Chinese engineers have revolutionized power infrastructure maintenance with newly developed autonomous drones capable of detecting and removing ice from transmission lines – even in dense fog. The cutting-edge technology addresses a critical challenge as extreme weather events intensify across Asia this winter.
Equipped with advanced sensors and AI-powered navigation systems, these flying robots eliminate the need for human workers to scale dangerous heights during snowstorms. Early trials in mountainous regions of the Chinese mainland show a 300% efficiency increase compared to manual de-icing methods, according to State Grid Corporation data.
'This innovation fundamentally changes how we approach grid resilience,' said Dr. Wei Lin, lead robotics engineer at Tsinghua University's Energy Research Institute. 'The drones' thermal imaging and millimeter-wave radar allow precise ice detection when visibility drops below 50 meters.'
Authorities plan to deploy 2,000 units across northern provinces before the 2026-2027 winter season. The development comes as cross-regional power transmission projects gain urgency under China's renewable energy expansion targets.
