplant arrangement. DFT measures coating thickness. For wind turbines, the LPS tester combines an electrical contact probe and ground equipment to measure circuit resistance. Selection should follow the inspection question and material condition.
Corrosion screening
Voliro announced its drone-mounted PEC sensor with Sixpec in March 2025. This instrument supports relative material-loss screening beneath insulation on suitable steel assets. Its readings represent an area average rather than the thinnest individual point, and the specification excludes pitting detection. Follow-up measurements and interpretation should be defined before screening results enter an asset maintenance decision.
Data and reporting
The workflow includes instrument calibration, measurement collection, ground-level review and upload for reporting. Voliro Reporting supports PDF reports and CSV or JSON exports, with measurement context such as timestamps and position information. A trial should establish the required data fields, ownership, retention, access arrangements and how records will enter the customer's existing inspection or maintenance system.
Mission evaluation
The aircraft specification requires dry-weather operation and excludes fog; flight and surface-interaction conditions also differ. Plan a demonstration around representative inspection locations, available clearance and expected weather. Agree how the team will verify readings, handle an interrupted flight and document inaccessible points. A specialist probe's temperature rating should be assessed separately from the aircraft's operating environment.
Training and support
Voliro describes a subscription offering that includes onboarding, training, spare parts and ongoing support alongside the equipment. Confirm the selected payloads, software access, maintenance responsibilities and regional service arrangements in the proposal. Establish who will pilot the aircraft, interpret NDT results and deliver the final report, and what continuing training is needed as equipment or inspection methods change.