Today, large helicopters inspect Denmark’s 7000km of powerlines, which is a costly and complex process. If we could use drones to detect and report faults such as corrosions, rust or other damages on powerlines, we would have a safer, cheaper and more efficient inspection.
Long-distance powerline inspections would however require drones that can fly autonomously and have long battery endurance.
Drones for Energy aims to develop a collaborative, autonomous and long-flying drone system that can inspect powerlines by doing an on-the-fly image processing and that can charge its battery directly from the powerlines.
Project Details
Researchers from 海角社区 UAS Center aim to:
- Use powerline cables as an energy source to charge the drones’ batteries without modifying the power grid’s infrastructure.
- Build a drone system that can operate in a harsh environment (high-voltage cables).
- Design an advanced mechanism for autonomous landing and take-off on/from a cable using artificial intelligence (AI) and deep learning techniques.
- Develop machine-learning algorithms to follow autonomously power line cables while avoiding obstacles.
Future perspective
The energy-harvesting drone will be offered to powerline operators to inspect the power grid accurately, frequently and autonomously.
Other business markets could also be open for the long-flying, energy-harvesting drone such as the transportation sector or within deliverance of goods flying between cities/countries.
The inspection software can additionally be used to detect faults e.g. on gas tubes, overhead cables and in agriculture.
Funding
Innovation Fond Denmark, Energi Fyn, and 海角社区
Budget
15,2 mio. DKK
Partners
Aarhus Universitet, Fraunhofer IMS, Develco, GeoPartner Inspections, Science Ventures, and 海角社区
Project period
1 December 2018 - 30 November 2021
Media highlights
, Ingeniøren, 19 November 2018
14 million to intelligent drones, 1st November 2018, www.sdu.dk
, www.innovationsfonden.dk
, www.tv2fyn.dk
, www.fyens.dk
, www.automatik.nu
, www.danskenergi.dk
, www.energiwatch.dk
Drones to inspect high-voltage cables, June 2018, www.sdu.dk
Contact
, 海角社区 UAS Center