Unmanned aerial vehicle for transmission line inspection using an extended Kalman filter with colored electromagnetic interference

Strong electromagnetic fields such as those generated by power stations and transmission lines cause disturbances that affect the on-board sensors of an autonomous unmanned aerial vehicles (AUAVs) and may lead to aircraft instability. To mitigate this effect, we use an extended Kalman filter with colored noise. In addition to the traditional aircraft dynamics, this approach considers the electromagnetic fields of transmission lines and their position, electrical current, and tower topology. In this way, the filter can predict and correct the interference in the aircraft sensors, thereby guaranteeing flight stability even when the AUAV is very close to the electromagnetic sources. This approach enables the AUAV to operate closer to the transformers and transmission lines, thereby paving the way for better autonomous inspection performed by electrical companies and further development of new technologies. To prove the effectiveness of this approach, theoretical and practical results involving a survey of transmission lines are demonstrated. (C) 2019 ISA. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.