Eskom deploying drones for critical infrastructure inspections

[Luis]

Eskom deploying drones for critical infrastructure inspections

South Africa's power utility, Eskom, revealed that it is using drones to inspect power lines more frequently to save money and increase efficiency.

Siyanda Biyela, Eskom's research, testing and development (RT&D) chief research engineer, said drones were now replacing helicopters, which were previously used for such inspections.

 

[Flanders]

Critical infrastructure inspections: unregistered solar panels?

 

[Skerminkel]

It would have been more of a story if they have not started using drones yet.
Still, interesting.
I would like to see those robots in action.

 

[garyc]

Cool cameras on these. They combine ultraviolet, visible, and infrared imaging to detect corona discharge on the lines.

https://www.uvirco.com/uav-cameras/

 

[Tantus]

This is a non-article - absolutely zero info on the drones.

 

[Hemi300c]

Wow what a score, what was the cost per drone R30 000 000 000 000

 

[borro]

That's a great idea. well done.

 

[KulQkumba]

On a bike trip through the Northern Cape backroads a good while back (like pre-covid) I came across an oke who was using drones to inspect those porcelain HT insulators on pylons.
He already had the pylons geolocated and the drones flew a pre-programmed flight path across a few stretches so the process was semi-automated. He just had to be there to sort out any issues. Drones launched from the back of his Landcruiser .

Point is, this isn't really new. It's been happening for a while already. I reckon Eskom is just hyping it up to justify their bonuses somehow ...or there is a tenda in the making

 

[thestaggy]

They should use loitering munitions around infrastructure and then drone strike people who try to vandalise or steal said infrastructure.

 

[wingnut771]

On a bike trip through the Northern Cape backroads a good while back (like pre-covid) I came across an oke who was using drones to inspect those porcelain HT insulators on pylons.
He already had the pylons geolocated and the drones flew a pre-programmed flight path across a few stretches so the process was semi-automated. He just had to be there to sort out any issues. Drones launched from the back of his Landcruiser .

Point is, this isn't really new. It's been happening for a while already. I reckon Eskom is just hyping it up to justify their bonuses somehow ...or there is a tenda in the making

I'm sure even that this isn't the first mybb article on the subject either.