Power to the drones: utilities place bets on robots

Workers operate a drone to survey high-voltage power lines of electric company Westnetz near Wilnsdorf, Germany, July 11, 2018. Picture taken July 11, 2018. REUTERS/Ralph Orlowski

MILAN/FRANKFURT: Flying robots that can travel dozens of kilometres without stopping could be the next big thing for power companies.

Utilities in Europe are looking to long-distance drones to scour thousands of miles of grids for damage and leaks in an attempt to avoid network failures that cost them billions of dollars a year. However the technology faces major safety and regulatory hurdles that are clouding its future in the sector.