Unmanned flying drones hunt for oil reserves
Unmanned flying drones are being used to recover oil reserves from the North Sea.
Researchers from the University of Aberdeen, in collaboration a team from the University of Bergen in Norway, are using remotely operated flying machines to scan rock formations in remote areas.
"The advantage of the drone is that it allows us to collect large volumes of data from otherwise inaccessible cliff sections in remote and often dangerous places," explained Professor John Howell, a geoscientist at the University of Aberdeen.
The drones consist of a gyroscopically stabilised body - typically with up to eight tiny motors - and helicopter-style blades on 'spider legs' emitting from its centre.
The vehicle used in the project costs around £10,000 and is remotely operated using radio controls. It carries two cameras which allow it to collect stereo, 3D imagery.
The computer stabilisation and multiple motors means it is incredibly stable and can provide an accurate map of the rock formations.
"We're now able to create virtual rock formations that are accurate to within less than a few millimetres," Prof Howell noted.
