Voliro AG aerial robots greatly reduce inspection costs and downtime by making maintenance safer and more efficient. Aerial robots blend tech innovation with industry expertise to improve inspections and boost safety while minimizing human risk.
A Zurich-based startup spun out of ETH Zurich in 2016, Voliro is reimagining how critical infrastructure is inspected. Voliro aerial robots perform contact-based, non-destructive testing on hard-to-reach surfaces, reducing downtime and enhancing safety in energy, construction, oil and gas, and other industries.
Modular sensor payloads make it easy to swap out different drone sensors for different applications. Sensor types include ultrasound for measuring material thickness, electromagnetic acoustic transducer for testing metal thickness, and dry film thickness for determining the layer thickness of coatings, among others.
The highly adaptable nature of Voliro drones is a key selling point in an extremely competitive market. Their flexibility enables engineers and technicians to inspect vertical surfaces, domes, and industrial towers without scaffolding or human climbing teams. However, as the company grew, so did the complexity of its design process.
Seeking a Better Way to Design and Collaborate
By 2023, the Voliro team needed a design and engineering solution that would keep pace with its product development process and fast iteration cycles. According to Hardware Lead Florian Braun, the team was looking for a platform that would simplify collaboration across locations, manage product data reliably, and eliminate the need to manage an IT infrastructure.
After evaluating options, Voliro transitioned to the cloud-based 3DEXPERIENCE® platform paired with SOLIDWORKS® for CAD and Simulation for virtual testing. This enabled the engineering team to work seamlessly from any location, track design versions automatically, and collaborate in real time.
Accelerating Development Without Compromising Precision
Voliro now handles all stages of mechanical development in a centralized location via the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, from early sketches to finalized parts. “Depending on the project, one to three designers typically work closely together, often in cooperation with electronics engineers, to ensure smooth integration of the electronics,” Braun adds. “The 3DEXPERIENCE platform offers a seamless environment where mechanical and electronic components can be coordinated. It enables us to manage all steps of mechanical design centrally and efficiently, increasing iteration speed and significantly accelerating teamwork.”
Using SOLIDWORKS Simulation, Voliro runs structural analyses on drone components long before manufacturing. This helps the team make early design decisions that reduce drone weight without compromising durability.
“Simulation allows us to use only the material we absolutely need, which reduces weight. That is why virtual testing with SOLIDWORKS Simulation is very important. It saves us costs and time, as fewer physical tests and iterations are required.”
Voliro Hardware Lead Florian Braun
Getting There Faster
Switching to SOLIDWORKS connected to the 3DEXPERIENCE platform also provided Voliro with consistent part numbering, version tracking, and a shared storage system, all in the cloud. This reduces errors in ordering and assembly, which is especially valuable in a high-velocity startup environment.
If you’d like to learn more about how SOLIDWORKS can help your business get innovative products to market faster, contact your local reseller. You can read the full case study here: https://www.solidworks.com/customer-story/voliro-speeds-drone-innovation-cloud-based-collaboration/.
Categories: 3DEXPERIENCE, 3DEXPERIENCEWORKS, Customer Stories, Dassault Systèmes, Design, SOLIDWORKS, SOLIDWORKS Simulation