Aerial robotics, the result of the integration of robotics unmanned aerial vehicleshas demonstrated its ability to produce significant innovations in the inspection and maintenance of industrial facilities and infrastructures. Particularly in the field of electrical networks, advances in aerial robots are revolutionizing the way inspection and maintenance tasks are performed.
Benefits of aerial robotics in inspection and maintenance
Aerial robots are not only capable of taking high-resolution images and collecting data of interest for inspection, but they can also perform inspection tasks with physical contact and manipulation for maintenance. These advances in aerial robotics have been made possible thanks to the work of the scientific and technological field of Aerial Manipulation Robotics, developed in collaboration with the Aerospace Technology Center (FADA-CATEC) of the Robotics Laboratory of the University of Seville. These institutions are international leaders in unmanned aerial vehicles and aerial robotics research and development.
Aerial robots offer numerous advantages over traditional inspection and maintenance methods. Lets you perform audit tasks faster, more frequent and cheaper wayThis increases the quality of inspection and maintenance. This has a direct impact on safety and the environment because Avoid leaks and other incidents in electricity generation facilities. In addition, aerial robots reduce the risk of fatal work accidents by creating a safe and efficient alternative to working at height.
AERIAL-CORE Project: Innovation in Aerial Robotics
In the field of robotics and artificial intelligence, the European project AERIAL-CORE has developed innovative technologies for the control and maintenance of large infrastructures, especially in electrical energy distribution networks. Coordinated by the University of Seville, this project has 15 partners from 10 different European countries, including Endesa’s network subsidiary e-distribution as the validating partner of the developed technologies.
The AERIAL-CORE consortium has developed pioneering technologies in the field of aerial robotics through the application of artificial intelligence techniques. These technologies are divided into three types of functionality:
Benefits of aerial robotics in inspection and maintenance
Electrical power distribution network is an important application area for aerial robots and artificial intelligence. The technologies developed in the AERIAL-CORE project have been validated in its subsidiary e-distribution lines. Endesa networks. These technologies allow detailed inspection and maintenance of power lines, increasing the safety and efficiency of operations.
Moreover, the RESISTO project, coordinated by e-distribution in the Doñana region, is another example of the application of aerial robots in the electricity distribution network. This project aims to increase the network’s resilience to extreme weather events through the use of weather robots, artificial intelligence and other advanced technologies.
15 partners from nine countries participated in the AERIAL-CORE consortium, coordinated by Aníbal Ollero, director of the Robotics Laboratory of the University of Seville: Eight European universities (University of Seville, University of Zurich, University of Thessaloniki, University of Twente, EPFL, CTU Prague, University of Zagreb and University of Southern Denmark), two technology centres, Advanced Aerospace Technologies Center (CATEC), CIRCE and five innovative companies (VES, FUVEX, Terabee, CREATE plus, e-Distribution as validator project).