AERIAL-CORE · Project

Drone Teams That Inspect and Repair Power Lines Without Risking Human Lives

energyTestedTRL 6

Imagine sending a team of smart drones to check thousands of kilometres of power lines instead of putting workers in helicopters or on dangerous towers. These drones can change their shape mid-flight — stretching out for long trips, then hovering close for detailed checks — and some can even grab onto structures and do small repairs. They work alongside human crews on the ground, acting like flying co-workers who handle the risky high-altitude jobs. The whole system was tested on real electrical infrastructure to prove it works outside the lab.

By the numbers

consortium partners across Europe

countries in the consortium

industry partners involved

SMEs in the consortium

real-world demonstration deliverables

total project deliverables produced

37%

industry participation ratio

The business problem

What needed solving

Inspecting and maintaining large infrastructure like power lines, pipelines, and wind turbines is dangerous, expensive, and slow. Workers risk their lives climbing towers or riding in helicopters, while companies face rising maintenance costs and increasing pressure to keep aging infrastructure running safely. Current drone solutions can take pictures, but they cannot physically interact with structures or coordinate as a team to cover large areas efficiently.

The solution

What was built

The project built an integrated aerial robotic system with multiple drone types that can shape-shift for efficiency, inspect at sub-centimetre accuracy, physically manipulate structures mid-flight, and work safely alongside human crews. This was validated through 4 real-world demonstrations on electrical power infrastructure, producing 30 deliverables in total.

Audience

Who needs this

Electrical transmission system operators (TSOs) with extensive overhead line networksWind farm operators needing regular blade and tower inspectionsOil and gas companies inspecting remote pipelines and offshore platformsRailway operators maintaining overhead catenary wire systemsLarge bridge and viaduct operators requiring regular structural inspections

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Electrical Power Transmission

enterprise

Target: Transmission system operators and utility companies

If you are a power grid operator dealing with the cost and danger of inspecting thousands of kilometres of high-voltage lines — this project developed an integrated aerial robotic system with sub-centimetre inspection accuracy and aerial manipulation capabilities. The drones work as a coordinated team covering long range flights of several kilometres, then switching to close-up inspection mode, reducing the need for manned helicopter flights and tower climbing.

Oil & Gas Infrastructure

enterprise

Target: Pipeline and refinery operators

If you are an oil and gas company struggling with regular inspection of remote pipelines, flare stacks, or offshore platforms — this project built drones that can perform force-based manipulation tasks while flying or perching on structures. With 4 demo deliverables validating real-world manipulation and inspection, these aerial co-workers can reach hazardous locations that are expensive and dangerous for human inspectors.

Wind Energy

mid-size

Target: Wind farm operators and maintenance companies

If you are a wind farm operator facing expensive blade inspections that require cranes or rope access technicians — this project developed cognitive aerial robots with morphing capabilities for both long-range endurance and precise local observation. The system demonstrated integrated aerial manipulation, meaning drones can not only spot damage but interact physically with structures for minor maintenance tasks.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to deploy this drone inspection system?

The project data does not include pricing or cost-per-deployment figures. Since this was a research project with 19 consortium partners, commercial pricing would depend on the specific partner offering the technology. Contact SciTransfer for introductions to the right consortium member.

Can this scale to inspect hundreds of kilometres of power lines?

Yes, the system was explicitly designed for long-range operations covering several kilometres per mission, with morphing drone designs that save energy during transit. The project demonstrated an integrated multi-robot system where different aerial platforms handle different tasks — long-range survey, close-up inspection at sub-centimetre accuracy, and physical manipulation.

Who owns the IP and can I license this technology?

The intellectual property is distributed across 19 partners from 9 countries, including 7 industry partners and 4 SMEs. Licensing would need to be negotiated with the relevant consortium members depending on which technology module you need. SciTransfer can identify the right IP holder for your use case.

Has this been tested in real conditions, not just a lab?

Yes. The project produced 4 dedicated demonstration deliverables, including a real demonstration of the human-aerial co-worker scenario and integrated aerial manipulation. These were validated on electrical power system infrastructure, which was the primary application target.

Can these drones work safely alongside my maintenance crews?

Safe human-robot co-working was a core design goal. The project developed cognitive safe aerial robotic co-workers specifically designed for physical interaction with people, plus augmented cognitive human-machine interfaces to let workers coordinate with the drone team effectively.

Does this comply with European drone regulations?

Based on available project data, regulatory compliance was not explicitly addressed in the deliverable descriptions. However, as an EU-funded project demonstrated on European infrastructure, the consortium would have worked within existing EASA frameworks. Specific regulatory guidance should be discussed with the consortium partners.

Can the drones actually do repairs, or just inspection?

Both. The project demonstrated aerial manipulation involving force interactions — meaning drones that can physically interact with structures. They validated manipulation while flying, while holding with one limb, and while hanging or perching, enabling both inspection and maintenance tasks.

Consortium

Who built it

This is a strong, industry-oriented consortium with 19 partners across 9 European countries. The 37% industry ratio (7 companies including 4 SMEs) signals genuine commercial interest — not just academic research. The mix of 8 universities and 4 research centres provides deep technical capability, while the industry partners bring real-world application knowledge. Led by Universidad de Sevilla in Spain, the consortium spans Western and Central Europe (Spain, France, Italy, Netherlands, Denmark, Switzerland, Greece, Croatia, Czech Republic), giving broad access to different European infrastructure markets. The presence of 4 SMEs is particularly relevant for businesses seeking agile technology partners ready to commercialize specific modules.

UNIVERSIDAD DE SEVILLACoordinator · ES
C.R.E.A.T.E. CONSORZIO DI RICERCA PER L'ENERGIA L AUTOMAZIONE E LE TECNOLOGIE DELL'ELETTROMAGNETISMOparticipant · IT
FUNDACION CIRCE CENTRO DE INVESTIGACION DE RECURSOS Y CONSUMOS ENERGETICOSthirdparty · ES
FUNDACION ANDALUZA PARA EL DESARROLLO AEROESPACIALparticipant · ES
ARISTOTELIO PANEPISTIMIO THESSALONIKISparticipant · EL
FUVEX CIVIL SLparticipant · ES
EDISTRIBUCION REDES DIGITALES SLparticipant · ES
UNIVERSITEIT TWENTEparticipant · NL
TERABEEparticipant · FR
SVEUCILISTE U ZAGREBU FAKULTET ELEKTROTEHNIKE I RACUNARSTVAparticipant · HR
ECOLE POLYTECHNIQUE FEDERALE DE LAUSANNEparticipant · CH
SYDDANSK UNIVERSITETparticipant · DK
CESKE VYSOKE UCENI TECHNICKE V PRAZEparticipant · CZ
UNIVERSITAT ZURICHparticipant · CH
CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE CNRSparticipant · FR

How to reach the team

The coordinator is Universidad de Sevilla (Spain). SciTransfer can facilitate a direct introduction to the right team member for your specific application.

Order a report on this consortium See UNIVERSIDAD DE SEVILLA profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to explore how aerial robotic inspection could reduce your infrastructure maintenance costs? SciTransfer connects you directly with the AERIAL-CORE team members who built the technology modules relevant to your operations. Contact us for a tailored one-page brief.

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