Inside Unmanned Systems

FEB-MAR 2016

Inside Unmanned Systems provides actionable business intelligence to decision-makers and influencers operating within the global UAS community. Features include analysis of key technologies, policy/regulatory developments and new product design.

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18 unmanned systems inside January/February 2016 AIR UTILITIES GEAR Puma AE • Mfr: AeroVironment • Type: Fixed-wing • Size: 6-foot body with a seven-foot wingspan • Weight: 13.5 lbs. • Flight Time: 3.5+ hours • Launch: Hand launch, rail launch (optional) • Recovery: Autonomous or manual deep-stall landing • Other: Remains stable in winds up to 30 miles per hour Aeryon SkyRanger • Mfr: Aeryon Labs • Type: Quadrotor • Size: 40-inch diameter, 9.3-inch height when deployed • Weight: 5.3 lbs. • Flight time: Up to 50 minutes • Launch: Vertical takeoff • Recovery: Vertical landing • Other: Can operate in rain, snow and winds up to 55 mph Dominion also has been working with two different service providers, said Steve Eisen- rauch, Dominion's manager for Transmission Forestry & Line Services. Last August, Domin- ion began performing transmission line inspec- tions through UAS service provider Hazon. They're using the DJI S1000 for this concen- trated deployment, Eisenrauch said, and so far they are happy with the results. Before performing these inspections, Eisen- rauch said they took images of the transmission lines from a helicopter so they could compare data from both the manned and unmanned air- craft. The UAS images not only identified the same issues as the those taken from the heli- copter, but because UAS are able to get closer to the lines and snap photos from different angles, they also identified problems the helicopter im- ages just couldn't pick up. Dominion opted to hire Hazon to conduct its UAS flights because it enables the energy pro- vider's linemen to focus on performing the work they're trained for and helps ensure Dominion has access to the most up-to-date drones with- out having to continually invest in new systems. Dominion tells Hazon which lines to fly, Hazon gathers the data and then lets Dominion know what defects are discovered, which is similar to how the company handles helicopter inspections. Buying the UAS-generated data helps the firm stay focused on actually making repairs rather than trying to locate what needs to be fixed. So what exactly are they looking for during these inspections? Any problems with the struc- ture, Eisenrauch said, which could include miss- ing bolts, screws or nuts as well as rust. It could be broken insulators or a conductor with a defect. They're also looking at transmission components to make sure they're not coming apart or missing. Southern Company Finds Multiple UAS Applications Southern Company really began looking at the business case for drone-based inspection in 2014 and received a Section 333 exemption to begin flying last March, said Dexter Lewis, the firm's senior engineer and technical expert on UAS. The Atlanta-based company wants to better un- derstand the technology and determine if it is in- deed faster, cheaper and quicker to use remotely piloted aircraft instead of more traditional meth- ods such as manned aircraft and bucket trucks. They've used the SkyRanger from Aeryon Labs to scrutinize transmission tower infrastructure

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