Skygauge adds MontiPower Bristle Blaster for drone surface preparation

Skygauge Robotics has introduced a MontiPower Bristle Blaster payload for its contact-capable drone, adding mechanical surface preparation to its industrial inspection and maintenance system. Announced on 16 March 2026, the tool removes local corrosion and coatings while the aircraft controls the force applied against a structure. Skygauge says the configuration is already being used under a Canadian Navy contract and by industrial service providers.

Bristle blasting prepares the contact patch needed for ultrasonic thickness measurements and creates a surface profile for protective coatings. Scale, rust and thick paint can interfere with contact sensors, making surface preparation part of the inspection workflow. The aircraft’s ability to maintain physical contact allows it to carry a working tool against an elevated surface while the operator remains on the ground.

Skygauge also offers interchangeable coating payloads, allowing crews to prepare a spot and then apply industrial epoxy to the cleaned area. The combined workflow covers surface preparation, inspection and local protection. MontiPower supplies the mechanical preparation technology, while Skygauge provides the aerial platform and contact-force control.

The payload builds on Skygauge’s ultrasonic inspection business. In November 2025, Cyberhawk became a global inspection partner, expanding access to drone-based thickness measurements for industrial assets. Adding preparation and coating tools extends the equipment used at those work sites and addresses the condition of the surface that an inspection probe must touch. The companies scheduled a demonstration of the new payload at the March AMPP conference in Houston.