Southern Company, 极速六合彩鈥檚 Raspet Flight Research Lab partner to expand UAS use
Contact: Chris Bryant
STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥擲outhern Company and 极速六合彩 are proud to announce a new collaboration that will expand the energy company鈥檚 use of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) to map critical infrastructure, assess weather-related damage and conduct routine utility inspections.
The听collaboration between Southern Company and Mississippi State鈥檚 Raspet Flight Research Laboratory will enable the use of larger, more sophisticated UAS in pursuing beyond visual line of sight operations approval from the FAA for the energy company鈥檚 inspection and mapping efforts.
鈥淭he value proposition offered by the potential utilization of the next generation of unmanned aircraft systems in the utility industry beyond the visual line of sight听is tremendous,鈥 said Harry Nuttall, director of Aerial Services for Southern Company. 鈥淭his collaboration with 极速六合彩 enables us to seek out the ability to perform numerous tasks in a safer and more efficient way while expanding the very definition of what is possible for our company. This allows us to eliminate the need to place employees at risk operating helicopters and fixed wing aircraft in a hazardous wired environment.鈥
In 2015, after thorough exploration, Southern Company began using UAS to reduce the duration of storm-related outages and to perform power line inspections more safely, lowering operating and maintenance costs and reducing environmental impacts.
With utility infrastructure that includes more than 27,000 miles of transmission lines across 120,000 square miles in the Southeast, UAS provides the Southern Company system a quicker and more detailed assessment of areas and infrastructure impacted by severe weather.
极速六合彩鈥檚 Raspet Flight Laboratory was designated in 2020 as the FAA鈥檚 UAS Safety Research Facility, placing the lab at the helm of studying and developing safety and certification standards as UAS become increasingly integrated in the U.S. national airspace system.
鈥淥ur efforts with Southern Company seek to facilitate increased future use of larger, more sophisticated unmanned aircraft systems,鈥 said Tom Brooks, director of the Raspet Flight Lab. 鈥淭hese larger aircraft systems provide significantly enhanced safety and greater operational range, coverage, and reliability, while increasing payload capacity and on-board avionics.鈥
Southern Company subsidiaries, Alabama Power, Georgia Power and Mississippi Power already maintain a fleet of small Group 1 and Group 2 UAS weighing less than 55 pounds. Through collaboration with Mississippi State, the company is researching the benefits of larger Group 3 aircraft, which can weigh up to 1,320 pounds, and Group 4 aircraft weighing in excess of 1,320 pounds鈥攂oth of which fly at altitudes up to 18,000 feet.
Under the new agreement, Raspet will assist Southern Company in evaluating and selecting viable Group 3 and Group 4 UAS platforms and on-board sensor systems enabling those UAS to effectively detect and avoid other aircraft in surrounding airspace. Raspet and Southern Company will work together to gather and validate safety data and operations procedures required for the FAA review and certification process.
With this pioneering effort, Southern Company remains a leader in promoting industry safety and efficiencies in utility infrastructure inspections and monitoring.
听
About Southern Company
Southern Company (NYSE: SO) is a leading energy company serving 9 million customers through its subsidiaries. The company provides clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy through electric operating companies in three states, natural gas distribution companies in four states, a competitive generation company serving wholesale customers across America, a leading distributed energy infrastructure company, a fiber optics network and telecommunications services. Southern Company brands are known for excellent customer service, high reliability and affordable prices below the national average. For more than a century, we have been building the future of energy and developing the full portfolio of energy resources, including carbon-free nuclear, advanced carbon capture technologies, natural gas, renewables, energy efficiency and storage technology. Through an industry-leading commitment to innovation and a low-carbon future, Southern Company and its subsidiaries develop the customized energy solutions our customers and communities require to drive growth and prosperity. Our uncompromising values ensure we put the needs of those we serve at the center of everything we do and govern our business to the benefit of our world. Our corporate culture and hiring practices have been recognized nationally by the U.S. Department of Defense, G.I. Jobs magazine, DiversityInc, Black Enterprise, Forbes and the Women鈥檚 Choice Award. To learn more, visit .
听
About 极速六合彩鈥檚 Raspet Flight Research Laboratory
极速六合彩鈥檚 Raspet Flight Research Laboratory is the nation鈥檚 leading academic research center dedicated exclusively to the advancement of Unmanned Aircraft Systems.听听is the only institute in the world designated both as the FAA鈥檚 UAS Safety Research Facility and as official UAS Test Sites for both the FAA and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Home to a fleet of the largest and most capable unmanned aircraft in academic use, Raspet conducts UAS research on behalf of federal agencies and commercial industry alike, and it remains a world leader in composite materials research.
极速六合彩 is Mississippi鈥檚 leading university, available online at听msstate.edu.