Dietikon ZH/Zurich – Drone manufacturer Xer Technologies and LINIA are working together to inspect power lines from the air. LINIA’s flight route software for image and data acquisition is seamlessly integrated into the platform of the particularly long-range X8 drones.
Drone manufacturer Xer Technologies from Dietikon and Zurich start-up LINIA are working together on the automated inspection of long-distance power lines from the air, according to a press release . The LINIA flight route software was seamlessly integrated into the X8 drone platform for this purpose.
Thanks to a hybrid-electric drive, this drone is said to have a significantly longer operating time of 2.5 hours compared to battery-powered drones and should therefore enable the number of transmission pylons inspected each day to be quadrupled. In a single flight, the X8 drone can capture high-resolution images of 30 to 75 electricity pylons using the LINIA software. High-quality observations, detailed documentation and timely repairs should contribute to improved system management and lead to long-term cost savings for electricity grid operators.
"The Xer X8 is characterized by the fact that it enables significantly longer flights compared to conventional multicopter drones and at the same time carries state-of-the-art camera equipment," LINIA Managing Director Lorenzo Arizzoli-Bulato is quoted as saying. "More time in the air ultimately means that more power lines can be inspected."
Xer Technologies Sales Director Gökmen Çetin points to the energy industry's rapid transition to drone-based inspections and the benefits of this joint solution for grid operators: "It will open up opportunities for cost savings and higher data quality. We are impressed by the LINIAair solution and the expertise of the team behind it." ce/gba