Drone Volt US Unveils LineDrone to Cut Grid Inspection Costs and Prevent Wildfires

• New robotic drone inspects live power lines without shutdowns, helicopters, or manual tool changes.
• Designed to detect early-stage faults that could lead to outages, wildfires, and major financial losses.

Drone Volt US has introduced LineDrone, an inspection system designed for use on live high-voltage power lines. The hybrid drone-robot allows utility operators to assess infrastructure without shutting down service. The company says the system is intended to reduce maintenance costs and operational risks while improving grid reliability.

LineDrone combines drone flight with a robotic system that moves along live power lines up to 315 kV. It’s designed to capture mission-critical data while operating directly on energized lines. Onboard tools can be swapped instantly without wrenches or screwdrivers, allowing inspections to continue without interruption. The system sets up in under 15 minutes, provides a live 720p video feed, and communicates over encrypted links up to 1 km. It’s built to handle difficult weather and can navigate obstacles and inclines to detect wear, damage, and early-stage faults.

According to the company, LineDrone is designed to reduce costs by replacing helicopter surveys and live-line work crews. It allows for more frequent inspections with greater detail, making it easier to catch issues before they cause damage. Drone Volt US states that avoiding a single wildfire could prevent billions in losses, fines, and legal costs.

🌀 Tom’s Take:

Cutting costs matters, but the real value is preventing the kind of failures that endanger lives. Drones and robotics are changing what’s possible in utility safety.

Source: EIN Presswire / Drone Volt US