Power line monitoring and insulator failure detection using aerial vehicles******

由导线、绝缘子和杆塔组成的架空线路广泛应用于输电和配电领域。 绝缘体在塔架和导体之间提供电绝缘，并为导体提供机械支撑。它们是聚合物或陶瓷，已经使用了100多年。以智能、安全和经济的方式检测陶瓷绝缘子中的缺陷正成为一项至关重要的要求。 缺陷的范围从微小的裂纹到穿孔和破裂的圆盘，导致绝缘体结构上可见的物理损坏，温度升高和电场过度集中。 本项目的主要目标是开发一种智能无人机（UAV）来诊断和检测陶瓷绝缘子的物理损伤。 它们可以通过专用相机或其他接口进行目视检查。温度的任何增加都可以使用能够测量红外（IR）辐射的设备（例如IR相机）来记录。可以使用声学传感器或紫外线（UV）相机来识别电场的浓度。 一架四旋翼直升机将被用来与水电塔一起飞行，以检测和定位受损的绝缘子。 将收集陶瓷绝缘体图像，并基于深度学习开发检测方案。 该项目将产生一个原型，能够诊断陶瓷绝缘子的物理损坏。这是为户外陶瓷电力线路绝缘子开发全面自主无人机检测的第一步。** 该项目与METSCO合作，该公司为加拿大能源部门提供能源解决方案。电网构成了我们技术社会的虚拟支柱，使我们能够为我们的生活和设备供电。老化的绝缘子基础设施导致越来越需要在由于绝缘子故障而导致的成本破坏性停电发生之前识别潜在的绝缘子故障。开发一个高效和具有成本效益的检查系统至关重要。维护我们的智能电网系统对加拿大的好处是非常明显的，因为它影响了所有加拿大人的日常生活。

Overhead lines, composed of conductors, insulators and towers are widely used at both the transmission and distribution level. Insulators provide electrical insulation between the tower and the conductors and provide mechanical support to the conductors. They are either polymer or ceramic which has been used for over 100 years. Detecting defects in ceramic insulators in smart, safe and cost effective scheme is becoming a crucial requirement. Defects range from minor cracks to punctured and broken discs leading to visible physical damage over the insulator structure, an increase in temperature, and excessive concentration of electric field.** The main objective of this project is to develop a smart unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to diagnose and detect physical damage in ceramic insulators. They can be examined by visual inspection with either a specialized camera or other interface. Any increase in temperature can be recorded using devices that are capable of measuring the infra-red (IR) radiation, such as an IR camera. The concentration of electric field can be identified using acoustic sensors or an ultra-violet (UV) camera. A quad-copter will be used to fly alongside the hydro towers to detect and localize damaged insulators. Ceramic insulator images will be collected and a detection scheme will be developed based on deep learning. This project will result in a prototype that is capable of diagnosing physical damage in ceramic insulators. This is the first step towards development of comprehensive autonomous drone inspection for outdoor ceramic power line insulators.** This project is in conjunction with METSCO, a company which brings energy solutions to the Canadian Energy Sector. The power grid forms the virtual backbone of our technological society, allowing us to power our lives and our devices. The aging insulator infrastructure causes a growing need to identify potential insulator faults before cost-destructive electrical blackouts occur due to insulator failure. Developing an efficient and cost effective inspection system is critical. The benefit to Canada of maintaining our smart grid system is abundantly clear as it impacts the day-to-day lives of all Canadians.**