Power utilities often grapple with the challenge of inspecting linear assets, like extensive power transmission lines. These assets can span hundreds of kilometres, making traditional inspections time-consuming and expensive. Drones offer an alternative by swiftly covering large distances and eliminating working at heights.
If you are considering the use of drones for your long linear assets this blog will hopefully answer your questions so you can get started.
What problems are currently being solved with drones?
Typically drones are being used across the power industry for a variety of applications. These include,
- Conductor and insulator condition
- Pole and tower condition
- Vegetation encroachment
To achieve these outcomes different types of sensors are being used. The types of sensors and their best use applications are typically as follows,
- High resolution cameras (Pole and tower condition)
- Thermal cameras (Insulator condition)
- LiDAR (Conductor condition and vegetation encroachment)
Typically, due to limitations in drone payloads only 1 or 2 of the above sensors are carried at once. Larger drones are capable of carrying all three but cost significantly more or have their operating distances reduced to cater for the extra weight.
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Which drone should I use?
Typically the first question people ask when starting out is which drones should I use. The answer is unsurprisingly, it depends on the outcome you are trying to achieve (i.e. conductor condition, pole condition etc.).
Different types of drones have different strengths which make them suitable for some tasks but not others. Here is a summary of the different types of drones and their strengths,
- Multi-copters
- Highly manoeuvrable but relatively short flight times
- Best used for detailed inspections of poles and towers
- VTOL’s
- Long flight times but limited payload capacity and limited manoeuvrability
- Best used for longer distances and where less detail is required
- Helicopters
- High capital and operating cost but longer range and larger payloads
- Best used for long distances and heavy payloads are required
We recommend starting with multi-copters as they are the most affordable and have a variety of different payload options which can be used to test out different capture methods and approaches.
What regulatory hurdles will I need to overcome?
When starting out you will most likely be limited to Visual Line of Sight (VLOS) operations. In these operations the drone must remain in visual line of sight which is typically between 300m to 500m depending on drone size. This confines drone use to individual pole / tower inspections.
A step up from VLOS is Extended Visual Line of Sight (EVLOS). Here it is possible to extend the range of your operations by using an Observer to monitor surrounding air and ground risk. Under EVLOS you can typically gain approval for up to 1500m per Observer. This will enable longer distances and higher efficiency.
The next step up is Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) where the range of operation is essentially limited by the capabilities of the drone. Generally the limiting factor will be the communications link between the drone and ground control station but can be upwards of 15km. This requires special authorisation from the regulator including specialised compliance record keeping that FlyFreely can provide.
The Future of Linear Asset Inspections
The future of linear asset inspections aims for a fusion of capability, efficiency and automation. "Drone-in-a-box" (DiaB) technology is emerging as a transformative technology in this space. DiaB systems allow for remote operation of the drone along with automated landing and recharging capabilities for unattended operations.
Pilots simply enter the required flight path and the drone will automatically take-off, fly the desired way points before landing again. Emerging DiaB systems are equipped with Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) drones which allow long distances to be travelled as well as the ability to “hop” from box to box. In this way a very large network can be continuously surveilled by just a handful or drones and pilots.
FlyFreely is actively working with manufacturers to enable this future reality.
Have any questions or interested to see how FlyFreely might be able to help - Reach out to our team for more information.