Remote Visual Inspection or Remote Digital Video Inspection, also known as RVI or RDVI, is a form of visual

inspection An inspection is, most generally, an organized examination or formal evaluation exercise. In engineering activities inspection involves the measurements, tests, and gauges applied to certain characteristics in regard to an object or activity. ...

which uses visual aids including

video Video is an Electronics, electronic medium for the recording, copying, playback, broadcasting, and display of moving picture, moving image, visual Media (communication), media. Video was first developed for mechanical television systems, whi ...

technology to allow an inspector to look at objects and materials from a distance because the objects are inaccessible or are in dangerous environments. RVI is also a specialty branch of

nondestructive testing Nondestructive testing (NDT) is any of a wide group of analysis techniques used in science and technology industry to evaluate the properties of a material, component or system without causing damage. The terms nondestructive examination (NDE), n ...

(NDT).

Purposes

Technologies include, but not limited to, rigid or flexible borescopes, videoscopes, fiberscopes, push cameras, pan/tilt/zoom cameras and robotic crawlers. Remote are commonly used where distance, angle of view and limited lighting may impair direct visual examination or where access is limited by time, financial constraints or atmospheric hazards. RVI/RDVI is commonly used as a

predictive maintenance Predictive maintenance techniques are designed to help determine the condition of in-service equipment in order to estimate when maintenance should be performed. This approach claims more cost savings over routine or time-based preventive maint ...

or regularly scheduled maintenance tool to assess the "health" and operability of fixed and portable assets. RVI/RDVI enables greater inspection coverage, inspection repeatability and data comparison. The "remote" portion of RVI/RDVI refers to the characterization of the operator not entering the inspection area due to physical size constraints or potential safety issues related to the inspection environment. In some cases, remote inspection also involves a human capturing data on-site using cameras or sensors, with analysis performed by an expert or AI system at a different location. This approach enhances efficiency by allowing specialists to review and assess inspection data without being physically present at the asset.

Applications

Typical applications for RVI include: *

Aircraft engine An aircraft engine, often referred to as an aero engine, is the power component of an aircraft propulsion system. Aircraft using power components are referred to as powered flight. Most aircraft engines are either piston engines or gas turbin ...

s (

turbofan A turbofan or fanjet is a type of airbreathing jet engine that is widely used in aircraft engine, aircraft propulsion. The word "turbofan" is a combination of references to the preceding generation engine technology of the turbojet and the add ...

turbojet The turbojet is an airbreathing jet engine which is typically used in aircraft. It consists of a gas turbine with a propelling nozzle. The gas turbine has an air inlet which includes inlet guide vanes, a compressor, a combustion chamber, and ...

turboshaft A turboshaft engine is a form of gas turbine that is optimized to produce shaft horsepower rather than jet thrust. In concept, turboshaft engines are very similar to turbojets, with additional turbine expansion to extract heat energy from the ex ...

) * Aircraft

fuselage The fuselage (; from the French language, French ''fuselé'' "spindle-shaped") is an aircraft's main body section. It holds Aircrew, crew, passengers, or cargo. In single-engine aircraft, it will usually contain an Aircraft engine, engine as wel ...

* Turbines for power generation (

steam Steam is water vapor, often mixed with air or an aerosol of liquid water droplets. This may occur due to evaporation or due to boiling, where heat is applied until water reaches the enthalpy of vaporization. Saturated or superheated steam is inv ...

and gas) * Process piping (oil and gas, pharmaceutical, food preparation) * Nuclear Power Stations - contaminated areas * Any areas where it is too dangerous, small or costly to view directly

References

{{reflist Nondestructive testing Maintenance Tests