YANGDA VTOL drones conduct pipeline inspections in any weather condition in the most cost-effective way, while keeping the activity safe for everyone and delivering the data you need with high precision. There is no need to use large and expensive equipment, put people at risk, or spend a fortune.

Oil and gas inspections were once costly, dangerous, and time-consuming. Different companies relied on large, heavy, and expensive equipment to navigate the pipelines. They also deployed a large number of workers who are inevitably exposed to hazards, such as accidental falls from significant heights and exposure to toxic gases. Traditionally, pipeline inspections were done manually. Not only did it cause downtime and delays in data collection, it also created operational blind spots that led to inaccuracy and wasted effort.

However, you don’t have to compromise your workers’ safety or spend a significant amount of money to conduct pipeline inspections. All you need is a trusted technology that works with you, delivers the results you need, and helps your company save time, money, and effort. YANGDA’s VTOL drones provide solutions that a manual pipeline inspection often misses, such as heavy-lift aerial capability, real-time access to hard-to-reach places, and accurate data.

Benefits of Using YANGDA VTOL Drones



YANGDA offers different VTOL drone models, each with unique features for your team’s specific needs. All the flagship models are created with high-quality components and integrated with the latest technology. With YANGDA VTOL drones, you will enjoy a lot of advantages, among them are:

Operational Efficiency 

YANGDA’s Sky Whale VTOL drones have long-endurance flight capabilities. This feature reduces the need to land frequently to swap batteries. You also do not need flying skills to pilot the drone. All YANGDA’s Sky Whale VTOL drones have LAUNCH ground control software that allows beginners to control their drones without flight experience. Because of their operational efficiency, your company will save a lot of time on manual inspections, and it will also significantly reduce logistics planning.

Safety Improvements

In traditional manual inspections, some areas are inaccessible and unsafe for workers and large equipment. Examples are leak-prone pipelines, flare stacks, and offshore rigs. Drones allow you to access these areas for a fraction of the cost compared to deploying all the resources needed for manual inspections. They reduce or even eliminate the need for ropes, scaffolding, and helicopter overflights. Our drones are designed with extensive safety features, such as DGPS, which ensures that the VTOL will not experience any electromagnetic interference, while improving its stability in flight.

Versatility and Custom Payload Options

Our Sky Whale VTOL models are compatible with a wide range of payloads, such as EO/IR cameras, LIDAR, gas sensors, and even HD video for live streaming. The payload bays are swappable for quick transition between inspection and delivery tasks. Our VTOL drone models have varying suggested payload capacities, ranging from 2 kg (Sky Whale Mini) to 15 kg (YANGDA Sky Whale Max Electric Heavy Lift)

(Payload Model: Storm Eye-30IE-HTM50)

Drone Applications in the Oil & Gas Industry

Drones are useful in different situations, such as tracking and rescue operations. As for the oil and gas industry, you can maximize all an industry-grade drone can offer through the following applications.

Pipeline and Infrastructure Inspection

With the drone’s high payload capacity, you can equip it with the right camera for pipeline and infrastructure inspection. A camera with thermal imaging and zoom capabilities allows you to detect leaks, corrosion, and mechanical failures in the oil and gas pipelines and infrastructures, no matter where they are located. They are also capable of covering large distances in a single flight.

Environmental and Emissions Monitoring

It is everyone’s responsibility to practice environmental stewardship, which is a regulatory requirement in many countries. Our VTOL drones make it easier for you to stay compliant. With our drones’ high payload capacity, you can equip your drones with methane detectors, multi-gas sensors, and thermal cameras to monitor gas emissions in real time without deploying and exposing your team to toxic substances just to collect samples manually. The data it provides is accurate, enabling your company to stay ahead of the EPA standards and local environmental regulations, making your operations faster and more efficient.

Emergency and Incident Response

When a pipeline ruptures and there is gas leakage, you don’t need to deploy your team to monitor the situation. The drones can be the first on the scene with their instant deployment and VTOL precision. You can launch your drone within minutes for real-time situational awareness. If you equip your drone with a camera with zoom and thermal imaging features, you will get live footage of the situation in your control room or mobile command units. It allows you to make fast and calculated decisions, coordinated responses, and reduce risk to your ground teams.

Model: YANGDA ROCK-II Ground Control Station)

Aerial Cargo Delivery and Field Logistics

If you are in the oil and gas industry, most likely, your pipelines are in remote areas far from civilians. For this reason, you most likely have a team stationed near these areas to guard, monitor, and maintain the pipelines. With VTOL drones, you don’t have to send people to deliver cargo. You can use these drones to close the gap. Transporting tools, spare parts, sensor kits, or even emergency medical supplies is now possible. You don’t have to deploy huge vehicles, which can be inefficient in flooded terrains, when you can use drones that are ready to be deployed rain or shine.

YANGDA Sky Whale VTOL Drone Models Overview

Not all drones are built for industrial-grade performance suitable for pipeline inspections. However, YANGDA’s different flagship models are all built to meet the specific demands of the oil and gas industry, whether for pipeline inspection, logistics, or emergency response.

