Transforming Defense Maintenance: Apellix Drone-Based Power Washing for Enhanced Safety and Readiness

Coatings/Corrosion Prevention

Problem Statement & Solution Overview:  Maintenance and decontamination of military ships, vehicles, and infrastructure are time-consuming, hazardous, and costly due to reliance on manual methods, scaffolding, and ground-based equipment.  These outdated practices expose personnel to dangerous environments, contribute to higher accident rates, and lead to maintenance backlogs that threaten asset readiness and operational capacity.  Inconsistent cleaning results and extended downtime further underscore the need for greater automation.  The Apellix Power Wash Drone directly addresses these challenges by automating high-risk cleaning tasks with a safe, NDAA-compliant solution designed for rapid deployment across federal and defense sectors. 

The Apellix drone performs precision, data-driven power washing—both on accessible and hard-to-reach surfaces—without lifts or scaffolding.  This eliminates worker exposure to hazardous conditions and expedites asset turnaround, directly supporting the DoD's mission of sustainable operational readiness.  Its remote operability and on-demand activation enable immediate response to contamination threats or urgent redeployments, boosting resilience for critical defense infrastructure. 

Benefits to the DoD:   

• Enhanced Safety: The system reduces the need for personnel to operate in dangerous conditions, lowering accident rates during maintenance tasks. 
• Efficiency and Readiness: Automated workflows shorten maintenance cycles, decrease downtime, and allow assets to be returned to service faster. 
• Cost Savings: Drones eliminate or reduce the expenses of scaffolding, lifts, and extensive manpower, offering long-term operational savings. 
• Consistent Quality: Data-driven cleaning ensures standardized results for both easily accessible and complex surfaces. 
• Environmental Gains: Lower water and chemical use and reduced waste align with sustainability and environmental goals. 
• Scalable Across Services: The solution is adaptable to multiple branches and facilities, providing broad DoD applicability. 
• Digital Transformation: Supports the DoD's modernization agenda with real-time analytics and seamless integration with digital maintenance systems. 

Innovation Challenges:  Adoption of drone-based automation demands change management, including updates to legacy procedures and training personnel accustomed to conventional tools.  Demonstrating technical maturity, maintaining NDAA and cybersecurity compliance, ensuring cross-service compatibility, validating results in varied defense scenarios, and integrating seamlessly into military asset management systems are essential steps for widespread adoption. 

Technical Maturity & Demonstration Results:  The Apellix Power Wash Drone is a mature and globally deployed technology, currently in use across over 20 countries.  Real-world demonstrations have validated its ability to perform consistent, high-quality cleaning on both military and commercial assets, reducing reliance on manual labor.