What Is a Drone Cage and Why Do You Need It? Use Cases, Types & Indoor Inspections

There are three main types of drone cages available today—this article will help you understand what each one does and when it’s best to use them.

A drone cage serves two important functions: it protects people from the drone’s spinning propellers and safeguards the drone itself from damage during collisions. This makes it ideal for environments where drones might come into contact with obstacles or people.

More than just a protective shell, a good drone cage allows the drone to survive a collision and keep flying. This is especially useful in tight or unpredictable spaces where accidents are more likely.

However, not all drone cages are the same. Some are designed as add-ons for commercial drones, while others are built specifically for drones that operate in confined areas like mines, power plants, or sewers.

In this article, we’ll explore the different scenarios where drone cages are used, explain the three main types, and dive deeper into their most common applications.

Understanding the Difference: Drone Cages vs. Drone Enclosures

Before moving forward, it’s important to clarify that the term “drone cage” can refer to two different things:

One type is a drone enclosure, often used at events like trade shows or drone races, to protect people from potential drone malfunctions. These enclosures are typically made of netting or wire mesh, like the example below:

When we talk about “drone cages” in this article, we’re referring to those that are attached directly to the drone, such as the one on Flyability’s Elios 3:

The Origins of the Drone Cage

Putting a cage around a drone opens up new possibilities for its use, particularly in indoor environments. But how did this idea come about?

The concept was born after the 2011 tsunami in Japan, which caused a nuclear disaster at Fukushima. At the time, human access to the damaged reactor was extremely dangerous, so the need for a safer way to gather visual data arose.

While watching the crisis unfold, Flyability co-founders Patrick Thévoz and Adrien Briod imagined using a flying robot to inspect the area without putting humans at risk. This led to the development of the Elios 1, Elios 2, and eventually the Elios 3—drones designed from the ground up to be collision-tolerant.

The Elios 2 drone cage in action

Why Use a Drone in Confined Spaces?

Drones are used in confined spaces primarily for safety reasons. Instead of sending people into dangerous or hard-to-reach areas, drones equipped with cages can collect visual data without risking human lives.

For example, in the case of the Fukushima disaster, a drone could have provided critical visual information without exposing workers to radiation. Similarly, in industrial settings, drones are used to inspect boilers, pressure vessels, and mines without requiring costly scaffolding or human entry.

Using a drone also saves time and money, making it an efficient solution for inspections and data collection in hazardous environments.

Where Are Drone Cages Used?

Drone cages are ideal for places where collisions are likely and people and drones share the same space. They can be used in both emergency situations and everyday industrial tasks.

Some of the most common applications include:

• Inside nuclear power plants for routine inspections
• Inside boilers and pressure vessels in the oil and gas industry
• Inside mines to assess excavation conditions
• Inside burned-out buildings for fire investigations or situational awareness
• Inside sewer systems to identify pipe damage
• Inside water parks to monitor infrastructure

As you can see, drone cages have a wide range of practical uses across many industries. Can you think of any other scenarios where they might be helpful?

The Three Main Types of Drone Cages

There are currently three primary types of drone cages available on the market:

1. Add-on cages
2. Decoupled cages
3. Fixed cages

Let’s take a closer look at each one.

1. Add-On Drone Cages

Add-on cages are great for enhancing safety by preventing propeller injuries. These cages are usually attached to a specific drone model and are designed to fit snugly around it.

Examples include the DJI Mavic 2 Enterprise cage and the PGYTECH Tello drone cage. However, these cages may not be suitable for industrial inspection tasks due to limitations like reduced flight time and lack of advanced features.

Considerations:

• Not always collision-tolerant
• Lack inspection-specific features
• Can reduce battery life by up to 50%
• May disable obstacle detection

2. Decoupled Drone Cages

Flyability’s Elios 1 uses a decoupled cage design, allowing the drone to remain stable even after a collision. The cage is separated from the drone’s frame on multiple axes, helping absorb impact and maintain flight control.

This design is ideal for tight spaces and has been tested in various confined environments. Pilots have found that it allows for more flexible navigation and even improves battery efficiency in some cases.

Features:

• Modular design for easy repairs
• Improved stability during collisions
• Collision-tolerant flight capabilities

3. Fixed Drone Cages

Flyability’s Elios 2 and Elios 3 feature fixed cages, which are the most advanced design available. Unlike add-on cages, these are integrated into the drone’s original design, allowing for full collision tolerance and enhanced performance in tight spaces.

Key features include:

• Collision-resilient flight algorithms
• GPS-free stabilization
• Live HD streaming
• Oblique lighting for detailed inspections
• LiDAR sensor for 3D mapping

These drones are ideal for professional inspections and can withstand high-speed collisions without damage.

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