Last week, we completed a successful 3-day Proof of Concept in Vienna, Austria together with two major grid operators: APG (Austrian Power Grid) and Netz Niederösterreich.  ‍

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During the PoC, we inspected approximately 15 km of low-voltage power lines using our latest experimental flight software, combining both autonomous and manual operations while capturing RGB and thermal data. The project concluded with an on-site presentation and live demonstration of the workflow and collected results.  

One of the key discussions focused on the potential of scaling drone-based inspections across the approximately 1,500 km of power lines currently managed through traditional foot patrols. Today, covering those assets requires an estimated 1,800 working hours. Based on the results from the PoC, we estimate that the same work could potentially be reduced to roughly 600 hours through autonomous drone operations and streamlined data collection workflows.  

The terrain in the region proved particularly well-suited for this type of operation, consisting largely of open and relatively flat farmland, allowing for fast and efficient flight execution. Certain sensitive areas, such as highways and railway crossings, required manual flight operations, but all required data was successfully collected.  

The discussions also highlighted future opportunities tied to new infrastructure projects in the region, including the planned construction of approximately 70 new power stations over the coming years, along with the associated expansion of power line infrastructure.  

A strong few days in the field and another exciting example of how autonomous drone operations can support more scalable and efficient grid inspection programs across Europe.  
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