Measure metal thickness where access is hardest.
ALTCER develops aerial systems for remote ultrasonic thickness measurement — as a complete inspection drone or as an integration-ready EMAT system for third-party UAVs.
- Field-tested aerial NDT
- Live A-scan
- GPS-denied operation
- No liquid couplant
Thickness inspection should not require putting people at height.
Wall thickness data drives integrity decisions on tanks, stacks, piping and steel structures. Getting that data usually means scaffolding, rope access or elevated platforms — and a shutdown window to make it possible.
Reduce difficult access
Less dependence on scaffolding, rope access and elevated platforms where the mission allows it.
Inspect difficult surfaces
Collect readings on coated and hard-to-reach steel with reduced surface-preparation requirements, within validated measurement conditions.
Keep assets available
Shorter inspection windows and fewer access-related constraints on shutdown planning.
Ultrasound generated in the material — without liquid couplant.
Electromagnetic acoustic transducers generate ultrasonic waves through electromagnetic interaction at the material surface. Unlike conventional contact UT, EMAT does not require a liquid acoustic couplant. For aerial inspection this can simplify the measurement head and reduce surface-preparation requirements within a validated operating envelope.
| Conventional contact UT | EMAT |
|---|---|
| Acoustic energy coupled through probe and couplant | Acoustic wave generated by electromagnetic interaction |
| Liquid couplant required | No liquid couplant |
| Cleaning and surface preparation may be required depending on probe and surface condition | Can reduce or avoid preparation within validated coating, surface condition and lift-off limits |
| Material and probe dependent | Material and transducer dependent |
Published coating, material and lift-off limits apply only to ALTCER configurations that have been validated under stated conditions.
Outside the envelope
- Insulated pipework is excluded: the sensor needs access to the metal surface.
- Coating above the validated thickness has not been demonstrated.
- Sustained wind above the stated limit at measurement altitude stops the flight.
From flight to inspection data.
- Plan Define the asset, the measurement points and the approach geometry.
- Navigate Reach the target in GPS-denied environments without magnetometer reference.
- Measure Position the EMAT sensor against the surface and acquire thickness and A-scan.
- Verify Check signal quality in real time and repeat the point if needed.
- Document Link every reading to its location, image and timestamp.
- Export Produce an inspection dataset ready for integrity review.
Choose the deployment model that fits your project.
Buy Colibri360
Companies that need their own inspection capability.
Complete system, with training and support.
Rent Colibri360
A project with a limited window and no reason to buy a system.
A set for an agreed period, operated by your team where the requirements are met.
Drone as a Service
You need the result, not an aircraft and an operator.
A completed mission and the agreed inspection dataset or report.
Integrate EMALTUS
UAV manufacturers, integrators and existing fleet owners.
A technical integration review.
Talk to the engineers who built the system.
Technical questions get technical answers. No gatekeeping.