Compact UAV Corona Cameras Help Utilities Meet Inspection Requirements

To assist utilities in achieving their inspection requirements, Ofil developed a series of compact corona cameras: ROMpact and Swift. Both cameras are bi-spectral solar-blind UV-visible cameras for scanning high- and medium-voltage electrical installations and implement Ofil's proprietary technological innovations. These compact corona cameras are fit for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) of various sizes and configurations, as well as for various payload mounts. They deliver real-time pinpointed imaging of corona and arcing emissions and of the emitting sources.

Main Features:

• Weight: 1.2 kilograms (2.6 pounds)
• Physical dimensions: 247 millimeters long, 125 millimeters wide, and 73 millimeters high (9.72” x 4.93” x 2.87”)
• Tested and certified sensitivity to UV signals of corona and arcing of 1pC @ 10 meters (RWE certified: IEC 60270:2000)
• Zoom of 10 optical x 12 digital (120 optical x digital)
• Nominal power consumption of 7.5÷10 VDC, 14 watts
• Rigid and enduring encapsulation
• Set for inspecting areas from 1.5 meters (4.9 feet) to infinity
• Absolute solar blindness
• Video streaming
• UV photon counting
• Wired remotely, controlled using RS-232 (baud rate: 9.6 kilobytes per second [Kb/s], 19.2 Kb/s, 38.4 Kb/s; Stop bit: 1/2 selectable)
• Fit for standard tripod mounts
• Adaptable to customers’ needs
• Uninterrupted continuous operation

Aerial Robots:

The demand for small size corona cameras, capable of being mounted on aerial robots, has been growing intensely as of late. This trend correlates the proliferation in the number of manufactured UAVs, their models and the variety of uses. Corona cameras pinpoint electrical and mechanical faults on overhead lines and are therefore very attractive to electrical utilities for their inspection tasks. Regulations and licensing issues are still being investigated, though in the USA there are already four utilities with FAA licenses to operate unmanned vehicles. Implementing corona inspection on drones entails specific camera features, such as compact dimensions and weight, stabilized imaging and high sensitivity to signals and more. Ofil, the pioneer manufacturer of daytime corona detection systems, came up with a dedicated solution to comply with drone specifics and with the expectations of utilities.