AEP Texas achieved a technological milestone with the installation of a Skydio X10 drone docking station at a substation in Rachal, Texas. Thanks to a special Federal Aviation Administration waiver, pilots can remotely operate the unmanned aircraft systems from offices in Texas, Ohio or elsewhere in the AEP network.
AEP Texas plans to install 10 docking stations in total, streamlining AEP Texas’ ability to patrol and inspect lines.
Eric Elizondo, Continuous Improvement lead and Chief Drone Pilot for AEP Texas, said this innovative technology, paired with the FAA Beyond Visual Line of Sight waiver, positions AEP Texas as a UAS leader among utilities.
“It’s the first of its kind,” Elizondo stated. “AEP Texas is currently the only operating company in the AEP system to have this technology."
Previously, drones could operate only inside a substation’s perimeter. Now, drones can patrol lines far outside the station, helping crews quickly find faults and determine the resources and personnel needed for repairs, often in less time than it would take a ground inspector to reach a truck.
“The missions will fly up and out,” Elizondo explained. “The drones will capture a 360-degree view of our equipment from the sky. With the BVLOS waiver and this recent technology, the drone will photograph, record, and live stream our assets in the critical breaker zone, the first critical miles outside of a substation. We will use the drone to identify damage or determine the cause of a fault.”
Elizondo said the project required pouring a new concrete pad, running wires and connections, constructing a new box for communications equipment, and mounting new antennas.
“Our new BVLOS certificate will allow us to fly drones over long distances while complying with FAA regulations,” Elizondo said. “This technology has changed the game, and AEP Texas is a major player.”