National Grid manages and maintains its vast electricity network across England and Wales using a fleet of advanced drones . These unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have become a key component for inspecting power lines and substations, offering a safer, more efficient and cost-effective way to assess critical infrastructure.
Advanced drones for safe inspections
Previously, inspections required engineers climbing high voltage pylons or helicopters that couldn’t always access certain areas, such as densely populated urban areas or noise-sensitive rural fields. Drones now remove these obstacles, allowing engineers to remain safely on the ground while keeping the electricity flowing uninterrupted.
[post_relacionado]National Grid employs a variety of drones with specific capabilities, including:
- DJI M350/M300 RTK Drones : With features like anti-collision radar and the ability to fly for up to 50 minutes in adverse weather conditions, these industrial drones are ideal for monitoring high voltage towers.
- DJI Mini 3 Pro : Lightweight and weighing just 250 grams, these drones are perfect for operating in areas close to people and in hard-to-reach places.
- DJI Mavic 2 Enterprise Advanced : Equipped with thermal imaging and lighting modules, this drone is ideal for indoor inspections, such as in substations.
Drones are equipped with high-tech sensors, such as thermal cameras and LiDAR systems , which allow infrared data to be captured and 3D models , also known as digital twins , to be generated. This makes it easier to identify problems, such as damaged conductors or hot spots in high-voltage equipment, and allows maintenance to be planned with great precision.
Future Innovations: BVLOS Operations and Use of AI
National Grid is working closely with the UK Civil Aviation Authority to enable Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) flights. So far, successful test flights of up to 3km have been conducted, representing a milestone in infrastructure inspection. In addition, the integration of artificial intelligence promises to further improve efficiency, with drones able to perform autonomous assessments and predict problems before they occur.
Matti Ward, drone team leader, underlines the positive impact of this technology: “We have made huge progress from using aerobatic helicopters to multi-rotor drones, and we are ready for large-scale deployment across the network.”
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Source and photos: National Grid