HuoPro Borehole Inspection Camera DSJ-HLN18A1 Industry Application White Paper

The inspection of confined, inaccessible, and hazardous subsurface environments—such as boreholes, pipelines, tanks, and underground voids—presents a persistent challenge across critical industries including mining, oil and gas, civil infrastructure, and industrial maintenance. Traditional methods often involve high-risk human entry, are time-consuming, and provide limited data. General-purpose inspection tools frequently fail to meet the extreme demands of these environments, which include small diameters, complete darkness, moisture, pressure, corrosive atmospheres, and potentially explosive gases.

Technological progress in miniaturization, robust sensor design, and intrinsic safety engineering is now enabling a new generation of specialized visual inspection tools. These devices are transforming safety protocols, operational efficiency, and predictive maintenance strategies. The HuoPro Borehole Inspection Camera DSJ-HLN18A1 represents a significant leap forward in this field. Developed by Shenzhen Huolingniao Technology Co., Ltd., it is engineered from the ground up as a professional-grade visual probe for the world's most demanding subterranean and confined space inspections.

This white paper provides a comprehensive overview of the DSJ-HLN18A1. It details the product's technical specifications and the innovative engineering behind its design. Furthermore, it explores the camera's practical applications across multiple high-stakes industries and outlines the manufacturer's commitment to quality, reliability, and focused expertise in this specialized technological niche.

The DSJ-HLN18A1 is an ultra-miniature, intrinsically safe, high-definition video inspection camera system. Its primary function is to provide clear, real-time visual access to environments that are otherwise invisible, inaccessible, or too dangerous for direct human observation. It is not a modified consumer camera but a purpose-built industrial tool. Its core design philosophy centers on three pillars: Miniaturization for access, Fortification for survival, and Clarity for actionable insight. It acts as a remote "eye," enabling inspectors, engineers, and safety personnel to assess conditions, diagnose problems, and monitor assets without exposure to risk.

 Exceptionally compact with a body length of 28.2 mm and a housing diameter of 8.0 mm. The lens base is a mere 4.6/5.0 mm.

 Housing is machined from 316L stainless steel for superior corrosion and chemical resistance. The optical viewport is made of scratch-resistant sapphire glass.

 Approximately 25 grams (excluding cable), minimizing load and allowing for easy deployment.

 Rated IP68, guaranteeing protection against long-term dust ingress and continuous immersion in water (tested at 10 meters depth for 24 hours).

 Certified Ex ib I Mb according to GB 3836-2021. This intrinsic safety certification is crucial for use in potentially explosive atmospheres, such as those found in Group I (mining) Mb environments, as it prevents the camera from being an ignition source.

 Operates in temperatures from -20°C to +60°C and withstands significant vibration (10-500 Hz) and mechanical shock (100g, 11ms). It is tolerant of atmospheres containing hydrogen sulfide (H₂S ≤ 50 ppm).

 Utilizes a low-light optimized OV02C10 sensor to deliver full HD 1920 x 1080 video at 30 frames per second.

 Features a fixed-focus lens (40 mm or 50 mm option) with a 120° diagonal field of view. Minimum focusing distance is 5 cm.

 Integrates two illumination systems: four high-intensity white LEDs for color imaging and an array of 850 nm infrared LEDs. The system supports automatic switching between day (color) and night (IR) modes for optimal visibility in total darkness.

 Designed to produce sharp, clear video free from significant distortion, blur, or compression artifacts like macroblocking.

 Requires a DC 12V intrinsically safe power source, with a typical operational current of 120-160 mA. An optional integrated 2000 mAh backup battery is available.

 Offers versatile connectivity through MIPI-C, USB 2.0, and RS485 interfaces.

 Supports long-distance wired transmission via RS485 (up to 2 km). Also features integrated LoRa wireless capability for remote transmission up to 500 meters in open areas. System latency is under 120 ms.

 Available with various cable lengths (50m, 100m, 200m). Includes local Micro-SD card storage (≥128 GB) for data backup and offline recording.

The DSJ-HLN18A1 is the result of focused engineering aimed at solving specific, extreme challenges. Its innovations are systemic, addressing the interconnected problems of size, durability, and safety.

The primary innovation is the integration of a complete high-definition imaging system—sensor, lens, dual lighting, processing electronics, and secure housing—into a cylinder just 8 mm in diameter. This was achieved through custom PCB layout, strategic component selection, and advanced thermal management to dissipate heat in a sealed, miniaturized environment. Crucially, this integration had to comply with the stringent spacing and power limitations required for intrinsic safety certification, making the electrical design exceptionally complex.

Durability is engineered at every level:

 The choice of 316L stainless steel and sapphire glass provides a first line of defense against abrasion, impact, and chemical corrosion from substances like saltwater and H₂S.

 Achieving and maintaining an IP68 rating at this scale requires precision machining and advanced sealing techniques at all junctions—between the lens and body, and where the cable enters the housing—to withstand deep water pressure indefinitely.

 Components are selected and tested for extreme temperature swings. The design ensures reliable operation from freezing subterranean conditions to hot industrial settings.

Understanding that inspection sites often have poor or no infrastructure, the DSJ-HLN18A1 employs a hybrid communication strategy:

 The RS485 interface provides a stable, long-range, and interference-resistant connection for real-time video and control, ideal for permanent or semi-permanent installations.

 The integrated LoRa module enables quick setup and mobility for surveys, temporary inspections, or locations where cabling is impossible.

 Local storage acts as a mandatory backup, ensuring that critical inspection footage is never lost due to transmission failure. This layered approach guarantees data retrieval under virtually all field conditions.

