Drones for Utility Inspection

Energy and utility operators are applying drones to inspect infrastructure that can be difficult, hazardous, or time-consuming to assess from the ground.

Use cases include thermal sweeps of solar panels, high-resolution and thermal inspections of distribution poles, LIDAR surveys of power lines, and autonomous mapping that creates digital twins of utility sites. Systems from companies such as Dominion Energy, vHive, Percepto, and ComEd combine remote operations, computer vision, AI, and specialized sensors to identify damage or anomalies and support maintenance decisions.