Development 

Chameleon Multirotor Aircraft

The Chameleon Multirotor Aircraft is a specialized UAS designed and developed by PinnaclX. This aircraft was created specifically for the inspection of power lines and high voltage structures through extensive flight testing next to energized power lines (115KV and 345KV AC).

This compact and lightweight system is capable of hovering within feet of 115KV and 345KV energized transmission lines for extended periods of time and is able to take detailed (20+ megapixel) photos and thermal images (through the use of a FLIR system) even in winds up to 25 MPH.  the PinnaclX Chameleon has logged over 2100 flights in high voltage electromagnetic fields from 115KV and 345KV lines and substations.

The versatility of the Chameleon enables it to take off and land on sloped surfaces in areas as small as 3ft. x 3ft. surrounded by dense brush. This aircraft is small and highly maneuverable, allowing it to fly through small openings in the brush and access areas such as swamps that would otherwise be difficult to access by foot.  In addition, the Chameleon is durable and able to withstand  crash landings, propeller strikes, and propeller stalls. Even when propeller damage occurs, the aircraft is capable of continuing it's flight.  

Set up for the aircraft is relatively simple since there is no bulky ground control required. The GPS signal locks in just 5 minutes. All of the necessary telemetry is displayed on the controller along with the flight modes, allowing the pilot to switch between these modes seamlessly.   

 Through the use of the Chameleon, the Pinnacl X inspection fleet has logged over 1700 flights in high power electromagnetic fields.

*Not recommended/intended for use outside of power line and structure inspection. Experienced pilot required.

Night Inspection

PinnaclX has a FAA Part 107 waiver to operate sUAS at night. We have developed large aircraft capable of generating 52,000 Lumens which is equivalent to 6KW of incandescent light. PinnaclX has also developed high powered lighting systems for small commercially available aircraft like the DJI Phantom and the DJI Mavic. The system for the DJI phantom is capable of producing 6000 Lumens (equivalent to 692W of incandescent light) and the system for the DJI Mavic is capable of producing 4800 Lumens (equivalent to 554W of incandescent light). These aircraft systems went into service in the summer of 2020 for night storm damage inspection. The lighting system can easily be adapted to any aircraft.

sMap

sMAP is a database that allows PinnaclX to store and manage the thousands of videos, photos, and thermal images collected during power line and structure inspection. This program organizes this information by overlaying structure icons onto satellite map programs. The user can select an icon on the map and sMap retrieves the images, videos, and reports associated with the structure in seconds.  All of this information can be uploaded by PinnaclX, utility operators, or other inspectors which allows the program to combine inspection information from a variety of sources. 

Over 1.1 million high-resolution photos and videos of transmission hardware, substation components, solar panel sites, and infrastructure equipment can be stored within the sMap program for each one of our clients. The photos are from sUAS, helicopters, and ground crew. One photo can be found within seconds by several methods that include structure/line number search, location search, or online map search.

sMap is highly customizable and user-friendly. There is no training required and an online tutorial is available. Users are able to load utility or other data onto the program and it will show the locations of the structures on most online maps and satellite programs. This program can be applied to various different industries such as bridge and pipeline inspection and can be customized to the user’s application: security, environmental, entertainment, social media, etc.