Energy Drone & Robotics Unveils Top Stories of 2023
/2023 was a big year for drones and robotics in the energy industry. Over the past year, these cutting-edge technologies have surged to the forefront, igniting a shift in how the sector operates and innovates.
From enhancing safety protocols in remote locations to revolutionizing inspection and maintenance processes, the symbiotic relationship between drones and robotics has not only revolutionized operational efficiencies but has also unlocked unprecedented potential for renewable energy exploration, infrastructure monitoring, and resource optimization.
This pivotal year has witnessed an extraordinary leap forward as drones and robotics cement their position as indispensable tools, reshaping the contours of the energy industry with their dynamic capabilities and relentless innovation.
And we covered it all here on Energy Drone & Robotics. Here are our top stories from the past year.
Determining ROI of Utility Drone Inspection Programs
The costs of a drone inspection are fairly straightforward to calculate: costs of the drones, pilots (if needed), other operators, software, drone maintenance, service provider fees, etc. It’s easy to see the money flowing out.
Calculating the benefits, however, can be much less straightforward. How do you calculate the monetary value of safety—for example, not sending crews up wind turbines? If a drone inspection program allows a utility to perform inspections more frequently for the same cost, can you put that benefit into a number? Drones are showing that they can find and document damage that humans miss in visual inspections—what’s the accounting entry for that?
You can see that calculating ROI requires more thought than simply dollars in, dollars out.
Asset Owner/Operations Roundtable
At this year’s Energy Drone & Robotics Summit, we heard a panel of asset owners talk about how they use drones and the data they produce in the Energy Asset Owner/Operations Roundtable.
The panel was moderated by Suzanne Lemieux of the American Petroleum Institute (API), and the panelists were:
Shankar Nadarajah, ExxonMobil
Josh Buchanan, Chevron
Katherine Papageorge, Chevron
Marty Robinson, Dow
The panel covered their companies’ drone programs, challenges they face, wins in the field, ROI, data management, and what’s ahead for 2024.
Read part 1 and part 2 of the session recap and see how to access the session on demand.
Robots Improve Operations and Safety in the Oilfield
Many robot systems are being used for inspection activities on oil rigs. The ANYbotics ANYmal 4-legged inspection robot has been used for routine inspections on offshore platforms. Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University built an untethered and remotely controlled robot that visually inspects live gas pipelines, potentially replacing expensive inspections that require excavation and pipeline shutdown.
Offshore robotics applications can enhance real-time monitoring without putting humans in dangerous positions that could risk their lives. Robots won’t remove the need for human input, but they can gather sufficient data to significantly decrease false alarms. The future likely looks like humans and robots working together to build a safer, more sustainable industry.
That’s a wrap on another great year at Energy Drone & Robotics! We thank you for your support and readership and are excited for what 2024 brings.
