Energy Inspection
Solution Overview
Application of UAV technology in energy inspection survey and design
The Energy Inspection Solution covers a wide range of applications, including wind farm inspections, photovoltaic system checks, transmission line patrols, long-distance oil and gas pipeline monitoring, and oilfield surveillance. Using tilt-rotor fixed-wing UAVs, the solution enables intelligent inspections by capturing high-resolution aerial imagery of corridors, surrounding environments, crossings, and construction activities. Patrols are reinforced for critical, aging, defect-prone, and high-risk areas. By establishing a routine UAV inspection mechanism, the system enables real-time monitoring of corridor health and supports the digital and intelligent transformation of energy infrastructure inspection.
Operational Challenges
Multirotor drones have limited range and insufficient zoom, making it difficult to capture clear corridor images from high altitudes. Patrol missions are often canceled in poor weather conditions.
Traditional fixed-wing drones are bulky, complex to assemble, require dedicated ground infrastructure, and depend on trained pilots—leading to high manpower and logistics costs.
Different brands, platforms, and systems cannot be seamlessly integrated. User-deployed systems are often incompatible with command center platforms.
Routine maintenance and firmware upgrades are often not possible. Drone storage and SD cards at ground stations fill up quickly and cannot be cleared remotely.
Solution Highlights
Rapid Deployment
Single-person launch in just 3 minutes enables quick mission start.
Long Endurance
VTOL fixed-wing UAVs offer up to 126 minutes of flight time, with support for hot-swappable batteries to ensure uninterrupted operations.
AI Target Recognition
Intelligent algorithms automatically detect personnel, vehicles, and vessels, improving detection efficiency.
Mission Planning
Ground station planning allows for patrol route design, observation point setup, and automatic execution of missions.
High-Definition Evidence Capture
Equipped with 35× optical zoom and 45mm infrared thermal imaging, supporting laser ranging and positioning for clear, long-range visuals.
Smart PinPointing
Observation points can be pre-set for suspicious zones. With PinPoint functionality, targets are quickly marked to enhance situational awareness.
Live Streaming
RTMP streaming from the UAV ground station enables real-time transmission to the command center for decision-making support.
Offline Mapping
In areas without public networks, offline maps allow geographic data matching and route verification.
Case Studies
Precision Wind Turbine Inspection Project in Xinjiang, China
A wind farm in Xinjiang deployed 80 turbines with a total installed capacity of 560MW. Previously reliant on manual inspections and spot checks using telescopes or aerial photos, the site adopted Autel’s UAV-based precision inspection solution. The drones enabled comprehensive inspections of blades, towers, nacelles, and foundations—identifying damage, anomalies, and corrosion. All findings were photographed, modeled, recorded, and securely stored in the cloud. The system established an automated early warning and regular inspection mechanism. As a result, inspection efficiency increased nearly 30 times, significantly reducing failure rates and ensuring the stable operation and productivity of the wind farm. Value Delivered: 24/7 unmanned patrols 30× improvement in inspection efficiency
Photovoltaic Inspection Project in Gansu, China
Covering an area of 600 mu with a total installed capacity of 50MW, the PV site in Gansu features complex terrain and large-scale solar panel installations. Manual inspections were time-consuming, high-risk, and inefficient. By deploying Autel’s UAV-based intelligent inspection system, tasks that once took a full month to complete manually were finished in just half a day. The system significantly improved inspection efficiency—up to 20 times faster—while accurately identifying hidden issues such as vegetation shading and hotspot defects. Based on the results, O&M teams carried out targeted maintenance, effectively preventing economic losses caused by performance degradation. Value Delivered: 24/7 automated UAV inspections 20× increase in inspection efficiency
Natural Gas Pipeline Inspection in Peru
A natural gas transport company in Peru adopted Autel’s UAV solution to inspect and monitor pipelines from the gas fields to the LNG terminal in Lima, covering a total length of 623 km. The route spans high-altitude environments over 3,500 meters above sea level, requiring robust long-range inspection capabilities. To ensure regional safety, the system deployed 4 Dragonfish Nests and 40 relay stations, enabling fully automated UAV takeoff and landing along the pipeline. UAVs replaced manual inspections, especially in high-risk areas and nighttime conditions, significantly improving efficiency and ensuring personnel safety.
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