South Korea: Hanil Cement will deploy drones equipped with artificial intelligence (AI) for inventory management and equipment inspections at its Danyang plant, according to Chosun Biz news. 10 employees have obtained piloting qualifications to operate the drones. After a trial run, the drones will be deployed in April 2026.
The company said that the industrial drones are equipped with AI software that can recognise spaces and convert them into 3D maps, allowing the drones to fly safely in narrow indoor areas and accurately measure inventory volumes stored in warehouses. Hanil Cement said that one of the main advantages of the drones is improved safety, as they can be deployed instead of workers to inspect dusty, confined spaces and high structures, reducing the risk of asphyxiation accidents and falls. The drones can also measure pipe thickness and assess corrosion or wear during inspections. They also reportedly save time and money by eliminating the need for external inventory measurement services and temporary scaffolding for equipment inspections. Inventory checks, previously conducted once per quarter, are now carried out monthly.
A spokesperson from Hanil Cement said "The drones introduced for worker safety are also helping with efficient plant operations. We plan to gradually expand the scope of operations by adding functions such as thermal imaging to the drones and sharing them among plants.”
