Table of Contents
A Corvus One deployment starts with a site survey — approximately 60–90 minutes of facility documentation that allows Actel Robotics to produce an accurate deployment proposal, identify integration requirements, and scope the infrastructure work before any hardware is procured. This guide tells you exactly what to measure and document, organized so you can walk the facility once and capture everything in a single pass.
The survey is not a sales qualification exercise. It's an engineering exercise. The information collected determines flight path configuration, cradle placement, WMS integration approach, and go-live timeline. Facilities that provide complete survey data get better proposals and faster deployments.
Why the Site Survey Matters
The most common causes of deployment delays and scope changes are: (1) aisle dimensions that weren't accurately documented (minimum 50-inch clearance required), (2) temperature zones that weren't identified in advance (the Cold Chain variant has different hardware requirements), and (3) WMS integration complexity that wasn't scoped until after contract signature. A thorough site survey eliminates all three.
Facility Dimensions
Required measurements:
- Total racked square footage (approximate is fine for scoping; exact footprint needed for proposal)
- Number of distinct aisle runs (an aisle run = one continuous path from end to end)
- Aisle width at narrowest point — measure at the tightest obstruction, including any upright bracing that protrudes
- Racking height at tallest position — floor to top pallet face
- Ceiling height clearance above top racking position (minimum 3 feet required for drone flight)
- Aisle length — average and maximum
- Any cross-aisles, staging areas, or irregular sections that interrupt standard aisle configuration
What to note: Any aisles with permanent obstructions (column positions, sprinkler drops, low-hanging mechanical systems) that reduce clearance below 50 inches. These aisles may require mission path workarounds. Temporary obstructions (parked equipment, display staging) are handled by the drone's obstacle avoidance system and don't need to be documented.
Temperature Zones
Document each distinct temperature zone in the facility:
- Ambient: Above 50°F — standard Corvus One hardware
- Refrigerated: 32–50°F — standard hardware with cold-weather battery protocol
- Frozen: Below 32°F, down to -20°F — Corvus One Cold Chain variant required
For each zone: document the minimum operating temperature, whether the zone has its own physical separation (walls, doors) from ambient areas, and whether the zone operates continuously or has maintenance windows where temperatures rise. Transition zones (areas where product moves between temperature zones) need special attention for cradle placement.
WMS Platform & Integration
The WMS integration is the most technically complex part of a Corvus One deployment. Collect the following before the scoping call:
- WMS vendor and version: SAP EWM (version), Manhattan Associates WMS (version), Blue Yonder / JDA, Oracle WMS Cloud, 3PL Central, Deposco, or other
- API access status: Is REST API access enabled? Does your IT team or WMS vendor manage API access?
- WMS management: Internal IT or third-party managed service? If managed service, who is the vendor?
- Location master data format: How are locations addressed (aisle/bay/level/position format)?
- Current inventory accuracy: What is your current documented accuracy rate, and how is it measured?
Infrastructure & Power
For each planned Corvus Cradle location (typically one at each aisle end where the drone returns to recharge):
- Nearest 120V/15A or 20A outlet — measure distance from planned cradle position
- Nearest active ethernet port or network switch — measure distance
- Ceiling clearance above planned cradle position — drone needs to hover above cradle during docking
- Whether the cradle will mount to existing rack uprights or require a dedicated mount
You don't need to have the power and network runs done before the survey — just document what exists and what will need to be added. Actel Robotics coordinates all infrastructure work with your facilities team during the pre-deployment phase.
Operational Profile
- Operating hours (shifts, days per week, any dark periods where drone could fly unobstructed)
- Forklift traffic density (high / medium / low) — affects mission speed configuration
- Lighting conditions during operating hours (full lighting / partial / variable)
- Peak season timing and any operational constraints on deployment activities
- Whether the facility has existing cycle count program (FTE count, current frequency)
Houston-Area Specific Considerations
For distribution centers in the Greater Houston market — including facilities along I-10 in Katy, along I-45 in Conroe, at the IAH/Humble air cargo complex, or in the Ship Channel adjacent industrial parks in Baytown and Pasadena — a few additional considerations apply.
Houston's high humidity requires attention to moisture intrusion for any floor-level infrastructure. Cradle placement should avoid locations near dock doors that experience extended open periods in summer months. The temperature differential between a Houston summer exterior and a climate-controlled warehouse interior creates condensation risk on electronics brought in from outside — the Corvus system handles this with internal thermal management, but it's worth noting for any non-Corvus equipment being added.
For questions about your specific facility, contact Actel Robotics. Our deployment engineers are based in Sugar Land, TX and can be on-site anywhere in the Houston metro area within 90 minutes for an initial assessment.