PRECISION NAVIGATION

NATHAN SCHUETT
Founder & CEO
nate@prenav.com

CURRENT METHODS

Two main approaches to blade inspections

2016

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WHAT ABOUT DRONES?

Lots of hype, but in reality the tech still has a ways to go

BIG, EXPENSIVE, HARD TO

PILOT
2016

INCONSISTENT, DIFFICULT TO
SCALE
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OUR VISION

A fully automated system

that essentially flies itself

2016

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HOW IT WORKS

We use a ground-based guidance system to make our drones

simple, safe and reliable regardless of who is operating the system

1. Scan the structure from the

ground (building a 3D map)
1. Scan

2. Plan the flight path (preview

and edit an auto-generated
path on a tablet)

2. Plan
3. Fly

2016

3. Fly autonomously with

increased precision while being
tracked by the ground unit

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DEMO

Fully automated flight and image capture for inspections

2016

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DEMO

Complete coverage of the structure, even in GPS-denied conditions

2016

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CURRENT PROTOTYPE IN THE FIELD

2016

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SAMPLE IMAGES

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SAMPLE IMAGES

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SAMPLE IMAGES

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SAMPLE REPORTING

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PRODUCT GOALS

AUTOMATED FLIGHT

IMAGING QUALITY

IMAGE DISPLAY

ANALYSIS

Lock blades once

(bunny ears position)

100MP+ imager to spot

millimeter sized cracks
and erosion

Present photos in an
intuitive 3D interface

Automated image
classification and
analysis of damage

Complete entire turbine

inspection in less than
45 mins from setup to
breakdown

Sub-millimeter pixel
resolution (<.5mm per
pixel)

Customers can clearly

locate damage on the
blade and take
measurements

Employ machine
learning to improve
detection capabilities
over time

Equal performance in
direct sun and shade

2016

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PRODUCT GOALS

Example flight path

2016

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FUTURE GOALS

2016

NDT

Thermal

Fully Autonomous

Attach an ultrasound
probe to the drone to
take thickness readings
at pre-planned
coordinates

Carry a thermal payload

to check for heat
signature irregularities
and stress

Employ recharging
stations/hangars so no
human operator is
required

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WORKING WITH PRENAV

2016

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TEAM

Experienced team with a focus on commercial robotics and

computer vision/graphics
Nathan Schuett - Co-founder, CEO
Robotics at SCR. Product, mktg for Lolapps,
EA, Microsoft, Antenna Audio. Rowed crew
and studied computer music at Stanford.

Jay

Karthik

Finn

Curtis

15 yrs in video
games. GTA.

Ph.D. Computer
Vision

M.S. CalTech,
JPL, Pilot

Sensor, Robot
Hacker

Stan

Steven

Max

Robert

Sr. Embedded

Jr. EE

Builder

UAV Team Capt.

Asa Hammond - Co-founder, CTO

Principal at SCR, Assemble. 1st engineer at Bot
and Dolly (acquired by Google). VFX for
Hellboy, Sin City, Superman Returns, Spiderman.

Nick Rossi - VP Engineering

VP Engineering at The Platform (sold to
Comcast). 20+ years experience in enterprise
software architecture. Harvey Mudd.
Nathan, Asa, and Max designed,
built, and installed the mechatronic
camera systems for Googles
Winter Wonderlabs
2016

Asa developed the robotic motion

control system used to shoot Alphonso
Cuarons Gravity
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WORKING WITH PRENAV

PHASE 1
Proof of Concept

PHASE 2
Development Partnership

PHASE 3
Field Trial

ADA

Price: Estimate $5k - $10k depending

on the complexity, travel costs, etc.

2016

Price: TBD depending on the scope of

the relationship

PROXIMA

PHASE 4
Rollout

MISSION CONTROL
SOFTWARE

PARTICLE
ENGINE

Price: Monthly subscription based on usage (e.g. $XX per inspection

per month). Includes access to the hardware, software, and image
processing in the cloud handled by PRENAV.

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PHASE 1 - Proof of Concept

OVERVIEW
70-80m hub height turbine
Testing/Demo in the U.S. (and California preferably), with video being sent to client HQ
Likely only perform automated flight on 1 blade (diagonal)
Imagery shared with client
SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION LEADS TO PHASE 2 DEVELOPMENT RELATIONSHIP

Price: Estimate $5k - $10k depending

on the complexity, travel costs, etc.

2016

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THANK YOU

2016

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