Steel Wings Guarding Green Energy: A Decade of Transformation in UAV Smart Inspection
Amid the rolling mountains of northwestern Hubei, 200,000 photovoltaic panels at CGN’s Daxin Solar-Storage Power Station stretch like silver terraces. Overhead, a black-rotored M300 RTK drone slices through the sky, serving as the "aerial guardian" of this renewable energy matrix.
"A decade ago, we relied on telescopes for manual pole inspections. Now, drones cover every corner," said Dong Chao, deputy director of the maintenance center, gazing at real-time 4K footage on the monitoring screen. This technological revolution, which began in 2018, mirrors China’s shift from labor-intensive climbing to intelligent aerial inspections in renewable energy operations.
The breakthrough started with trials of the compact Phantom 4 RTK. Facing widespread apprehension within the team, Dong adopted a "start small" strategy, replacing the bulky 9.3kg M600 with the 1.3kg portable model. This move unexpectedly unlocked new possibilities—in Hubei’s rugged terrain, daily inspections surged to 30 towers, quadrupling efficiency. The compact drone not only enhanced inspection quality but became a vital safety safeguard for personnel.
Technological evolution accelerated in 2020 with the introduction of the Matrice 300 RTK, propelling renewable energy inspections into the 3D era. Equipped with an H20T hybrid sensor, this industrial-grade drone detects submillimeter blade cracks and corrosion with surgical precision. "Work that previously took four people a quarter can now be done in two days,"
Yet, smarter systems brought fresh challenges. As daily defect identifications skyrocketed, the team developed an AI-powered risk classification system. The platform cross-references hazard locations with visual evidence, enabling field crews to prioritize responses via mobile app verification. "Our tiered processing protocol creates a closed-loop management cycle—inspection, rectification, verification—that optimizes maintenance workflows, reduced operational burdens. "
From handheld thermal cameras to autonomous drone docks, innovation continues reshaping operations. "A decade ago, we looked up at towers—now we oversee energy matrices from above."
