Drones Help FirstEnergy Install New Shield Wires

From TDworld

An unmanned drone helped FirstEnergy crews attach two new shield wires high atop a pair of transmission structures separated by 1,600 feet of rugged terrain in Elk County, Pennsylvania.

Drones have been used to inspect energy assets, but this project took a drone into the field to help with repair, making this one of the first times a drone has pulled a pilot line on a transmission project.

For this specific install, the team analyzed what needed to be done and determined it was more cost effective to use the drone rather than a helicopter for the work. “We need to evaluate using a drone or helicopter on a case-by-case basis,” said Randy Inman, supervisor of meteorology and UAS services for FirstEnergy.

Watch a video of the install here. 

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