Drone power transforms site maintenance tasks

At the±800 kV Tianzhong DC transmission line maintenance site, the buzz of a large drone could be heard as it transported an 18-kilogram glass insulator to the work area in just one minute — this marks the first time a heavy-lift drone was used in Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region for annual power line maintenance tasks.

"The maintenance site is about 40 meters above the ground," said Liu Bing, the site manager. “Using the heavy-lift drone to deliver equipment not only frees workers from the physical demands of carrying materials, but also allows them to focus more on the repair work, boosting efficiency by at least eight times. It also significantly reduces safety risks.”

In the past, workers had to climb the towers and manually transport materials to the repair site, limiting them to replacing only 2–3 insulators per day, Liu added. The heavy-lift drone used for this task features a 4-axis, 8-rotor configuration and can carry up to 40 kilograms, with a maximum range of 8 kilometers when fully loaded. During this maintenance operation, the drone was responsible for transporting heavy tools such as glass insulators, chains and grading rings.

The inspection is part of the State Grid Xinjiang Power Co’s efforts to enhance its "aerial inspection plus centralized monitoring" maintenance model, focusing on innovations in maintenance techniques and the application of new equipment.

The comprehensive maintenance model includes several advanced tools, including drone-based material transportation, automated grounding line installation, and mechanical lifts, improving both the quality and efficiency of the maintenance work while reducing safety risks, the company said.