"DB UAS": Deutsche Bahn Tests Infrastructure Inspection via Drone
Track Maintenance
DB-UAS_01: The helicopter-like drone developed by Airial UAS utilizes the classic gyrocopter principle to optimize performance and range (Photo: Deutsche Bahn AG / Volker Emersleben).
On behalf of DB Sky Operations, a division of DB Fahrwegdienste GmbH responsible for the deployment of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) within the Deutsche Bahn Group, the Hamburg-based company Airial UAS has developed an unmanned aerial system designed specifically for inspecting linear infrastructure. The centerpiece of this project is the long-range drone named "DB UAS," which was unveiled at the InnoTrans trade fair and is set to begin field trials in 2025.
A current trend in the drone economy is application-specific drone development. Rather than designing missions to fit the capabilities of a "standard UAS," technologies and concepts are now being developed from the ground up to suit the intended operational scenario. The "DB UAS" drone by Airial UAS resembles a traditional helicopter, allowing it to not only collect data at specific points but also efficiently cover long distances. The drone’s design incorporates the classic gyrocopter principle, where the rotor is not powered by an engine during flight but is instead kept in motion by the airstream. This approach conserves energy while still providing the necessary lift. Starting in 2025, the drone will undergo trial operations, with tasks such as surveying, vegetation control, and routine infrastructure monitoring being partially conducted from the air. If everything proceeds as planned, up to 100 of these unmanned systems could be deployed in the coming years to help maintain Deutsche Bahn’s approximately 60,000 kilometers of track.
> This article was created in collaboration with Drones, the magazine for the drone economy. www.drones-magazin.de