State Grid RPA robot project optimizing meteorological data collection

On May 7, State Grid Shizuishan Power Supply Company's pioneering project, the intelligent substation meteorological warning linked intelligent inspection RPA robot, was put to use, ensuring the safe operation of substation equipment during abnormal weather.

RPA means robotic process automation. As one of the six pilot organizations involved in State Grid's substation remote inspection system project, State Grid Shizuishan Power Supply Company took the lead in developing the advanced meteorological warning RPA robot in 2023. In 2024, the company continued to promote the use of digital tools in the intelligent inspection device and delved into new functions of meteorological warning RPA by improving digital technology algorithms. As a result, it became the first to achieve meteorological warning-linked intelligent inspection. Those efforts effectively strengthened meteorological supervision at substations, enhanced emergency responses and improved working efficiency in dealing with abnormal weather at substations.

In 2023, the RPA robot could only realize the meteorological warning-linked intelligent inspection function for one substation with only three functions: automatic initiation of intelligent inspection after meteorological warning, automatic upload of device defects after inspection and automatic completion of records in the system. The process, algorithm and functions were basic.

In 2024, State Grid Shizuishan Power Supply Company actively responded to the national strategy of generating new quality productive forces and seized the new opportunities of constructing a digitalized smart grid. It made great efforts to develop new scenarios embodying industry-data fusion. It explored the potential of intelligent inspection, utilized new technologies and intensified the development of the RPA Robot. Through digital technology, the company was linked to systems such as the Substation Intelligent Inspection, Substation Meteorological Warning Platform, PMS 3.0, Ningxia Power Supply Service Command System’s short message service platform, and Ningxia Power Grid Intelligent Operation and Inspection Platform. Additionally, it upgraded the data used for two platforms and systems, developed five new functions, optimized six processes, added nine algorithms, and achieved full coverage of meteorological warning linked intelligent inspection for its jurisdictional substations.

According to the company, the upgraded version of the meteorological warning RPA robot has more functions, optimized processes, refined algorithms, faster speeds, broader coverage and greater practicality. No people are needed throughout the process. In terms of the system, the upgraded version optimized data extraction rules and can run online 24 hours a day. It retrieves meteorological data from 62 substations every hour, automatically selects substations with meteorological warnings and automatically summarizes the current substation situation.

Additionally, with the help of the short message service platform, it can automatically send meteorological warning information to the mobile phones of operation and maintenance personnel, enabling dynamic monitoring of meteorology for substations.

After detecting a meteorological warning at a substation, the RPA robot can automatically issue inspection tasks to 46 substations to deal with bad weather such as strong winds, high temperatures, temperature drops and cold waves. After the intelligent inspection is completed, the RPA automatically downloads inspection reports, searches for inspection defects, completes inspection records in the system and sends the information to personnel via the short message service platform, and formulates defect tracking plans for serious defects discovered during inspections.

The large-scale application of the RPA robot signifies a milestone for the company in advancing digital transformation and constructing intelligent substitutions, the State Grid Shizuishan Power Supply Company said. In the future, it will continue to promote the innovative application of the meteorological warning RPA robot, optimize its functions and explore its application in other areas.