Drone Inspection of Transmission Lines by Power Supply Unit
Project Background
This power utility is responsible for operating and maintaining transmission lines at 110kV and above in mountainous and hilly areas. Towers are often located on slopes and within forested regions, making manual tower inspections time-consuming and physically demanding. Defects such as damaged insulators and corroded hardware require close-range, multi-angle assessments. Additionally, there is no aerial perspective available for troubleshooting sudden outages during nighttime or inclement weather like rain and snow.
Solutions
Use the DJI Matrice 5T as the primary inspection aircraft. Plan flight paths by segmenting along the line route: use the telephoto camera to capture details of insulator strings, fittings, and conductors from a safe distance; use the medium-telephoto and wide-angle lenses to document corridor environments and full tower views; and simultaneously acquire thermal imaging for terminal temperature measurements. In densely towered areas, the horizontal ring-scan LiDAR and millimeter-wave radar assist with obstacle avoidance, while laser rangefinders mark defect locations and target points. On-site footage is transmitted via Pilot 2 to the operations team, with defect images and thermal screenshots archived by tower ID to create auditable inspection records. For emergency inspections during nighttime or adverse weather (rain/snow), switch to infrared super-resolution and black-and-white night vision modes.
Use Device
DJI Matrice 5T × 2, DJI RC Plus 3 Pro × 2, Intelligent Flight Battery × 6
Implementation Results
Routine inspections are scheduled by section, covering more towers per takeoff and landing cycle to reduce refueling trips. Defect verification begins with preliminary screening by operations staff using imagery and thermal data, followed by tower climbing only when necessary, minimizing unnecessary climbs. Emergency patrols in complex weather can be launched quickly on-site, providing real-time visuals and location references for rapid power restoration.
Have a similar project need?
Get in touch nowINDUSTRY SOLUTIONS
Energy & PowerIndustry-specific Solutions
Turn inspections from a "walk-through" into a "view."。Transmission lines, substations, and new energy power stations。