Live Line Drone Development

Details

Transpower has recently completed a project with the University of Canterbury investigating the effects of flying unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV’s) within the minimum approach distance (MAD) of high voltage transmission lines, and is now looking progress this work further to develop a UAV solution that can perform work (e.g. testing and inspection) on live conductor.

The purpose of this ROI process is to provide the opportunity for suitably capable Suppliers who have expertise in UAV operation, specification, design, automation and robotics to partner with Transpower to design, test and manufacture a ‘proof of concept’ prototype to perform live conductor joint testing from a UAV.

Present methods for performing conductor joint testing generally use a lineman suspended from a helicopter. This method is acceptable for 220kV, however does not provide a workable solution for 110kV or lower voltages due to the reduced clearances. Therefore, alternative options for executing joint testing are currently being investigated.

The key outcomes that Transpower wants to achieve are:

• Identify UAV technical requirements to carry joint testing equipment.
• Taking our existing joint testing devices (Ohmstik and Power wand) conceive of a configuration of the components, design and manufacture a ‘proof of concept’ prototype of a modified joint test unit that can be attached to a suitable UAV.
• Design and manufacture a suitable UAV that can deploy the joint test unit
• Automate the test sequence and develop any required software.
• Test and verify ‘proof of concept’ prototype in controlled and ‘on-site’ conditions.