OREANDA-NEWS. Aerial drone firm Cyberhawk and SSE have launched pioneering software to improve its transmission tower inspections.

iHawk lets users inspect sites remotely and then download and view the analysis anywhere in the world.

SSE has been an early investor in Cyberhawk's technology.

Craig Roberts, Cyberhawk Chief Executive Officer joined Dave Gardner, SSE Director of Transmission, to unveil the software at SSE's Glasgow office.

Dave said: “iHawk delivers significant safety benefits by eliminating the need for engineers to climb towers for inspections or work in hazardous environments.

“The imagery and information gathered gives a more detailed and highly accurate analysis of the condition of our assets.

“The iHawk software is also easier and faster to use with a precise record of all components in our transmission systems."

SSE began working with Cyberhawk in 2009 to introduce Remotely Operated Aerial Vehicles (ROAVs) or “drones", to industrial inspection in the utility, renewables and oil and gas industries.

The small devices are less than a meter in length and are remotely operated by a two man team. They replace using a helicopter to assess the towers, allowing closer inspection and the ability to capture high quality images and data.

Importantly they also remove the need for engineers to undertake hazardous climbing inspections and as they are battery operated they're extremely quiet.

SSE has worked closely with the firm to help evolve the technology with Cyberhawk now a world leader in its field. It's now awarded the company with a significant contract to inspect additional towers for its transmission business.

Craig Roberts, Chief Executive of Cyberhawk, said: “The contract award is a major vote of confidence in Cyberhawk's inspection technology and in our transmission expertise.

“As well as reducing the risks associated with working at height, our software enables us to deliver accurate, verified data to SSE Transmission in an easy-to-use package created specifically for the utilities market.

“We are convinced iHawk will become the industry standard for the information management of industrial asset data. Cyberhawk's solution is ideally placed to assist SSE in meeting many of their core values - safety, service, efficiency and excellence."