Innovative vision makes a winning operation

From getting a good view inside a tall stack to using thermal imaging to capture RockyNats burnouts in all their glory, a Tannum Sands business is making the most of drone and camera technology. Queensland Aerial took out the Innovator Award at the recent Gladstone Engineering Alliance Industry Awards and the business prides itself in applying innovation and investment in R&D to a wide array of projects. These include a brief to help Southern Oil Refineries inspect the internals of their two 40m stacks earlier this year. Queensland Aerial owner and director Darren Jeacocke designed a 3D-printed VR camera rig that was lowered into the stacks via a custom electronic winch. It included lighting and a 360-degree camera, which had to be gyroscopically stabilised to ensure unwanted movements would not blur the vision. The product delivered to the client included vision which could be viewed on VR goggles, with the ability to pause, rewind and zoom to inspect the interior of each stack. https://www.youtube.com/watch?vGTwZe-Cn_3Q Another highlight during the year was filming the RockyNats car festival for Rockhampton City Council. Mr Jeacocke fast-tracked an order for thermal imaging equipment for extra impact. "We filmed every event from the sky, capturing all sorts of amazing footage and photographs, but the real standout was the Pro Burnout competition that we filmed with a thermal drone," Mr Jeacocke said in his GEA nomination. "This was a world-first, never-been-done-before operation, and the results were spectacular. The car disappears almost immediately into a cloud of its own tyre smoke, but the infrared thermal camera from the drone can see every bit of the action. "The cars paint mesmerising patterns on the ground in molten rubber for a few minutes before each tyre inevitably explodes, spraying hot particles 50-plus metres into the air. The video garnered over 120,000 views on Facebook and YouTube, with article features on the video in The Drive magazine, Motor, Road & Track, and BroBible to name a few." Mr Jeacocke uses a mouth stick on the computer for technical work such as image editing. He said he had been unable to use his arms or legs since breaking his neck in a BMX accident when he was 21. "I'm lucky that I've always been a nerd and into programming and stuff," he said of his bent for technology. Mr Jeacocke described the business's Innovator Award win as 'awesome', noting that Queensland Aerial had been up against some very impressive contenders in the category. Other Central Queensland businesses and leaders honoured at the 2021 Industry Awards and Gala Night last week included David Nunn (High Risk Solutions) - Forty Calis Memorial Award winner, Nilsen - Safety Award, Programmed Training Services- Beale Culture Award, Sam Eborn (Mecha) - Wayne Peachey Memorial Award. Patrice Brown from CQG Consulting was inducted into GEA's Industry Hall of Fame. Queensland Aerial owner and director Darren Jeacocke .

Innovative vision makes a winning operation

Industry Queensland

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