The unique capabilities of the DSJ-HLN18A1 make it a vital tool across a wide spectrum of industries where seeing into the unseen is critical for safety, integrity, and efficiency.

 Visually assesses the structural integrity of walls, roofs, and supports for signs of stress, cracking, or rockfall hazards without sending personnel into unstable areas.

 Provides direct visual logging of geological formations, fracture networks, and fluid intersections during exploration, enhancing geological modeling and resource assessment.

 Inspects air ducts, water pipes, and boreholes for blockages, corrosion, or damage, ensuring critical mine infrastructure remains functional.

 After a collapse or fire, can be deployed to safely scout ahead, locate obstructions, and assess damage, providing crucial intelligence for rescue planning.

 Lowered into production, injection, or observation wells to inspect casing for corrosion, scaling, perforation damage, or tubing issues.

 Inspects the interior of pipelines for corrosion, weld defects, cracks, and debris buildup, especially in sections inaccessible to traditional pigging tools.

 After proper cleaning and gas-freeing, provides a preliminary internal view of storage tanks, reactors, and separators, identifying areas of concern and reducing the need for extensive human entry.

 The core tool for CCTV pipeline inspection, identifying defects, blockages, root intrusion, and structural failures in stormwater and wastewater systems.

 Monitors the condition of large-diameter culverts, utility tunnels, and underground channels for deterioration, sediment buildup, or unauthorized activity.

 Inspects drilled pier holes, micropiles, and anchor drill holes for soil consistency, cleanliness, and proper construction before concrete pour or tendon installation.

 Navigates tube bundles to locate leaks, fouling, and erosion in complex heat transfer equipment.

 Provides a visual diagnostic tool for inspecting the internal components of pumps, valves, compressors, and turbines for wear or foreign object damage.

 Allows for visual examination of reactors, columns, and mixers during turnaround periods to plan maintenance activities more effectively.

 Can be inserted into voids in collapsed structures to locate survivors, map debris fields, and assess structural hazards for rescue teams.

 Allows for the remote visual inspection of suspicious packages, containers, or vessels suspected of containing hazardous materials.

 Used to visually search confined spaces, drains, or hidden compartments during investigations.

The application of the DSJ-HLN18A1 in life-critical and asset-critical scenarios demands an unparalleled commitment to quality and consistency in manufacturing.

Production occurs in a controlled environment utilizing precision CNC machining for metal components and clean-room protocols for optical and electronic assembly. Each housing is meticulously machined from solid 316L stainless steel bar stock to ensure dimensional accuracy and structural integrity. The assembly of the core imaging module is highly specialized, requiring trained technicians and custom fixtures to maintain alignment and sealing.

Every unit undergoes a rigorous battery of tests that far exceed typical industrial standards:

 Units are subjected to temperature cycling, prolonged damp heat exposure, and mechanical vibration/shock sequences to precipitate and eliminate early-life failures.

 Each camera's video output, lighting functions (white and IR), focus, and automatic switching are tested and verified against master standards.

 Every single unit is pressure-tested to validate its IP68 rating, ensuring no leaks before leaving the factory.

 Manufacturing processes and sample products are regularly audited and tested to maintain compliance with the Ex ib intrinsic safety certification.

The company manages a robust supply chain for specialized components like sapphire glass, specific image sensors, and certified connectors. A modular design approach allows for efficient configuration of different cable lengths, lens options, and interface types. This enables responsive handling of both large-volume standard orders and smaller batches with specific custom requirements, ensuring reliable delivery to global partners and end-users.

Huolingniao Technology operates with a clear, narrow focus: to be a leading developer and manufacturer of intelligent sensing equipment for dangerous and inaccessible environments.

The company's development process is deeply informed by direct engagement with industry professionals—inspectors, engineers, and safety managers. This dialogue ensures that product features directly address real-world pain points, such as the need for a camera small enough for a specific borehole size or tough enough to survive a particular chemical environment. This user-centric approach is fundamental to the DSJ-HLN18A1's design.

True innovation for the company means solving problems within strict boundaries: size, safety regulations, environmental limits, and cost targets for industrial use. The DSJ-HLN18A1 exemplifies this, where innovation wasn't about adding the most features, but about delivering reliable core functionality (seeing and transmitting a clear image) within an incredibly challenging set of physical and regulatory constraints.

The company views its role as providing the foundational "hardware probe." It actively supports a network of system integrators, software developers, and service companies by offering stable, well-documented products and interfaces (APIs/SDKs). This empowers partners to build complete, value-added solutions—such as asset management platforms, automated defect recognition software, or specialized inspection services—on top of a reliable hardware base, driving innovation and digitization across the entire inspection industry.

The HuoPro DSJ-HLN18A1 Borehole Inspection Camera is a testament to the power of targeted engineering. It successfully addresses a clear and demanding need: providing reliable eyesight in places where humans cannot and should not go. By combining miniaturization, ruggedness, and certified safety, it transforms high-risk inspections into controlled, remote operations, enhancing safety, reducing downtime, and providing superior diagnostic data.

The future of subsurface and confined space inspection will be shaped by trends toward greater autonomy, intelligence, and data integration. Future generations of tools may incorporate on-board AI for real-time anomaly detection, more advanced 3D scanning and mapping capabilities, and integration with robotic carriers for fully autonomous navigation. Huolingniao Technology Co., Ltd. is committed to continuing its focused journey in this field. By adhering to its core principles of deep understanding, disciplined innovation, and reliable execution, the company aims to develop the next generation of tools that will further illuminate the hidden world, making industrial operations safer, more efficient, and more predictable for everyone.