A Surprising Way to Decrease Power Costs in Utah Involves Drone Technology

Glen Campbell had an iconic song about the Wichita Lineman that described a man on a power pole on a lonely highway in Kansas. Today’s version just might feature a drone with a guy standing on the ground rather than in a truck. 

Flying to the Top of a Power Pole Rather Than Climbing It 

Power lines need to be inspected on a regular basis and in the past that has meant sending a lineman out in a lift. Now with drone technology, the lineman can take high resolution pictures and even infrared footage of the lines. 

The benefit of this technology is safer for workers and is saving money that can be passed on to the consumer. That is not all a drone can help with. 

In the past, they sometimes used helicopters to string new lines through wilderness areas. Now the same thing can be accomplished with a drone at a much lower cost. The time savings alone is dramatic.

Technology that Monitors Power Lines 

In Norway they are using drones to install something they are calling ‘magic balls’. These sit on a wire, and the sensors monitor the condition of the line in real time. This data is helpful to maximize how much power the line can carry.

This is a big deal with data centers requiring more and more power. This information helps smooth out an glitches in the system making it more productive and saving money.

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Drones are making a big impact in how the infrastructure is maintained and the ability to build new lines without all the expense. This is making new technology possible and lowering costs for consumers.