Estimated reading time 2 minutes, 10 seconds.
Aeryon Labs Inc. has announced that the Aeryon SkyRanger is the small unmanned aerial system (sUAS) named in the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Section 333 Exemption granted to Southern Company subsidiary Southern Company Services, Inc. (SCS). The Aeryon SkyRanger will be used to conduct research on sUAS applications for assessing damage to power lines due to storm events and performing routine power line inspection.
The Aeryon SkyRanger delivers significant value to power utilities around the globe because of its potential to reduce:
- Risk to crews responsible for power line inspections
- Operational costs associated with manned aircraft
- Environmental impact of operating manned aircraft
- The duration of power outages after storms and other weather events
The Aeryon SkyRanger provides high-resolution imagery and data that can be used to inspect the structures, transformers and power lines, and review changes over time. This data can be transformed into 3D models, 2D orthomosaics and maps. These outputs are highly valuable to inspect critical infrastructure, and can assist in the maintenance and monitoring of the facilities and surrounding environment.
“Safe inspection and maintenance of electrical power infrastructure is an enormous task especially in challenging weather conditions,” explained Aeryon Labs president and CEO, Dave Kroetsch. “The Aeryon SkyRanger provides reliable flight performance, can reduce time in the field, and can greatly contribute to the efficient collection of data, which is vital to avoid and resolve issues quickly.”
The Aeryon SkyRanger is ideally suited for power line inspection, and is operationally proven by utility companies around the globe. The Aeryon HDZoom30 imaging payload enables high-resolution imagery at maximum range; ensuring the safety of the operator on the ground, and precise flight controls and aircraft positioning ensures that a safe standoff distance from the structure can be maintained.
