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Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) for Utilities

Rick LuskDirector, UAS Research CenterOak Ridge National Laboratory

Oak Ridge, Tennessee

February 26, 2018

(An Early Survey of Best Practices Also)

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ORNL UAS Research Center Movie

Rocket Surgeon

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UAS Research Center Mission and Purpose

The ORNL UAS Research Center Missionis to use our world-class science and engineering resources to extend the horizons of Unmanned Systems technology to create solutions for the betterment of humankind.

The Unmanned Aerial Systems Research Center at Oak Ridge National Laboratoryconnects industry with world-class research tools and capabilities to translatescientific breakthroughs into commercialized applications.

By advancing the engineering and integration of technology subsystems, UASRC maximizes the power of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) to design and develop innovative, transformative solutions that improve safety, productivity, and use.

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UAS – first and foremost data collection platforms

UAS Data-Centric Discovery Needs• Smaller, better, purpose-built sensors• Multi-sensor data fusion• Signature libraries spanning biological to structural material indices • MSI & HSI Processing Systems and Algorithms – data mining for informatics• A supporting and integrated data science infrastructure

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An Early Survey of Best Practices for the Use of Small Unmanned Aerial Systems by the Electric Utility Industry

http://info.ornl.gov/sites/publications/Files/Pub73072.pdf

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UAS – Multidisciplinary Utility

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Which Method is Safer, More Accurate, and Less Expensive ?

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Which Method is Safer, More Accurate, and Less Expensive ?

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DOE Focused – Energy Applications

Application:Maintenance and inspections of electrical, solar and wind power systems and also for thermographic surveys of buildings.

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Electric Utility Work

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UAS Images from EPB Chattanooga

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Two Tiers – Long Lines and Bucket Truck

More than 450,000 miles of transmission lines across the country

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UAS for Grid Visibility (GridViz)

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Importance of UAS in Disaster Recovery

• Quick to deploy• Agile• Low cost• Multi-Sensor payload capability• Mapping capability

Drone Footage of Harvey at Aransas Pass

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After the Water Receded the Heroes in Bucket Trucks Arrived

Photos by Rick Lusk

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Raw Drone Footage of Holiday Beach, TX – Ground Zero

Photos by Rick Lusk

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My Grandfather said, “Learn something new every day”.

I learned - a new use for Great Stuff

Plan, Deploy,Operate, Organize, Collect, Integrate,Manage Inform,Disseminate

Unmanned platforms have an unmatched and unrealized capability to provide real-time, critical data to first responders and decision makers.

Unmanned Ops Center

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Discussion

Rick LuskDirectorUAS Research Center

Contact Information