Power grids around the world weather all kinds of storms, but in Florida they’re also up against unique threats such as alligators and hurricane damage. So it only makes sense that they’re looked after in an equally special way – using drones.
Florida Power & Light Company, which serves some 10 million people in the Sunshine State, employs drones made by Israeli company Percepto that autonomously carry out security and maintenance missions on power lines and in sensitive areas.
According to Percepto, the autonomous drones can work around the clock and in difficult weather conditions to identify power failures and get them fixed swiftly.
The drones, which can fly for 40 minutes between charges, are equipped with day and nighttime camera systems and use AI to identify operational malfunctions and health and safety risks in real time. They can be used by a remote operator beyond visual line of sight.
“Florida is hit by more hurricanes than any other state in the US, and this past season featured 30 tropical storms causing billions of dollars’ worth of damage,” explains Percepto cofounder and CEO Dor Abuhasira. “So for FPL, the largest utility in the state, incorporating innovative and efficient measures to ensure business continuity is key.”
The autonomous inspection and monitoring solution not only ensures infrastructure is operational year round, but also performs fully autonomous inspections of power lines directly after a storm.
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