Chongqing: Heavy-Lift Drones Use "Four-Drone Coordinated Lift" to Transport Tower Materials via Aerial Formation in Mountainous Terrain

On October 10, the Yongchuan Power Supply Branch of State Grid Chongqing Electric Power Company conducted Chongqing's first heavy-lift drone cluster "four-drone coordinated lift" tower hoisting operation in the electric power construction sector at the N70 tower site of the Rongchang Shizilin 110kV transmission and substation project, marking a new breakthrough in intelligent construction for Chongqing's power grid infrastructure.

Operation site 

Photo courtesy of State Grid Chongqing Electric Power Company

Operation site 

Photo courtesy of State Grid Chongqing Electric Power Company

 At the operation site, four heavy-lift drones formed a coordinated formation, lifted synchronously and jointly bore the load, maintaining consistent posture and altitude throughout. In less than 2 minutes, the 550-kilogram tower component crossed hills and forests and was smoothly hoisted to the mountaintop operation point 307 meters away.

Staff inspecting heavy-lift drone charging equipment

Photo courtesy of State Grid Chongqing Electric Power Company

Staff installing batteries on a heavy-lift drone

Photo courtesy of State Grid Chongqing Electric Power Company

It is understood that the Rongchang Shizilin 110kV transmission and substation project is a key backbone power grid infrastructure project of State Grid Yongchuan Power Supply Company and a key project under the Rongchang District 15th Five-Year Plan power grid scheme. The project lies in mountainous and hilly terrain. Some tower sites have rugged mountain trails inaccessible to large transport vehicles. Traditional manpower and cableway haulage are relatively inefficient and entail high safety risks. The successful deployment of the "four-drone coordinated lift" technology has helped Chongqing's power sector accumulate valuable experience in tackling difficulties in complex mountain power grid construction. It also offers a replicable and scalable intelligent construction model for mountain power grid projects in western Chongqing.