NYPA funds $37.2 M drone program
NYPA approved the first funding phase for a $37.2 M UAS drone program.
Image for illustration purposes.
USA, New York: NYPA approved the first funding phase for a $37.2 M UAS drone program.
The New York Power Authority (NYPA) approved the first phase of funding for a $37.2 M Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) drone program to introduce new inspection capabilities over the next five years and position the US largest state utility as an industry leader in robotic initiatives.
“The Power Authority has built up a significant drone program over the past few years and this expansion and support will help us use automated inspections to more safely and efficiently evaluate the state of our energy assets,” said NYPA Chairman John R. Koelmel. “Using new drone technologies coupled with expertise of our talented, asset-minded employees will allow for more real-time access to data and the ability to more quickly make informed decisions.”
Drones and UAS have improved rapidly in recent years and are now essential tools that support the Authority’s operations.
The use of robotics and drones also allows NYPA to minimize exposing personnel to dangerous situations such as climbing transmission poles or being near energized substation equipment. Drone usage also lessens the need for manned helicopter flights to inspect transmission lines. Drones are equipped with high-resolution cameras and sensors that can detect faults and anomalies that may be invisible to the human eye, ensuring potential hazards are identified and addressed before they cause problems.
“By bringing more drones into our day-to-day operations, we can better harness the benefit of automation, safety and consistency across our assets while reducing costs and ensuring a more reliable power supply,” said Peter Kalaitzidis, the Power Authority’s robotics program manager. “Inspections can be improved and expanded to include other areas and assets. With use of drone technology, we can more easily capture the real-world state of our operations to support real-time decision-making.”
Source: T&D World
#drone program#New York Power Authority#Unmanned Aerial System