Bird’s eye panorama of power equipment

JOHN ANTHONY

Last week Inglewood residents may have spotted a small drone-like machine hovering above the town’s powerlines.

Over the past few days electricity and gas distribution utility Powerco has used Inglewood as a trial ground for a new form of inspection technology.

A series of poles in rural areas on the outskirts of Inglewood have been inspected using a hexcopter, a small unmanned vehicle, operated by a ground-based pilot.

Powerco network operations manager Phil Marsh said the trial was possibly a New Zealand first for an electricity lines company.

“We are excited to be working with innovative New Plymouth firm, Rotorcam, for this project,” Marsh said.

The hexcopter, fitted with a camera, provided high quality footage of the tops of poles and cross arms which could usually only be achieved by using a helicopter, he said.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/business/8467998/Birds-eye-panorama-of-power-equipment