Keeping critical infrastructure running
Energy and utility networks cover huge distances and include structures that are tall, energised or remote. Inspecting and maintaining them has traditionally meant helicopters, climbing crews and outages. Drones change the cost and safety of that work.
Payload Drone
GAIA 160MP Hexacopter
Six-rotor industrial hexacopter with 20 kg payload: a versatile mid-weight platform for sensors, cargo and inspection.
- Max payload20 kg
- LayoutHexacopter (6 rotors)
Payload Drone
GAIA 190MP Heavy Lift Drone
1925 mm wheelbase heavy-lift industrial drone with 55 kg maximum take-off weight.
- Max take-off weight55 kg
- Wheelbase1925 mm
Payload Drone
THEA 200MP Coaxial Octocopter
8-axis coaxial heavy-lift octocopter rated for 70 kg payload with up to 45 minutes endurance.
- Max payload70 kg
- EnduranceUp to 45 min*
Payload Drone
SY800 Heavy Lift Drone
2–10 kg payload drone with 10 km range, 3-axis 1080P/2K camera, GPS, thrower, loudspeaker and lighting.
- Payload2–10 kg
- Range10 km
Applications by asset
Transmission and distribution lines
- Visual and thermal inspection of insulators, conductors, clamps and joints for hot spots
- LiDAR corridor mapping to measure vegetation clearance and conductor sag
- Heavy-lift line work: lifting tools and hardware to towers, and pulling pilot lines across obstacles (with suitable procedures and approvals)
Substations
Thermal surveys of equipment, and visual inspection of structures.
Wind turbines
Blade inspection for leading-edge erosion, cracks and lightning damage, and tower and nacelle checks.
Solar farms
Thermal mapping to find failed cells, strings and connection faults across large arrays.
Pipelines
Right-of-way patrols, encroachment detection, ground-movement monitoring and leak detection with specialist sensors.
Hydro and water infrastructure
Dams, spillways, penstocks and reservoirs.
Choosing platforms
| Task | Suggested platform |
|---|---|
| Heavy dual-sensor gimbals, LiDAR | GAIA 160MP |
| Heaviest sensor packages, long runs | GAIA 190MP |
| Lifting hardware and tools to towers | THEA 200MP, THEA 190MP |
| Visual patrols over distance | SY800 |
Working near energised equipment
- Electromagnetic interference can affect compasses and links near high-voltage equipment. Plan approaches and keep distances.
- Clearances: follow utility safety rules for minimum approach distances
- Redundancy: six- and eight-motor platforms add margin near valuable assets
- Procedures and permits: integrate drone work with utility switching and work-permit systems
Inspection programmes that deliver
The value of drone inspection comes from consistency (the same positions and angles every time), data management (finding and comparing images quickly) and action (findings that turn into work orders). See drone inspection services.