The application of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in the management and operation of the transmission grid has helped Power Transmission Company No.3 (PTC3) make great strides. In the management areas spanning 9 provinces of the South Central Coast, Central Highlands, and Central Highlands, PTC3 is operating 6,007km of transmission lines, 27 220kV, and 500kV substations with rugged terrain and harsh climate.
Great Strides with Automation and AI
To overcome the limitations of manual UAVs, since February 2023, PTC3 has deployed the Matrice 300 RTK UAV combined with LiDAR cameras to scan the entire 220 kV and 500 kV power grids. After scanning, the data is processed through specialized software to create a comprehensive 3D model of the transmission grid. From these models, PTC3 has established automatic flight paths to support the grid inspection process to make it more accurate and efficient.
Image of drawing automatic flight path on 3D model built on DJI TERRA software. Photo: Icon.com.vn
With the help of AI technology, the inspection and image analysis process has been optimized. AI not only helps eliminate human errors but also supports the automatic identification of potential technical problems. This reduces confusion during the inspection process while improving accuracy and consistency in assessing equipment conditions.
Compared with manual methods, autonomous UAVs bring many outstanding benefits. Autonomous UAVs are capable of maintaining high image quality, ensuring optimal shooting angles and longer flight times. Operators do not need complex flying skills, just need to master basic operations, which helps to reduce the risk of equipment damage.
Lidar data is not only used to check the grid status but also helps to accurately calculate important technical parameters such as phase-to-ground, phase-to-pole distance, pole height, wire sag, and tree spacing in the line corridor. This information supports performing early detection of risk factors that cause incidents, ensuring stable and safe system operation.
The effectiveness of UAVs and AI was confirmed at the 24th Annual Meeting of the Joint Utilities and Maintenance Cooperation Committee (JMCC) of Power Systems in Southeast Asia held in October 2024 in Khanh Hoa. Here, PTC3 demonstrated its autonomous flight capabilities and AI applications in monitoring the Van Phong - Thuan Nam 500 kV line, receiving high appraisals from regional power transmission organizations.
Looking back at PTC3's digital transformation process, the application of UAV and AI technology not only brings operational efficiency but also plays an important role in realizing the goal of comprehensive digitalization in the 2021-2025 period of the National Power Transmission Corporation (EVNNPT). These achievements have made significant contributions to ensuring the safe and stable operation of the transmission grid, serving economic and social development, and ensuring national energy security.
Translator: Mạnh Hùng
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