National Grid launches drones in world’s first centralised, autonomous aerial inspection capability for electricity infrastructure

The deployment follows a four-year innovation programme marking the transition from research and development to business-as-usual operations.

The system created by data solutions firm sees.ai, allows drones to fly Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) close to live power infrastructure, piloted from a central control room.

Drones will be used to capture images and data of National Grid’s infrastructure, primarily high-voltage towers (pylons) and conductors (cables). This data is then used to help to inform National Grid’s maintenance and investment programmes across its transmission network in England and Wales.

Automised asset inspection using drones delivers significant benefits, including by increasing the speed, efficiency and consistency of data processing and reducing the risk and environmental impact of other methods of data capture.

These new automated capabilities will allow National Grid’s skilled line workers and helicopter fleet to focus on other specialist tasks that require human performance, helping to manage workload and keep the networks operating safely and efficiently.

By combining centralised oversight with autonomous capabilities, National Grid says the tech delivers AI- and machine learning-optimised close inspection data with exceptional efficiency and safety.

Commenting in a release was Kathryn Fairhurst, overhead line operations director at National Grid: “This rollout underscores our commitment to use innovative technologies to manage and upgrade our network.

“By handling non-intrusive inspection tasks, this technology enables our highly skilled lineworkers to focus more efficiently on the complex, hands-on work that requires human expertise, and will form an important part of how we continue to manage our assets and deliver a safe and reliable network.”

UK science minister Lord Vallance said: “Government backing has helped sees.ai develop from early-stage research into a thriving commercial partnership with a major UK company in the National Grid, keeping energy workers safe and demonstrating the benefit of public investment in pilot tech projects.

“We want to see more innovations like drone technology becoming viable solutions that benefit people’s lives, which is why our Regulatory Innovation Office is working with companies and regulators like the Civil Aviation Authority to cut unnecessary red tape and unlock discoveries which can grow our economy.”

The autonomous inspection deployment is part of National Grid's broader digitalisation strategy to support the UK's transition to clean energy.

National Grid inspects steelwork and components each year across its transmission network in England and Wales, comprising 7,200km of overhead line, 300 substations and 22,000 pylons.