Austrian Power Grid brings AI to electricity pylon inspection
Austria’s TSO Austrian Power Grid (APG) is introducing artificial intelligence for virtual drone-based inspection of its 12,000 power masts.
All of APG’s high voltage pylons are inspected at least twice a year, with drones having been used for years.
If, as a result of the condition assessment of the masts, a new protective coating is required, it is applied in several passes. In order to control the quality of the coating, an ascent is still necessary and for which the line must be switched off.
APG envisages that through the use of AI in conjunction with drones, this step could soon be taken from the air, both more cost-effectively and resource-saving and improving the safety and efficiency of overhead line technicians.
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The AI would create an automated flight route for mast flights based on a digital point cloud, which would enable up to 2,000 photos to be taken from one mast from different perspectives.
In this way, the AI could be optimally trained so that it can check the quality of the paint.
“In addition this automated mast flight makes it possible to create a realistic 3D image of a mast that our employees can use via VR glasses for further analysis or training purposes,” says Michael Weixelbraun, APG’s Head of Plant Operation and Maintenance.
He adds that significant progress in this project is expected by 2024 in order to be able to use this technology as standard.
“Because no other company has yet succeeded in successfully implementing this special AI application, transmission system operators from Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands have already expressed their interest in the development.”
Beyond visual line of sight drone flying
The project is one of approximately 60 innovation projects being developed by APG as part of a €3.5 billion (US$3.8 billion) investment programme until 2032 in the conversion and expansion of Austria’s electricity infrastructure.
Another drone project that APG is involved in, and which also will be of interest to other operators within Europe and elsewhere, is beyond visual line of sight flying.
In 2019, APG was the first company in Europe to successfully complete an approved automatic flight out of sight. In the current project, APG is aiming to test fixed-wing drones with a wingspan of three to four metres for flights of up to 100km.
Such flights are proposed both to be able to reduce the time it takes to get systems back up and running, especially after weather-related outages, as well as for regular inspections.
APG envisions the continuous operational readiness of automated drones in the event of a malfunction.
