Using drone technology for safety and innovation
(World News Science)

BPA`s transmission line crew receives sock line from the quadcopter under the de-energized portion of the Lolo Pass line. On a windy, overcast day deep within the Mount Hood National Forest, the center of three high-voltage transmission tower spans fell silent. It was de-energized for upgrades and maintenance work,and the clock was ticking to have the hum of hundreds of thousands of volts flowing again. The buzz of a small quadcopter drone whirred past; fighting the wind and the weight of rope attached to its belly by a remotely operated clip. A BPA pilot guided it between the transmission tower spans.This was BPA`s maiden operational flight of a quadcopter or SUAS (small unmanned aerial...