Flyability Elios 3

The Elios 3 is purpose-built for non-line-of-sight (NLOS), GPS-denied, and hostile industrial environments. It features a collision-resilient carbon-fibre cage mounted on a decoupling mechanism that absorbs impacts up to 3 m/s, paired with motor-reversing logic that prevents prop-stalling upon contact. Navigation relies on Flyability’s proprietary SLAM (Simultaneous Localisation and Mapping) engine powered by an onboard LiDAR, allowing sub-centimetre position hold and obstacle clearance without satellite signal, external lighting, or air currents destabilising the flight.

The Elios 3 uses high-penetration digital transmission alongside an optional long-range range extender and physical tether system for deep-tunnel or thick-wall assets. In the event of video or command link degradation, the drone activates an intelligent Return-to-Signal feature: the Cockpit app prompts the drone to autonomously retrace its exact flight trajectory along the onboard SLAM map until the radio link is re-established or initiates a controlled landing if the link cannot be recovered.

The Elios 3 achieves up to 12 minutes of flight time in its base inspection configuration (integrated 4K visual sensor, FLIR radiometric thermal camera, and 16,000-lumen oblique dustproof lighting). When operating with modular external payloads—such as the Surveying LiDAR payload or Ultrasonic Thickness (UT) gauge—flight time typically ranges between 9 and 10 minutes per smart battery pack. Batteries are hot-swappable to maintain continuous site rotation.

The Elios 3 features a dual-payload integration bay designed for multi-sensor data harvesting:

• Surveying Payload: Equipped with an Ouster LiDAR sensor for high-density, survey-grade 3D point cloud generation.
• Ultrasonic Thickness (UT) Sensor: Equipped with a couplant dispenser and remote probe head to measure steel wall thickness and detect internal corrosion without human entry.
• Radiation Detection Sensor (RAD): Designed for nuclear facility surveillance and hazardous material response.

Field operators receive real-time 3D situational point clouds streamed directly to the Flyability Cockpit tablet during flight. Post-flight, data is processed through Flyability Inspector and compatible SLAM engines to output dense georeferenced point clouds (E57, LAS, PLY), high-resolution photogrammetric orthomosaics, and radiometric thermal maps. These integrate seamlessly into CAD, BIM (Autodesk Revit, Navisworks), and digital twin platforms like Trendspek and Asset Management Software.

For commercial operation in the UK, pilots must hold an appropriate CAA qualification (such as an A2 CofC, GVC, or RPC-L1 under the UK SORA framework depending on operational airspace and risk parameters). Coptrz Academy delivers manufacturer-certified Flyability Elios 3 Model-Specific Training, covering system calibration, SLAM troubleshooting, caged flight dynamics, and payload-specific workflows.