Westar Energy Learning How to Use UAS for Inspections Thanks to Kansas State Polytechnic
Kansas-based power company Westar Energy has partnered with Kansas State Polytechnic to learn how to safely and effectively operate UAS while conducting inspections and maintenance methodologies.
As a part of the partnership, Kansas State Polytechnic has provided training to Westar Energy employees in the operation of multirotor and fixed-wing UAS. Those employees lead Westar’s internal UAS division.
According to Kurt Carraway, executive director of the UAS program at Kansas State Polytechnic, the partnership has been very rewarding for the school thus far.
“One of our program’s strategic objectives has been to help introduce UAS technology to the commercial market, and we are proud to have Westar Energy as a partner because this collaborative relationship is a winwin for both of our interests,” Carraway said via The Mercury.
“The opportunity to assist Westar Energy in building an organic UAS program from the ground up has been tremendously rewarding for us - we get to learn about the power industry while helping Westar Energy provide first-class service to its valuable customer base.”
Westar Energy and Kansas State Polytechnic have been working together since 2013. In addition to providing training on the basic uses of UAS, Kansas State Polytechnic is also working with Westar Energy to redefine inspection and maintenance techniques while using UAS.
Westar Energy employees have also been trained on how to set up autonomous flight plans, and execute those missions to get the best data possible.
Thus far, Westar has used UAS to inspect thousands of miles’ worth of transmission lines and utility towers, and the company has also recently began using UAS to inspect boilers.
Jason Klenklen, supervisor of transmission maintenance for Westar Energy, summed up the UAS program by saying, “our UAS program saves money for customers by making our operations more efficient and our work safer. It also makes our service more reliable.”
