How Drones Are Transforming Critical Infrastructure Inspections

From American Robotics

Drones are becoming more central in critical infrastructure inspections thanks to their ability to gather high-quality data quickly and safely, which reduces costs and improves efficiency. As drone technology, payloads, and AI capabilities continue to advance, more companies are finding new and innovative use cases for drones in infrastructure maintenance and monitoring.

Enhancing Efficiency and Safety

In the early days of drone adoption, companies like Dominion Energy primarily used drones for inspecting transmission lines and substations. Today, their applications have expanded to include solar and wind farms, nuclear facilities, and more. 

One notable breakthrough occurred when Dominion Energy's nuclear team used a drone to inspect a structure experiencing a power containment issue. The drone captured crucial imagery, allowing the team to plan repairs without shutting down operations.

Vendor partners are also growing their drone inspection services. DroneDeploy is helping enterprises build and manage their drone inspection programs from selecting the right drone technologies to managing the data outputs.

Drones now routinely conduct visual inspections of difficult-to-reach infrastructure, eliminating the need for inspectors to climb scaffolding, rappel from heights, or conduct helicopter flyovers. This not only enhances worker safety but also enables faster and more accurate data collection.

Moving Beyond Visual Inspections

As technology has advanced, drones are taking on increasingly complex tasks—like gas detection, heat source identification, and digital twin creation. Companies like Cyberhawk are using drones to inspect energy assets, with some inspections uncovering millions of dollars in savings. In one case, Cyberhawk helped a California utility inspect 30,000 poles in a month, identifying that 30% of the poles did not need to be replaced—ultimately saving the company $180 million.

Drones are also reducing inspection time and costs for infrastructure that traditionally required human presence. Departments of Transportation (DOTs) now use drones to inspect bridges, eliminating the need for snooper trucks or hazardous manual inspections. 

Pipeline inspections have also become more efficient. For example, Shell recently used a drone to inspect a 320-mile pipeline in a single day, reducing both costs and operational risks.

Specialized Payloads and Sensing Technologies

The growing sophistication of drone payloads is another game changer for critical infrastructure inspections. High-resolution cameras, thermal imaging, LiDAR, and optical gas imaging (OGI) sensors now allow drones to collect highly detailed data that was previously difficult or impossible to capture.

For example, Teledyne FLIR's thermal cameras can detect overheating components that might fail, allowing for preemptive maintenance. Meanwhile, Flyability’s Elios 3 can navigate GPS-denied environments like pipes and tanks, to capture geotagged thickness measurements that facilitate maintenance planning.

ExxonMobil is using a variety of drones and sensors, as well as digital data management tools, to improve refractory inspections in confined spaces. And Shell has gone offshore with its inspections thanks to advances in cameras and sensors to pair with drones.

Additionally, Linebird's drone-mounted hot stick enables line workers to test high-voltage power lines without putting themselves at risk. By eliminating the need for manned helicopters, the industry has not only reduced costs but also significantly improved safety.

Unlocking the Power of AI

Artificial intelligence (AI) is amplifying the value of drone inspections. Traditionally, reviewing drone-captured data required manual analysis, but AI now streamlines the process by quickly identifying defects and anomalies. AI models can spot corrosion, misaligned infrastructure, or gas leaks and flag them for maintenance. These time savings allow teams to focus on addressing critical issues rather than sifting through large volumes of data.

ComEd, the largest electric utility provider in northern Illinois, uses drone imagery and AI analysis to streamline power line inspections—saving time and resources on defect detection.

New AI models are being developed continuously—many for specialized purposes. Inspections are an area where the potential is endless for AI to team up with drones for better outcomes and improved efficiency and safety. 

Expanding Future Possibilities

Drone technology is changing the face of critical infrastructure inspections. With continued improvements in drone autonomy, beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations, and real-time data analysis, companies will unlock even greater efficiencies and cost savings.

As more organizations recognize the value of drones, we can expect widespread adoption across energy, transportation, and utility sectors—further advancing infrastructure resilience and operational efficiency.