DOI · DOI-0255 · record R2508

Autonomous Drone Inspections

Department of the Interior · BSEE

Overview

Development stage: In development or acquisitionSource: a) Pre-deployment – The use case is in a development or acquisition status.
High-impact designation: Not high-impactSource: c) Not high-impact
Impact justification: Not reported
Start date: Not reported
Withheld from public reporting: NoSource: a) No

Mission

Topic area: Energy and the Environment
Operational functions: No function tag matched Derived by keyword rules; see methodology

Problem the AI is intended to solve

The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement within the Department Of Interior, is requesting a trade study of the feasibility of autonomously inspecting off-shore facilities that are non-boardable due to various hazards. These inspections are currently performed by inspectors at a stand off distance from the non-boardable facility on board boats, helicopters, or from land. The distance between the personnel and the facility reduces the quality of inspections that are possible for non-boardable facilities.

Expected benefits

Increase the inspection capabilities and efficiency of inspections through the use of small autonomous uncrewed aerial systems (sUAS).

System outputs

Multiple outputs for inspections, including decisions on corrosion levels, if a platform is boardable, does it have methane leaks.

Technology

AI classification: Other
System name(s): Not reported
Custom-developed code: No
Public source code: Not reported

Sourcing

How it was built: Contract and in-houseSource: c) Developed with both contracting and in-house resources
Vendor (as reported): Not reported
Vendors (standardized): None on the standard list

A vendor is the supplier named by the agency. It does not identify the underlying model or AI technology.

Data and privacy

Involves PII: No
Privacy Impact Assessment: Not reported
Authorization to Operate: No
Demographic features: Not reported
Training and evaluation data: Not reported
Federal Data Catalog: Not reported

Governance

0 of 8 minimum-practice questions answered. A blank answer means the agency reported nothing; it does not mean the practice is absent.

Pre-deployment testingNo answer reported

AI impact assessmentNo answer reported

Independent reviewNo answer reported

Ongoing monitoringNo answer reported

Operator trainingNo answer reported

Fail-safeNo answer reported

Appeal processNo answer reported

User and public consultationNo answer reported

Potential impacts and how they were identified

Not reported