Roselectronics: Drone for video monitoring of power lines

The main articles are:

• Unmanned aerial vehicle (drone, UAV)
• Robots (robotics)

2019: Tests of the automated complex for monitoring the state of power transmission lines

Holding Roselectronics"" and, Concern "Automatics" which are part of the state corporation Rostec"," tested an automated complex designed to monitor the state of power lines (power lines). During the tests, the unmanned complex confirmed all the declared characteristics of autonomy and the capabilities of automated analysis of problems on power lines, Rostec said TAdviser on April 15, 2019. The tests took place Lipetsk region in April 2019.

The complex includes drones multifunctional charging stations and a special software one for processing collected photo and video information developed by Vega Concern the Roselectronics holding. As the creators of the complex explained, due to this ON , the autonomy of the complex is achieved. Drones follow a given route and independently determine the necessary angles for photo and video shooting. The developers also equipped the drone with an accurate landing system at the charging station, combining coordinate orientation GPS with guidance using a separate video camera to automatically identified land marks. According to them, due to this, the deviation of the landing point from the planned one does not exceed several centimeters. With the help of multifunctional stations, UAVs can recharge, receive a flight program, transfer collected data and continue the path. Thus, the need for operators to intervene in the operation of the system is minimized.

Special software developed by the Avtomatika concern for processing and analyzing data received from drones helped to automate the process of detecting power line defects. The program conducts 3D modeling of the terrain based on the geodata that it receives from the drone, and analyzes the geometry of aerial power lines. According to the developers, based on this data, the system, using machine learning, detects defects of almost any nature: sagging wires, dangerous tilt of supports, damage to insulation and contacts, and also detects foreign objects in the security zone that can affect the operation of power lines.

Digitalization of the energy complex is one of the key tasks of Rostec within the framework of the Digital Economy national project. The automated monitoring system allows minimizing power line shutdowns for scheduled inspections and routine repairs, as well as reducing power line accidents due to detection of threats at early stages. At the same time, drones can operate around the clock in any weather. The hardware and software developed by our holdings makes it possible to build forecasts for the technical condition of facilities and is easily integrated into the existing information systems of enterprises, the apparatus of the Rostec electronic cluster said.

According to representatives of the state corporation, the use of drones equipped with a camera and a thermal imager allows you to identify malfunctions in the operation of equipment and repeatedly reduce the accident rate on power lines. During emergency recovery operations, the UAV reduces the time to search for damage and determine the causes of malfunctions.

The drones used in the monitoring system are made of composite materials and can operate at temperatures from -30 to + 60 degrees, including in conditions of rain, strong winds or snowfall. Image accuracy is ensured by a gyro-stabilized shooting complex, which includes a thermal imager and a digital camera of visible range, added to Rostec.

2018: Announcement

Holding Roselectronics"" of the State Corporation Rostec on December 5, 2018 presented drone power lines for video monitoring. Created from composite materials, the copter can operate at temperatures from -30 to + 60 degrees, including in conditions of rain, strong winds or snowfall. The device provides high image accuracy, which is achieved due to a gyro-stabilized shooting complex, which includes a thermal imager and a digital camera of the visible range. At the same time, the drone is able to operate in a fully automatic mode, independently collecting and transmitting data on the state of the networks to the operator services, according to the holding.

The development of UAVs as part of the state corporation is engaged in the Vega concern of the Roselectronics holding. According to representatives of Roselectronics, the drone is part of the air transmission line monitoring system, which also includes multifunctional charging stations and software for automatic processing of collected video information.

To assess the state of the power line, specialists are required to go to the site, special equipment is used to lift a person, and power lines must be turned off. When examining the sections of power lines running in the marshy area, through ravines, forest belts and water barriers, the process is much more complicated. The drone simplifies these tasks, it is able to identify threats in the early stages, which allows you to repeatedly reduce the accident rate on power lines. During emergency recovery operations, UAVs reduce the time for searching for damage and determining the causes of malfunctions, the holding said in a statement.

Chargers for drones can be installed on the roofs of transformer stations. With their help, UAVs will be able to recharge, receive a flight program and transmit the collected data.

With the help of special software, the system itself determines the presence of wire sagges, dangerous slopes of supports, damage to insulation and contacts, and also detects foreign objects in the security zone that can affect the operation of power lines, told Roselectronics.

The creation of such complexes and systems allows you to automate processes that previously required human participation. Drones can operate around the clock in any weather. Unmanned technologies make it possible to improve the quality of monitoring in the power grid complex, reduce the number of errors and respond more quickly to emergency situations. We continue to expand the scope of use of unmanned aircraft: this is a huge market, which as of December 2018 is growing by 50% per year and by 2020 will amount to more than 13 billion rubles, - said the speaker of Rostec.

Robotics