Clever. Little mini-dirigibles are being used in York’s gothic cathedral to take pictures of the stained glass windows.
A digital camera attached to an indoor mini-airship is being used to create the most detailed record yet of stained glass windows at York Minster.
Using different forms of light, the images will show any damage to the windows that needs repairing.
A parellel Reuters story notes:
The metre-long radio-controlled craft carried digital cameras to allow staff to monitor the condition of the cathedral’s 14th-century windows, all of which survived a 1984 fire that gutted the south transept.
“Compared to the cost of erecting scaffolding it is very cheap,” said York Minster Collections Manager Louise Hampson on Tuesday.
“It’s remarkably unobtrusive,” she added. “Because it’s almost silent, it’s been possible to have services in the side chapel while it has been flying around.”
(via Cronaca)
Although not necessarily advisable. Aliens have invaded the church!
Very cool and very clever.