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Electrical (Powerline and Substation Inspections)

Inspecting powerlines and substations is a tricky, costly, and dangerous business! Many powerline inspections are currently carried out by helicopter, but these are expensive to operate, and carry a very real safety risk for the occupants. Substation inspections are often carried out from long range, or even outside the boundaries of the substation.

 

Powerline and substation inspections may be carried out as part of a preventative maintenance program, in which case a thermal camera is typically used to detect thermal anomalies in components and connections. Thermal anomalies can be detected by subjectively comparing a “benchmark” thermal image of what an in-spec situation looks like, to an “abnormal” situation. Alternatively, where exact operating temperature ranges of components / connectors are known, an exact temperature measurement can be taken and compared to rated specs to determine if the component / connector is within rated tolerances.

 

Another reason for conducting powerline inspections is vegetation management. Vegetation encroachment onto powerlines is a serious issue, possibly causing bushfires in severe cases. For vegetation management, an airborne LIDAR unit can be used to accurately map the position of the vegetation and the powerlines, thus making it easy to show exactly where trimming needs to occur. Some LIDAR surveys are done by helicopter, but increasingly, they can also be carried by drones, for far less cost, much better safety, and similar performance. Visual (RGB) cameras can be carried at the same time and synchronised to the LIDAR unit, both for realistic colourisation of the LIDAR data, and for conventional photo / video capture to assist record-keeping.

 

Operating in mountainous areas brings a whole new set of challenges, in terms of maintaining Visual Line-of-Sight (VLoS). In some cases, the ability to operate in either EVLoS Class II or BVLoS modes, may be necessary. Another challenge in mountainous areas is maintaining the radio link to the drone over long distances, especially when the drone dips down behind a ridge. In extreme situations, a radio repeater(s) for the drone, may be necessary.

 

CDS Differentiators:

  • My Matrice 300 drone has Advanced Dual Operator Mode, this allows handoff between pilots located at different places, eg EVLoS / BVLoS “leap-frogging” from ridge to ridge. See CDS Resources and Background: Founder & Chief Remote Pilot. It also has extensive safety features, see Safety section.

  • My D-RTK2 base station allows my Matrice 300 to operate safely near powerlines, by using RTK positioning capability (even when there is no mobile coverage available for network RTK), as well as GPS. This provides additional protection against electromagnetic interference. It also provides very accurate (to within 2cm) positioning capability, to minimise drift. The M300 is also extensively shielded to further protect against electromagnetic interference.

  • Matrice 300 has optional CSM radar avoidance capability to allow it to detect and avoid thin powerlines and tree branches, see article on this subject.

  • My XT2 thermal camera, with its 25mm focal length, is ideally suited to up-close powerline inspection work. See CDS Resources

  • My H20T quad-sensor camera is ideally suited for detailed visual photography of anomalies at a safe distance, using its high-power zoom capabilities. H20T also has thermal capability, and can provide a wider angle view than my XT2, at the same resolution. See CDS Resources

  • XT2 and H20T are both compatible with Matrice 300 and can both be used simultaneously, on my dual downward gimbal. See CDS Resources

  • Multiple drone LIDAR systems compatible with my Matrice 300, are available for rent or purchase, via my Partner Network

  • My vehicle is extremely well setup for continuous drone operations in extreme terrain and remote locations. See CDS Resources

  • I have completed thermal camera, SORA and EVLoS courses, and am currently studying for my IREX, which will allow me to fly BVLoS operations. See Background: Founder & Chief Remote Pilot

  • I have other IREX-rated drone pilots to call on, in my Partner Network

  • I have some direct experience doing substation inspection work, when working for Vestas. See Vestas in Case Studies

  • Experience with powerline / substation inspections, LIDAR data processing and GIS integration work, via my Partner Network

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