To reduce the risk of birds colliding with power lines, experts are utilizing drones and robots to install bird diverters along the wires.
(Video: New Atlas).
PLP (Preformed Line Products) and FulcrumAir have partnered to deploy the E2500 HP drone system and Mini LineFly robot, one of the most advanced robotic systems in the world designed for installing bird diverters on power lines, reported New Atlas on January 23. The system has been used to install nearly 15,000 bird diverters along a 121 km power transmission line in the High Banks Wind project in Kansas, USA.
The bird diverters make power lines more visible to birds, reducing the risk of collisions and fatalities. Each diverter is shaped like a coil wrapped in PVC. Typically, they are manually wrapped around the power lines at regular intervals, a process that is time-consuming and can pose risks to installation workers.
The drone and robot system operating on power lines.
The new system from PLP and FulcrumAir addresses this issue. First, the E2500 HP drone will drop the Mini LineFly robot onto the power line. The robot then crawls along the line, steadily installing bird diverters as it moves. Small propellers on either side of the robot help stabilize it against swaying due to strong winds.
Upon reaching the end of the line, the Mini LineFly will be lifted by the drone and transferred to the next segment of wire. This process requires just two operators on the ground—one for the drone and one for the robot.
“We are excited to partner with FulcrumAir to implement the latest in our developing robotic installation systems. Mini LineFly not only provides the most efficient method for installing bird diverters but, more importantly, contributes to a safer environment for electrical workers around the world,” said Ryan Ruhlman, president of PLP.
