India has 30,000 Kms of oil and gas pipeline and Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board requires that these pipelines be inspected at least once a month, especially for right-of-way. Further no activity is allowed on 5 metres on either side of the pipeline.
Current monitoring system either by helicopters or by foot are either very expensive or time consuming.
Startup FeatherDyn has developed a prototype made of glass fibre which would carry high-definition cameras to monitor pipelines effectively.
DGCA has provided the company location at Munnar to test-flight it’s drone and test it’s capability.