Autonomous drones to remotely monitor electric power station in Canada

Transport Canada has given its approval to Ontario Power Generation to operate inspection drones beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS), without an onsite visual observer, at McConnell Lake Control Dam. Percepto, whose drone-in-a-box solution will make this feat possible, points out this is the first time regulators are allowing autonomous drone operations in Canada.

As extreme weather becomes more common, power utilities are looking for ways to recover faster from natural disasters, and get the lights on and furnaces working sooner. In Canada, thousands spent Christmas in the dark last month after a powerful arctic winter storm knocked power out. Ferocious winter conditions across Ontario even forced two regions to declare a state of emergency.

But, now, this new approval by Transport Canada will allow the government-owned Ontario Power Generation to remotely perform high-frequency inspections. And this will, hopefully, help ensure resiliency with faster response…