YANGDA Sky Whale Mini Electric Long Endurance VTOL Dron

The YANGDA Sky Whale Mini is a compact, all-electric VTOL drone engineered for fast deployment and extended endurance. Its lightweight design and advanced features make it an ideal solution for light-duty pipeline inspection tasks.

Key Features and Specifications

  • Up to 3 hours of flight time with a surveillance camera; 2.5 hours with a 2kg payload.
  • IP55-rated for reliable operation in various weather conditions.
  • Quick-release cargo bay supports surveillance cameras, LiDAR, and mapping equipment.
  • Built-in video link antenna integrated into the landing gear for a streamlined design.
  • LAUNCH ground control software enables easy control, even for beginners.
  • Equipped with navigation lights controllable via ground software.
  • Features built-in TOF radar for gentle and accurate landings.
  • Ensures visibility to air traffic control systems.
  • Eliminates the need for compass calibration, enhancing stability.
  • XTurbo Intelligent Battery offers real-time monitoring and over 400 charge cycles.

4G/LTE video transmission and "Follow Me" feature for dynamic missions.

YANGDA Sky Whale Heavy Lift Long Endurance Electric VTOL Drone

The YANGDA Sky Whale Heavy Lift Electric VTOL drone is built for demanding missions like LiDAR mapping, long-distance cargo delivery, and security surveillance. Its robust design and advanced features make it an ideal solution for pipeline inspection tasks.

Key Features and Specifications

  • Up to 3.5 hours of flight with a 2kg payload; 2 hours with a 6kg payload; 90 minutes with a 10kg payload.
  • Advanced quick-detach technology enables assembly and disassembly in under 3 minutes by a single operator.
  • Quick-release cargo bay supports various payloads, including surveillance cameras, LiDAR, and medical supplies.
  • IP54-rated for reliable operation in various weather conditions.
  • Withstands winds of up to 13m/s, ensuring stable flight in challenging environments.
  • LAUNCH ground control software allows easy control, even for beginners.
  • Equipped with onboard aviation lights for visibility during nighttime missions.
  • Features built-in TOF radar for gentle and accurate landings.
  • ADS-B equipped to ensure visibility to air traffic control systems.

DGPS Navigation eliminates the need for compass calibration, enhancing stability.

YANGDA Sky Whale Max Electric Heavy Lift Long Endurance VTOL Drone

The YANGDA Sky Whale Max Electric VTOL drone is a purely electric, heavy-lift platform designed for demanding applications. Its unmatched endurance and payload capacity are engineered for comprehensive pipeline inspection missions.

Key Features and Specifications

  • Up to 4 hours of flight with a 2kg payload; 2 hours with a 15kg payload.
  • Dedicated compartment for gimbal camera installation, enabling target search during heavy payload missions.
  • Anti-water fuselage design achieves an IP55 rating, allowing operations in rainy conditions.
  • Advanced quick-detach technology facilitates rapid assembly and disassembly.
  • LAUNCH ground control software designed for beginners, requiring no prior piloting experience.
  • Equipped with onboard aviation lights for visibility during nighttime missions.
  • Built-in TOF radar ensures gentle and accurate landings.
  • Utilizes differential GPS (DGPS) to eliminate the need for compass calibration, enhancing stability and reducing susceptibility to electromagnetic interference.
  • Powered by the XTurbo Intelligent Battery, offering real-time monitoring and over 400 charge cycles.

YANGDA Sky Whale Max Hybrid Heavy Lift Long Endurance VTOL Drone

The YANGDA Sky Whale Max Hybrid VTOL drone is a hybrid (battery and petrol) fixed-wing UAV designed for missions that conventional electric VTOL drones can't accomplish. Its extended endurance and substantial payload capacity make it the best choice for comprehensive pipeline inspection missions.

Key Features & Specifications

  • Capable of flying up to 10 hours with a 2kg payload, and 4 hours with a 15kg payload.
  • Supports up to 15kg payloads, suitable for carrying advanced sensors and equipment.
  • Combines battery and petrol engines, with options for a standard 116cc EFI engine or an optional 120cc version optimized for high-altitude and low-temperature missions.
  • Dedicated compartment for gimbal camera installation, enabling target search during heavy payload missions.
  • Anti-water fuselage design achieves an IP55 rating, allowing operations in rainy conditions.
  • Advanced quick-detach technology facilitates rapid assembly and disassembly.
  • LAUNCH ground control software designed for beginners, requiring no prior piloting experience.
  • Equipped with onboard aviation lights for visibility during nighttime missions.
  • Built-in TOF radar ensures gentle and accurate landings.

Don’t Waste More Time, Money, and Effort

Manual pipeline inspection comes with higher operational costs and exposes your team to risks. Your competitors are already saving on resources and running more efficient operations because they have evolved to using drones in their pipeline inspections. Have peace of mind knowing that your team is safe and your assets are well-maintained under aerial supervision that provides accurate data to help you make proactive decisions.