Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Limited (KPTCL) has successfully deployed advanced drone technology for the inspection of High Voltage (HV) and Extra High Voltage (EHV) transmission corridors across the State.

The initiative has not only helped the KPTCL fix defects, but reduce the number of power outages,according to a release.

It stated that through drone technology, the officials have inspected 11,000 transmission towers, identified and rectified over 1.5 lakh technical defects. The KPTCL claimed that fixing these technical defects has led to 85% reduction in transmission-related power outages where incidents have dropped from 519 to just 73 across inspected corridors.

So far, more than 3,370 km of transmission lines have been inspected, including over 2,500 km of 220 kV lines and 843 km of 400 kV corridors.

V. Ram Prasath Manohar, Managing Director, KPTCL, stated in a release, “Our focus is shifting from repairing faults after they occur to identifying and addressing risks before they lead to failures. Drones are equipped with high-resolution cameras, thermal imaging systems, and LiDAR sensors hence we can conduct close range inspections of transmission towers, conductors, and insulators passing through dense forests, hilly regions, and densely populated urban areas. The technology enables engineers to detect faults with a level of precision that is difficult to achieve through conventional methods.”

The release stated that another reason to use drones for inspection is that the thermal imaging cameras are capable of identifying abnormal heat signatures and hotspots caused by loose electrical connections or equipment deterioration. The data collected through drone surveys is being integrated into the KPTCL’s digital asset management ecosystem and will eventually be linked to the corporation’s upcoming Digital Twin Platform, enabling real-time monitoring of the transmission network from the central control room.

K.J. George, Minister for Energy and Tourism, was quoted in the release, “Inspecting Karnataka’s vast transmission network spanning nearly 45,000 km through conventional methods is both time-consuming and challenging. By deploying drones equipped with thermal imaging and LiDAR technologies, we can now conduct comprehensive 360 degrees inspections of transmission assets in a fraction of the time. The technology enables our engineers to detect even the smallest defects that are invisible to the naked eye. Achieving an 85% reduction in outages through inspection-led intervention is a major milestone in the KPTCL’s digital transformation journey.”