EdgeRaptor
Inspection evidence for aboveground storage tanks.
EdgeRaptor captures inspection evidence at the point of work, binds every observation to its exact location on the tank, and gives the qualified inspector a structured, auditable record to review.
The problem
External tank inspection is expensive where it matters most. Access at height consumes rope and scaffold time, evidence is scattered across cameras, notebooks and spreadsheets, and findings are transferred by hand into reports long after the technician has left the site. When the next inspection comes round, comparing condition over time means reconstructing the previous record rather than simply opening it.
How it works
Capture, locate, observe, corroborate, escalate, review.
Technicians record observations by voice while imagery, video and thermal data are captured alongside them. Each observation is placed on a spatial model of the tank: shell course, quadrant, weld, nozzle, roof, chime or foundation. The system flags what it observes, indicates where further evidence such as ultrasonic thickness readings is needed, and routes everything to the inspector for judgement.
Designed for the site
Voice-first capture, because rope access technicians need both hands at height.
Ground-level pole capture for the lower shell courses and chime, where many external findings are concentrated, so high-access time is reserved for targeted areas.
Thermal and drone evidence tied to the same location record, rather than stored as separate files.
A tank-level record that supports comparison between inspections, not just a single report.
What EdgeRaptor does, and what it does not
EdgeRaptor records what is visually observable, such as coating breakdown, rust staining or foundation cracking, and indicates what further inspection is required. It does not draw engineering conclusions that require measurement, such as remaining wall thickness, and it does not replace ultrasonic testing, other NDE methods or laser scanning. Data from those methods can sit alongside visual and thermal evidence in the same record. Every disposition is made by a qualified inspector.
Standards
One evidence model, multiple standards. EdgeRaptor records inspection evidence in a standards-neutral form, with outputs structured for API 653 in the United States and EEMUA 159 in the United Kingdom.
Safety and site requirements
Petroleum storage sites include classified hazardous areas. EdgeRaptor deployments are planned around each site's area classification, permitting and access rules, with capture equipment used only where it is approved for use.
Who it is for Inspection and NDT contractors who want more evidence captured per technician-hour and less time spent assembling reports.
Asset integrity teams at storage terminals who need consistent, traceable inspection records across a tank farm, and fewer loss-of-containment surprises.
Built on a proven engine
EdgeRaptor shares its capture, evidence and AI architecture with Willow, our inspection platform for property surveyors and inspectors. It is developed by Dr Simon McCool, whose doctoral research in computer vision and machine learning focused on real-time prediction from video, followed by nearly a decade of AI research and development in industry.
Field trial partners
EdgeRaptor is in development, and we are working towards its first field trials. We are looking for a small number of inspection contractors and asset owners to help shape it.
Partners receive early access, direct influence over the workflow and outputs, and trial results measured against their own operations. We ask for access to practitioners and a limited number of tanks, under agreed site safety and data terms.
