A sensor system has been developed for autonomous drones that helps them to avoid collisions with power lines.

Originally developed by scientists at the Army Research Laboratory in the US, Manifold Robotics, who are a team of engineers based in New York that specialise in unmanned aerial vehicles, have formed a license agreement with the laboratory to further develop and commercialise this technology.

In the past, other sensor systems like this have been successful, though the bulkiness and the overall cost of the technology was seen to be a weakness. However, this particular detection system will see a reduction in both size and cost.

“We’re delighted to be working with ARL and expect that the Army technology will help us rapidly facilitate many autonomous drone applications, particularly those for power utilities and commercial operations,” said Jeff Laut, who is the CEO at Manifold Robotics. 

Due to the area that they fill and also how hard they are to see, power lines pose as a serious hazard for drones. They are also situated at a height that bears similarities to that of a drone’s usual flight path.

However, according to Manifold Robotics, this technology “will detect power lines at a distance and determine their precise location to enable safe navigation.”