YellowScan and Nokia combine forces for 5G Lidar innovation

In a new strategic partnership, YellowScan’s Surveyor Ultra Lidar scanner is being integrated into Nokia’s Drone Networks. This collaboration between YellowScan, a leader in advanced Lidar technology, and Nokia, a pioneer in B2B technology innovation, is aimed at revolutionizing how industries conduct inspections and manage operations.

The partnership focuses on automating 5G-based Lidar scanning for a broad range of applications in sectors where precision, efficiency and safety are critical, such as telecommunications tower inspections, utility maintenance and mining operations. By combining YellowScan’s scanning technology with Nokia’s 5G uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV or ‘drone’) solutions, the companies aim to reduce the costs of industrial inspections by over 60%.

Precise digital twins

A key element in this collaboration is the integration of YellowScan’s Surveyor Ultra into Nokia’s drone-in-a-box solution, enabling real-time streaming of Lidar data over 5G networks. This integration will allow for automated, high-resolution scans and the creation of precise digital twins, significantly enhancing operational efficiency.

The partnership also promises to improve safety by reducing the need for manual inspections in hazardous environments. Automated UAV inspections, powered by 5G connectivity, are the foundation of consistent data quality and allow for remote operations, even beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS).

Ultimately, the alliance between YellowScan and Nokia is aimed at redefining industrial inspections, leveraging advanced Lidar technology and 5G to drive efficiency, safety and cost savings across critical industries.

Direct data streaming

“We are excited to collaborate with Nokia to bring our YellowScan Surveyor Ultra to new heights,” says Tristan Allouis, CEO at YellowScan. “Our sensors are designed to deliver the accuracy and reliability needed for critical industrial applications, and when paired with the 5G connected Nokia drone solution, we can truly transform how industries operate.”

Thomas Eder, head of the Embedded Wireless division at Nokia, describes this partnership as a true game changer. Leveraging Nokia’s embedded 5G UAV technology, YellowScan’s Lidar scanners will enable real-time data delivery to experts, streamlining operations like never before. By getting utilized 4G/LTE or 5G connectivity, drones can fly BVLOS while streaming data directly to the edge cloud platform. This approach eliminates the need for on-site personnel and manual data retrieval from SD cards, making the process more efficient and seamless.

“Our Nokia Drone Networks solution enables automation of the entire Lidar scanning process, cutting costs and removing the need for repeated site visits. This advancement not only boosts our Nokia Drone Networks and Mission Critical Industrial Edge (MXIE) platform capabilities, but also takes industrial automation to the next level,” explains Eder.

This partnership represents a significant milestone in the industrial application of drone mapping technology, highlighting the transformative potential of combining advanced sensing with 5G connectivity. The collaboration between YellowScan and Nokia is expected to lead to innovative solutions that address the increasingly complex demands of industries worldwide.