How is the Power Sector Keeping Up with Robotics Innovations in 2021?

Analytics Insight explores how the power sector is utilizing Robotics innovations in 2021

It is a well-known fact that the power sector is one of the most diversified sectors in the world. It is on the verge of a massive challenge or change in the nearby future. It all depends on how the power sector companies decide on the area of operations, protection of the environment, and many more other factors. The power sector needs to focus on environmental protection as well as updated cutting-edge technologies to modify traditional business policies. There are some international power sector trends that are going on amidst the COVID-19 pandemic such as a massive drop in electricity usage in industrial sectors, faster adoption of solar panels, flexibility for electricity security, and so on. These can only be achieved successfully when the power sector is keeping up with new Robotics innovations in the 21^st century. Robotics has started helping the power sector to be more efficient and effective with its smart applications. Let's explore how the power sector is utilizing Robotics innovations just like the other global sectors.

The power sector has started utilizing different kinds of robots and drones for efficient risk management, inspections of dangerous areas, covering time-consuming work for human employees, and maintaining operations as well as risky assets. Robotics is also used in transmission and distribution, wind, nuclear, solar, hydropower along fossil fuels. Robotics and Artificial Intelligence are providing sufficient assistance in the inspection of dangerous assets, automated maintenance as well as managing nuclear assets.

It is expected that Robotics will help in key installation, setup, and automated cleaning of offshore wind and solar panels with sailing robots and crawling robots in isolated as well as inaccessible areas. There are multiple Robotics companies focused on inventing robots for the power sector such as UCL Robotics, R4 Robotics, and so on. MIR Innovation is also designing robots for in-depth inspection of high-voltage power lines and energized transmission lines. The Falcon underwater vehicle is helping the hydropower sector as one of the recent Robotics applications. The power sector across the world is using robotic vehicles in evaluating the integrity of dam walls, water inlets, dam safety along the depth of sentiments. Advanced cameras with Artificial Intelligence algorithms are capturing 2D stable images through self-optimizing video enhancement and position location system. Robots can also protect human employees from the harmful exposure of radiation in nuclear power plants in a safe and cost-effective manner.

There are multiple Robotics vehicles that the global power sector has already started using for efficient service to respective countries:

• Hitachi Nuclear developed a self-propelled and articulated robot known as the Surveyor to inspect a long length of pipe in a South Texas nuclear power plant

• Toshiba decontamination crawler robot was used in the Fukushima nuclear power plant

• TELEMAN 44, TELEMAN 48, and TELEMAN 50 are kinds of the Messina robot to transport bulky and heavy loads in hostile situations

• MIT researchers developed a robot prototype to enhance the security of nuclear power plants

• Mitsubishi developed a radiation-resistant robot known as MESITeR (Maintenance Equipment Integrated System of Telecontrol Robot) with sophisticated tools

Thus, it can be said that the implementation of Robotics in the power sector can provide assistance with large datasets in automating duties without any human intervention such as mapping, inspection, maintenance as well as repair assets or towers in highly-risky areas for human employees. Leveraging Artificial Intelligence and Robotics can have a critical impact on clean and cheap energy for future generations. The power sector can have the potential to have a promising future after keeping up with the Robotics innovations.