Improved 'Rangle X' Sewer Pipe Drone Completes 1.6km Non-Stop Flight, Updating Company Record by 23%
DRONE SPORTS Co., Ltd. successfully conducted a continuous flight inspection of over 1.6km in public sewer pipes using its improved 'Rangle X' drone, announced in February 2026. This achievement extends their previous record (1.3km) by approximately 300m, or 23%, setting a new company record.
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- 📰 Published: May 12, 2026 at 22:21
- 🔍 Collected: May 12, 2026 at 13:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 13, 2026 at 05:31 (15h 59m after Collected)
DRONE SPORTS Co., Ltd. successfully conducted a continuous flight inspection of a section exceeding 1.6km in public sewer pipes using its 'Rangle X' drone, specifically designed for sewer pipes and announced in February 2026. This achievement extends their previous record (1.3km) by approximately 300m, or 23%, setting a new company record.
■ Overview and Background of the Survey
The target pipe for this survey was designated as a national special priority investigation section by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, requiring urgent assessment of its internal conditions. However, due to internal environmental and structural constraints, including bends, existing TV camera vehicles and floating cameras found it difficult to enter and traverse the section.
Therefore, the improved Rangle X was deployed. Through remote control from the ground, continuous video recording of the entire section was completed in a single flight.
Overview and Background of this Survey
The pipe targeted for this survey was subject to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism's national special priority investigation, initiated by the Yashio City road collapse accident last year.
However, due to internal environmental and structural constraints, internal inspection was difficult with existing survey equipment and visual inspections.
Pipe Diameter
Length
φ2,800mm
1.6km
■ Why is 1.6km Difficult?
Drone inspections within pipes have become increasingly popular in recent years, but stable flight in non-GNSS environments comes with technical limitations. For existing pipe inspection drones, including the Rangle series, the realistic upper limit for a single flight is generally considered to be around 300m, making continuous flights exceeding 1km a challenge for the entire industry. Furthermore, this target section included difficult areas with complex bends and steps, requiring a high-difficulty survey that demanded both precise aircraft control and sustained flight capability. They achieved a further extension of approximately 300m, or 23%, from the previous announcement (1.3km), updating their company's continuous flight record.
Future Outlook
In Japan, there are numerous sewer infrastructures that are aging but have not been sufficiently investigated due to labor shortages and equipment limitations.
DRONE SPORTS will continue to challenge inspections in various pipes, contributing to the DX of infrastructure inspection and the maintenance of a safe and secure living foundation for citizens.
About DRONE SPORTS Co., Ltd.
A Japanese drone manufacturer specializing in drone inspections in non-GPS environments and confined spaces. They develop, manufacture, and provide inspection services for the 'Rangle' series, which can accommodate spaces with a diameter of 250mm. They have inspection track records in various industries such as steel mills, power plants, bridges, and sewers, and boast one of the leading domestic inspection records, including a 1.6km continuous flight in sewers.
Company Profile
Company Name: DRONE SPORTS Co., Ltd.
Location: 204 Shinyoshida-cho, Kohoku-ku, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture
Representative: Yu Kodera, Representative Director
Established: February 1, 2018
Business Activities: Development and sales of drone-related products, provision of drone solutions
URL: https://dronesports.jp
■ Overview and Background of the Survey
The target pipe for this survey was designated as a national special priority investigation section by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, requiring urgent assessment of its internal conditions. However, due to internal environmental and structural constraints, including bends, existing TV camera vehicles and floating cameras found it difficult to enter and traverse the section.
Therefore, the improved Rangle X was deployed. Through remote control from the ground, continuous video recording of the entire section was completed in a single flight.
Overview and Background of this Survey
The pipe targeted for this survey was subject to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism's national special priority investigation, initiated by the Yashio City road collapse accident last year.
However, due to internal environmental and structural constraints, internal inspection was difficult with existing survey equipment and visual inspections.
Pipe Diameter
Length
φ2,800mm
1.6km
■ Why is 1.6km Difficult?
Drone inspections within pipes have become increasingly popular in recent years, but stable flight in non-GNSS environments comes with technical limitations. For existing pipe inspection drones, including the Rangle series, the realistic upper limit for a single flight is generally considered to be around 300m, making continuous flights exceeding 1km a challenge for the entire industry. Furthermore, this target section included difficult areas with complex bends and steps, requiring a high-difficulty survey that demanded both precise aircraft control and sustained flight capability. They achieved a further extension of approximately 300m, or 23%, from the previous announcement (1.3km), updating their company's continuous flight record.
Future Outlook
In Japan, there are numerous sewer infrastructures that are aging but have not been sufficiently investigated due to labor shortages and equipment limitations.
DRONE SPORTS will continue to challenge inspections in various pipes, contributing to the DX of infrastructure inspection and the maintenance of a safe and secure living foundation for citizens.
About DRONE SPORTS Co., Ltd.
A Japanese drone manufacturer specializing in drone inspections in non-GPS environments and confined spaces. They develop, manufacture, and provide inspection services for the 'Rangle' series, which can accommodate spaces with a diameter of 250mm. They have inspection track records in various industries such as steel mills, power plants, bridges, and sewers, and boast one of the leading domestic inspection records, including a 1.6km continuous flight in sewers.
Company Profile
Company Name: DRONE SPORTS Co., Ltd.
Location: 204 Shinyoshida-cho, Kohoku-ku, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture
Representative: Yu Kodera, Representative Director
Established: February 1, 2018
Business Activities: Development and sales of drone-related products, provision of drone solutions
URL: https://dronesports.jp