State Grid Huai’an: High-tech Ensures Reliable Operation of Major Power Lines

At 7:00 a.m. on July 24, State Grid Huai’an Power Supply Company successfully repaired a broken grounding wire near Tower No. 223 on the 500kV Yishang Line using a “drone + robot” solution—all without interrupting power supply.

Technician remotely operates a robot to repair the damaged wire

Traditionally, this type of repair would require a power outage and manual tower climbing, with the process taking up to six hours. However, the 500kV Yishang Line is one of the major transmission corridors for delivering clean electricity from sources such as the Tianwan Nuclear Power Plant. With summer demand for electricity peaking, a power outage was not feasible. If left unrepaired, the wire defect could have jeopardized the reliability of power supply.

This time, the task was completed in just 30 minutes using the drone-robot combo. Unlike conventional repair methods, this approach only required three people: a safety supervisor, a drone pilot, and a robot operator. The method not only greatly improved efficiency and response time but also avoided the need for a shutdown. It further reduced risks such as heatstroke and falls associated with high-altitude manual work in hot weather.

A drone delivers the robot directly to the damaged section

Both the drone and the robot were equipped with visible-light cameras, allowing real-time video transmission to a ground control monitor. Guided by the live footage, the drone pilot and robot operator performed precise operations, ensuring the safety of both the equipment and the transmission line.

(Written and photographed by Wang Jiahui)