Keeping Workers Safe, Optimizing Maintenance, and Moving to the Future with Drones with Corey Hitchcock and Christina Park of Skydio [Power Perspectives Conversations at Distributech 2024]

In recent years, drones have emerged as symbols of innovation across a diverse set of sectors. However, the initial encounters with drones at industry conferences were characterized by curiosity and speculation about their future implications. Frequently, skeptics tended to perceive more challenges than opportunities, labeling drones as a solution in search of a problem. However, discussions with Skydio's Corey Hitchcock (Utility Solutions Specialist) and Christina Park (Senior Director of Energy Strategy) at Distributech 2024 revealed a shifting perspective on drones, especially when it comes to the power sector. As they sat down with Energy Central for an exclusive conversation, it became clear that the skepticism once associated with drones is now as outdated as is the old approach of mandating line workers to unnecessarily ascend dangerous poles.

This year at Distributech, Hitchcock and Park could be seen constantly fielding questions from people who no longer saw drones as abstract concepts but instead as actual solutions ready for their use. From the speaking session they held titled “Path to Condition Based Maintenance via Drone Solutions” to their consistently busy drone flying demonstration cage on the conference floor, these drone experts have recognized that the utility industry has finally reached that long-awaited pivot point.

As a part of this exclusive Power Perspectives Interview, Hitchcock and Park delved into the exciting possibilities that lie ahead, touching upon themes such as distribution automation, operational workflow optimization, and the importance of data-driven decision-making. Given that both Hitchcock and Park came directly from the world of utilities, each working at power companies before moving to Skydio, their unique experience really drives home to utility partners how and where drone programs can be force multipliers for them, not just a side program but fully integrating into utility operations.

 

In-Practice Opportunities from Drones for Utilities Today

No longer seen as a niche or sci-fi solution, drones are out there performing critical tasks today. The shift represents what Skydio is excited to tell customers: drones are not toys, they are tools. And the applications for those tools already in practice in the 2024 utility industry are as varied as they are valuable. Drones are already being used by utility partners in the pursuit of:

• Enhanced Safety Measures: Park and Hitchcock both highlighted how drones are currently being used to inspect utility infrastructure in hazardous or hard-to-reach areas, improving safety for workers by minimizing the need for manual inspections.
• Increased Operational Efficiency: They mentioned how drones are streamlining operational workflows by conducting inspections more quickly and accurately than traditional methods, thereby reducing downtime and operational costs.
• Improved Asset Management: The interviewees also discussed how drones are aiding in asset management by providing utilities with real-time data on the condition of their assets, allowing for proactive maintenance and reducing the risk of equipment failure. For example, Park notes “As you go down the value chain, you can see optimization tied to the drone in unexpected places, such as spare parts strategies. Traditionally, utilities waste a ton of money just taking a shot in the dark of how many spares to keep on the shelves and to try and predict when they'll be needed, but regular drone maintenance flights can eliminate that guesswork.”
• Risk Mitigation and Disaster Response: Both Park and Hitchcock also touched upon how drones are assisting utilities in identifying potential risks and responding to emergencies, such as wildfires or storm damage, more rapidly and effectively, thereby minimizing the impact on operations and customers. In fact, the week of Distributech 2024 saw the Smokehouse Creek Fire, a record-setting wildfire in the state of Texas thought to be tied to downed power lines. With drones making maintenance quicker, safer, and cheaper, minimizing the risk of equipment failure that leads to such disasters can be revolutionary.
• Regulatory Compliance: Lastly, the Skydio experts mentioned how drones are helping utilities comply with regulatory requirements, such as FAC-008 in substations, by providing detailed documentation of inspections and maintenance activities, ensuring transparency and accountability in their operations.
• Data-Driven Decisions: Finally, both Park and Hitchcock underscore the importance of data-driven decision-making enabled by drones. "Drones provide utilities with objective, quantifiable measurements that serve as a baseline for future improvements," noted Park. This data-driven approach helps utilities adapt to changing technologies and market demands, ultimately driving operational efficiency and success.

Christina Park and Kellen Kirk (UAS and Fixed-Wing Operations Manager @ PG&E),  Co-Presented to the Distributech Attendees

Even More Drone Opportunities on the Horizon

When discussing the reality of what drones will soon be able to do for utility users, Hitchcock emphasized the game-changing potential of dock-based drones in responding to system events on distribution or transmission systems. She envisions a future where drones can inspect sections of lines that are out, eliminating the need for manual inspection and reducing outage time. According to Park, this advancement not only enhances safety and reliability but also improves customer satisfaction.

“Having a drone go out and inspect that section that’s out based on distribution automation and dispatching that drone to go look at this section is the future.” – Corey Hitchcock

Looking ahead, what gets Hitchcock excited are the opportunities for operational workflow optimization. “Instead of having people spend time driving to sites and doing manual tasks and inspections,” he forecasts, “the drones and the technology will do it for you.” Drones will thus allow personnel to focus on expertise-driven tasks while leaving the lower-expertise and/or higher risk tasks to the drones. This optimization extends to asset management, where drones can help utilities balance cost, risk, and performance effectively.

"I think in three to five years we're really going to see that the operational workflow has changed and has integrated these technologies so that people can really maximize and optimize their skill sets." - Corey Hitchcock

Corey Hitchcock and Christina Park Fielding Questions

Taking Drones to New Heights for Utilities

Looking ahead, both Park and Hitchcock anticipate the emergence of scaled solutions for drone technology in the next three to five years. These solutions promise tangible results, with utilities increasingly adopting drones for various tasks. Hitchcock emphasizes the importance of starting small and gradually scaling up, leveraging third-party support for ROI analysis, change management, and regulatory compliance.

In the meantime, the name of the game is to demonstrate the value of drones to utilities. These Skydio experts stressed the importance of demonstrations and case studies in showcasing the real value of drone technology for utilities. Those demonstrations are like the one on the Distributech 2024 floor where attendees could control a drone in California via a controller at and connected to the internet of the conference in Florida, as well as virtual demonstrations available online (click here to watch).

Further, Park highlights the example of their customer at PG&E, which has embraced drones as a paradigm shift and serves as a powerful example for the rest of the market. "PG&E has gone in on this as a paradigm shift from the executive level and they’re pioneering drone deployment as one way to achieve Condition-Based Maintenance," noted Park. With influential utilities buying in, the wider industry can see drones in action as evidence of their value and potential impact.

A Conference Attendees Gives one of Skydio’s Drones a Try at the Company’s ‘Flight School’

Conclusion:

As Distributech continues to serve as a hub for innovation in the utility sector, conversations like these shed light on the transformative potential of drone technology. The insights shared by Skydio’s Christina Park and Corey Hitchcock offer a glimpse into the future of utility operations, where drones play a central role in enhancing safety, reliability, and efficiency.

Looking ahead, it's clear that drones are not just tools for drone pilots; they are executive-level tools that enable utilities to make better decisions and adapt to evolving challenges effectively. With scaled solutions on the horizon and a growing emphasis on data-driven decision-making, the future of utility operations is brighter than ever before.

 

The slides Park and Hitchcock presented alongside PG&E's Kellen Kirk, “Journey to Condition-based maintenance via drone solutions” can be found here on DISTRIBUTECH's site.