Drone technology is currently used for a variety
of tasks, including outage restoration; preventative inspection of power lines, transmission
towers, and pipelines; conducting environmental surveys; and monitoring wildlife. Recent advancements
include the use of artificial intelligence and
machine learning algorithms, enabling drones
to help detect and analyze issues in real-time,
reducing the need for human intervention.
This
article explores how some co-ops are using
new drone technology, as well as other emerging technologies, to help enable more efficient,
economical, and safer operations.
