Robotics, drones and AI: the next frontier in overhead line technology

Maintaining and inspecting overhead lines (OHLs) is critical in ensuring the reliability and safety of our electricity transmission network.

The advent of drone technology in particular is helping to revolutionise OHL operations. New innovations – often integrating artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics – are continually being developed to enhance the efficiency, safety and environmental impact of overhead line inspections and maintenance.

How will OHL operations benefit from innovations in drone tech?

The integration of drones?and?robots as?complementary?tools?for our skilled lineworkers provides a variety of exciting possibilities, including:

1. Targeted aviation investment

Drones complement traditional aviation capabilities, allowing for targeted investments that maximise the unique benefits of both helicopters and drones.

2. Increased capacity for skilled lineworkers

The use of drone and robotic capabilities alleviates bottlenecks of skilled lineworkers, allowing them to focus on more specialist tasks that require human performance rather than on routine visual inspections.

3. Enhanced safety

The ‘climb to do, not to view’ philosophy to the deployment of lineworkers is supported by drone technology, significantly reducing the risks associated with working at height.

4. Minimised system access needs

By developing advanced aerial inspection techniques and new live line methods, drones reduce the need for physical access to overhead lines, leading to a reduction in the number of circuit outages required for maintenance.

5. Improved aerial support

Drones can also create capacity for helicopters to provide aerial support to field operations, boosting productivity and improving the efficiency of our OHL operations as well as the value of our aerial capabilities.

6. Reduced carbon emissions

The adoption of more environmentally friendly drone solutions minimises the carbon footprint associated with traditional aviation operations.

7. Community consideration

The use of drones helps to minimise the impact on grantors and communities, aligning with sustainable practices.

Future technologies that will enhance overhead line operations

Emerging technologies are providing improved solutions for all manner of OHL requirements. These are just some examples:

1. Wildlife mitigation

Enhancing wildlife safety around our infrastructure is of major importance, including (but not limited to) the prevention of birds colliding with power lines.

To help birds see and avoid the lines, developments from companies like FulcrumAir, Preform Line Products and Power Line Sentry facilitate the installation of bird flight diverters using drones, with some able to install up to 750 diverters in a single day.

The manual installation of?bird diverters?can be labour-intensive, with each individual diverter needing to be placed across set distances, so developing an aerial?technique?for?carrying out?this task both reduces the need for?an?outage and?enables skilled lineworkers to?focus on?more specialist?tasks.

2. Installing?conductor spacers

Spacers are?used?on power lines?to separate?the?conductors?on each phase?and?help control the movement caused by wind. FulcrumAir’s robotic installation system is capable of installing?up to 120 spacers per day, reducing the risks associated with working at height, as well as freeing up capacity for lineworkers to focus on specialist tasks.

3. Optimising line capacity

Dynamic Line Rating (DLR) technologies can help to boost line capacity by as much as 40%[1], using sensors that provide data on line conditions and monitor real-time capacity.

Companies such as Heimdall Power and Ampacimon employ drones to install DLR sensors on overhead lines, removing the need for manual installations and helping to improve the reliability of power delivery by providing critical data for monitoring grid performance.

4. Condition monitoring with autonomous drones

Alongside our industry partners sees.ai and Keen AI, we’re experiencing the benefits of automating corrosion-related condition assessment data using drones. Our innovation trial was the first project of its kind ever to be conducted in the UK, using remotely-operated autonomous drones to gather detailed data that’s processed and analysed using AI and machine learning tools.

The capture of autonomous aerial data for asset health insights enhances decision-making processes by providing comprehensive data analysis, allowing for timely maintenance and reducing operational risks.

> Read more about why we use autonomous drones

5. Testing OHL assets

Performing testing of our overhead line assets is a critical part of maintaining safe and efficient power transmission and distribution.

DRB Aero's drones are equipped with Positron insulator testers that allow for non-invasive testing of high voltage insulators, ensuring their integrity and reliability. Similarly, Nucleom provides non-destructive testing for conductor health, with solutions including the LineCore robot for inspecting ACSR (aluminium conductor steel reinforced) conductors and the LineOhm system for measuring conductor joint resistance.

These technologies provide detailed insights into conductor health, enabling proactive maintenance and reducing the risk of failures.

A significant advancement in the energy sector

The integration of drone technology, robotics and AI to enhance conventional OHL techniques represents a significant advancement in the energy sector. By enhancing safety, efficiency and environmental sustainability, solutions like these are set to revolutionise how OHL infrastructure can be managed.

As the industry continues to embrace these technologies, the future of overhead line operations helps to maintain the efficiency, resilience and sustainability of the energy grid.

Sources

[1] The US launches its largest deployment of Dynamic Line Ratings, unlocking extra capacity on the grid | LinkedIn