State Grid Shizuishan pilots UAV-based bird control in substations

"The unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) bird control flight route for Lanshan Substation has been planned, applying for a takeoff test!" On Feb 10, in the Substation Operation and Maintenance Monitoring Hall of State Grid Shizuishan Power Supply Company, based on a request from He Xia, a member of the substation operation and maintenance monitoring, an innovative practice of active bird control in substations using UAVs was officially launched. This marks the first time that the company has extended UAV technology to the field of bird prevention and control in substations. Through the exploratory application at Lanshan 220-kilovolt Substation, it further strengthens the power grid safety line with technological innovation.

The intelligent substation inspection system of State Grid Shizuishan is being increasingly improved. All 63 substations under its jurisdiction have achieved full coverage of video intelligent inspection, 17 substations have completed UAV inspection, and UAV inspection coverage will be extended to 48 110 kV and above substations within the year. 

Previously, relying on the intelligent inspection platform, the company has carried out more than 10 innovative applications such as remote acceptance of substation equipment, hardware detection, and bird identification. Especially in bird identification, more than 60 bird nests and more than 30 high-frequency bird activity areas in substations have been found through video inspection, laying a data foundation for precise prevention and control. 

However, traditional bird control methods such as sound, laser and drugs have limited effectiveness and are not suitable for long-term control. To reverse the passive situation of bird prevention and control and proactively respond to the seasonal operation and maintenance challenges of bird prevention, State Grid Shizuishan has continuously explored the potential of UAVs in active intervention. It has also explored the construction of a new bird prevention and control model for substations, which integrates remote identification with active expulsion, realizing a breakthrough from passive identification to active intervention, adding a new means for the intelligent operation and maintenance and active defense of substations.

To ensure the efficient development of this exploratory practice, the company has made careful arrangements and promoted them steadily. 

First, select test sites were chosen. From 11 substations with nagging bird problems, Lanshan 220 kV Substation with the most frequent bird activities was selected as the first pilot zone. 

The second measure implemented was to accurately draw bird situation maps. Historical data from remote video surveillance was integrated with on-site inspections to accurately locate bird activity hotspots, such as the 35 kV capacitor equipment area, the No 2 and No 3 main transformer equipment areas, and the 110 kV bus equipment area.

The third step was intelligently planning expulsion routes. Based on the 3D point cloud model of the substation and combined with bird activity hotspots, three differentiated UAV patrol and expulsion routes were scientifically planned.

The fourth measure was on-site verification and optimization. By performing irregular UAV expulsion tasks, the feasibility and immediate effect of this technical route were initially verified, and front-line data were initially collected for subsequent optimization. This practice not only realizes the efficient and non-contact expulsion of birds in substations, effectively reducing the risks of bird nest construction and equipment pollution, but also expands the application scenarios of UAV based technologies in substations. 

This marks the company's shift from static monitoring and passive response to intelligent, dynamic perception and proactive intervention in substation safety control, providing a new solution for bird damage prevention and control in substations.

For the next step, State Grid Shizuishan will deepen the application of UAV bird control achievements and focus on promoting the following four aspects of work.

First, it will establish a long-term verification mechanism, continuously track the bird control effect, dynamically optimize routes, and promote the large-scale application of practical achievements. 

Second, it will build an intelligent collaborative bird control model that integrates video identification with UAV linkage, improving the efficiency of bird expulsion in substations and advancing the practical application of intelligent inspection. 

Third, it will carry out the special research project titled "Research on Key Technologies for UAV-based Intelligent Monitoring and Autonomous Bird Deterrence in Substations", try to tackle technical bottlenecks, and explore the intelligent bird prevention and control mechanism of substations.

Finally, it will promote the collaborative upgrading of intelligent inspection algorithms at the provincial and municipal levels, comprehensively improve the intelligent capabilities of bird identification, early warning and disposal, and build a smart defense line for the safe and stable operation of the Shizuishan power grid.