Restoring power to mountainous areas once a hurricane has hit is a challenge. The terrain tends to add serious complications to any recovery operation, particularly when power lines run from peak to peak. According to Fast Company, Duke Energy has been using drone technology to reconnect remote parts of Ponce, Puerto Rico, in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria.
Drones offer an obvious alternative, without putting staff in danger. “The question was raised, is there another way to do this?” said the Manager of Unmanned Aerial Systems at Duke Energy, Jacob Velky. It looks like they’ve found one.
The system is pretty straightforward. A lightweight nylon cord is attached to the drone before it’s sent across the ravine with the cable in-tow. Once the drone reaches the assigned drop off point, it releases the cord. Workers on the ground can then fasten a second cord which allows them to pull the vital conductive wires into place. Keep Reading>>>
