Industrial drones add value when the images and data are transformed into information that clients can use. David Ferré and Bernardo Sa Pereira explain this evolution in chapter 35 of Toque de Ingenio. Amelia Hub transitioned from audiovisual services to applications in surveying, inspection, and software, with the aim of simplifying the analysis and repetition of capture operations.
Guests: David Ferré and Bernardo Sa Pereira, who were presented in the episode as CTO and CEO of Amelia Hub, respectively.
Interview published: January 27, 2025. Episode: 35. Duration: 1 hour 13 minutes
In this episode:
- How a service company using drones expands its operations into industrial applications.
- Why processing the data might be more important to the client than actually taking the flight.
- What possibilities and dependencies are involved in automating repetitive data capture from a fixed location?
David recounts an early passion for radio-controlled vehicles, while Bernardo recalls how he recognized an opportunity after discovering these capabilities. Their technical and business profiles began to complement each other within the company. The interview captures their experience and Amelia Hub’s plans for January 2025.
From a striking flight to a professional service.
The guests recall a time when working with drones involved building and meticulously adjusting equipment with a great deal of manual work. The novelty of the imagery presented opportunities, but providing a professional service required more than just having a device capable of flying.
The audiovisual experience taught them how to prepare materials, respond to demanding clients, and anticipate potential problems. During a shoot, a single issue could impact other people and resources that were already mobilized. The team needed to approach the situation with an organization that was appropriate for the context.
The conversation illustrates how this preparation developed through learning and practical activity. The service included presentation, transport, and the provision of backup materials. Technical quality needed to be accompanied by an operation that the production team could rely on.
For a company introducing a new technology, the case illustrates that the client is purchasing an outcome within their own process. While a remarkable capability can open the door, consistency and coordination are what sustain the business relationship.
Diversify into terrain and industrial inspection.
Amelia Hub explains that she has expanded her activities to not rely solely on audiovisual production. The knowledge of drones could be used in tasks where images provided measurements and technical information. This transition also connected with David’s engineering training.
The guests described work involving surveying and inspection of wind turbines. Each application required an understanding of what the client needed and how the results should be delivered. The same data capture platform could be used for vastly different services.
Diversification wasn’t simply about changing the subject being photographed. An audiovisual image is evaluated differently than a measurement or inspection. Precision, processing, and interpretation take on a different role when the information supports an industrial decision.
From the Industrial application engineering, This evolution highlights the importance of defining how data will be used. The data capture system should be chosen with the final deliverable in mind. Knowing what the client needs to decide helps determine what information needs to be obtained.
The opportunity lies in what we do with the data.
Bernardo explains that, as the initial capture became more accessible, the team saw an opportunity in the post-treatment phase. Simply obtaining the initial images no longer presented the biggest challenge in any of the projects. The key question that arose was:
“What should I do with that data”.
Bernardo Sa Pereira 27:08.
The interview includes a project to obtain volume data for scrap metal piles using images. This example demonstrates the difference between simply surveying a facility and providing a measurement that can be incorporated into its management. The value lies in transforming this data into a usable operational result.
The guests also recalled a development that compared a construction model with a cloud of points. In that instance, the focus was on relating what was projected with what was observed during the execution. The software connected different representations to facilitate verification.
These examples illustrate the evolution towards a software platform. The company aimed to reuse existing knowledge and provide tools that would simplify data analysis. The application was intended to reduce specialized work while still maintaining the information needed to interpret the results.
Automate repetitive capture tasks using a drone database.
The conversation focuses on systems where a drone remains at a base, connected from which operations can be prepared and managed. For installations requiring frequent measurements, this architecture could eliminate the need to relocate a technician each time.
David describes the typical workflow of a service: preparation, travel/movement, flight, and return – all for the purpose of processing information. In repetitive operations, several of these steps can constitute a significant portion of the work. Automation is being explored to reduce this workload in a consistent and effective manner.
The episode differentiates between remote control of an operation and a completely autonomous one. The guests explain that they were working on specific authorizations and cases. They do not present this as a generic possibility available anywhere, nor do they assume that all operational conditions have been resolved.
The design lesson involves considering base, communications, power, and monitoring as integral parts of the system. A drone operating in isolation does not, on its own, provide a continuous service. The installation must be adapted to the specific location and the needs of those who will be using it.
Making the analysis understandable for the client.
When discussing the future, David emphasizes that work doesn’t end simply with automating the flight. The platform must facilitate the processing of information and its delivery. Its objectives include:
“Not just to automate the service”.
David Ferré 1:07:11.
The phrase introduces a crucial element of the proposal: reducing the complexity that stands between a usable data capture and its actual application. In the interview, he explains that the workflow might require different technical profiles. Simplifying it necessitates understanding which steps contribute to information and how the results are verified.
For the Interface design, This presents a specific task. The client needs to be able to interpret the data, recognize its context, and use it in a decision. A screen displaying a large amount of data doesn’t necessarily make the work easier if it doesn’t explain its meaning and relationship.
The case also highlights that automation doesn’t mean concealing all aspects of a measurement. The tool needs to retain sufficient information so that the result can be understood. Ease of use and process traceability should be developed together.
Choosing projects that contribute to building the platform.
The guests explain that they were continuing to offer services and undertake development projects, but they wanted to keep these closely aligned with the software’s focus. A small company might receive interesting commissions that require very different capabilities. Accepting all of these could spread the team’s workload.
The platform is envisioned as a foundation upon which to add analytical applications. The episode explores potential future uses, such as other inspection or security applications. These are areas the team had anticipated developing, and they should be distinguished from the services they had previously described as part of their work.
Business learning involves connecting each project with a clear direction. A commission can generate revenue and knowledge, but it also consumes resources that are needed by the overall product. The decision requires assessing what can be reused and what capacity will remain within the company.
What can another development team learn?
- Define the industrial deliverable before choosing how to capture the data.
- Assess, monitoring, processing, and delivery as components of a single service.
- Identify available functions, authorized tests, and future automation objectives.
- Prioritise projects that strengthen the platform’s shared capabilities.
Amelia Hub demonstrates how a company can evolve from a data capture technology into an information-based service. If your project involves physical equipment, data, and user interaction, i-mas can help you define the requirements and connect these different disciplines. Tell us what you need to develop..
To continue reading: Beamagine’s LiDAR sensors for environmental perception.
Source of article: An interview with Edgar Guerrero, featuring David Ferré and Bernardo Sa Pereira on “Toque de Ingenio,” published on January 27, 2025. The quotes link to the relevant sections of the video; the “learnings” are a summarized editorial version of the conversation.
