Drones

Red Cat Unveils Arachnid Family of Systems at AUSA

= Red Cat Holdings, Inc., a drone technology company building hardware and software for military, federal, and commercial operations, has introduced its ARACHNID family of unmanned intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) and precision strike systems. Red Cat unveiled the Family of Systems at AUSA 2024 Annual Meeting and Exposition in Washington D.C. The ARACHNID family […]

Schiebel CAMCOPTER S-100 UAS Impresses with Multi-Mission Capabilities at REPMUS 2024

Schiebel participated in the large-scale NATO supported exercise REPMUS 2024 (Robotic Experimentation and Prototyping using Maritime Uncrewed Systems) hosted by the Portuguese Navy. For the third year in a row, the CAMCOPTER S-100 presented its unrivalled multi- mission capabilities in the maritime domain. Sponsored by the UK Royal Navy and in partnership with Thales, the […]

RTX Demonstrates Launched Effects Autonomy at EDGE

– RTX businesses, Collins Aerospace and Raytheon, collectively showcased new capabilities at the U.S. Army’s Experimental Demonstration Gateway Event (EDGE). These capabilities enabled launched effects to team and execute a mission, merging collaborative vehicle autonomy with human on-the-loop command. Launched effects is a capability term that describes small, uncrewed aircraft that can be launched from […]

Red Cat Gets $1M US Army Contract for FlightWave Edge 130 Blue

– Red Cat Holdings, Inc. , a drone technology company integrating robotic hardware and software for military, government, and commercial operations, announced that it secured a $1 million contract for its Edge 130 Blue drones from the United States Army Communications-Electronics Command (CECOM). The contract was secured through Noble, a leading provider of global sustainment and […]

Digital Frone Flight Approval Service Now Live at UK’s Southampton Airport

Drone operators wanting to fly in the airspace around Southampton Airport can now benefit from a digital flight approval service, NATS Services has announced. From today, drone pilots wanting to fly in or through the Flight Restriction Zone around Southampton Airport will be able to request access online or via the Altitude Angel Drone Assist […]

ePropelled Introduces New Falcon Propulsion Systems, Supporting Made-in-America Drone Technology

Falcon’s Range from 1kW to 20kW Aims to Meet the Growing Demand for UAV Propulsion in a Shifting Global Market ePropelled, a propulsion and energy management company based in Laconia, New Hampshire, has announced the launch of its Falcon product line. The new propulsion systems, assembled in the United States, are designed to meet a […]

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Flock Safety Expands Capabilities with Acquisition of Aerodome

New drone technology enhances public safety by improving response times and situational awareness for law enforcement. Flock Safety, a well-known name in public safety technology, has announced the acquisition of Aerodome, a company specializing in Drone as First Responder (DFR) technology. This acquisition represents a major step forward for Flock Safety’s efforts to provide law […]

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Teledyne FLIR Introduces Advanced Dual-Sensor Payload for SIRAS Drone

New Vue TV128+ Enhances Thermal Sensitivity for Industrial Inspections and Public Safety Teledyne FLIR, a division of Teledyne Technologies Incorporated, has announced the release of the Vue TV128+, a cutting-edge camera module designed for the SIRAS™ professional uncrewed aerial system (UAS). Customers have come to expect the best sensors from Teledyne FLIR, and the SIRAS […]

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Best drones for power line inspections

Drones have completely changed how power line inspections are done, making the process much safer, faster, and cheaper. Instead of sending people up poles or using expensive helicopters, drones let inspectors stay safely on the ground while capturing clear, detailed images and spotting issues early.

Using drones for power line inspections: not just any drone will do

Using drones for power line inspections might not have the glamor of professional photography, but it’s where some serious money can be made. If you’re aiming for high-paying drone gigs, this is a great option—but purchasing a DJI Mavic Air won’t cut it.

Why? While the Mavic Air has a great camera, power line inspections need much more. You’ll need drones with longer flight times, zoom lenses, thermal imaging, and durability to handle tough conditions. It’s like showing up at a construction site with a selfie stick—not gonna work!

How we made our picks

For power line inspection, we prioritized drones that can carry the right equipment, like high-resolution cameras and thermal sensors. We looked for long flight times to cover more ground without frequent recharging. Strong signal strength was key to avoid interference from power lines, and zoom capabilities were a must for detailed, close-up shots from a safe distance. We also made sure the drones had features to prevent interference and capture clear, stable images in challenging environments.

If you’re in the market for a drone to inspect power lines, we found some of the best drones for power line inspections. Here is a quick breakdown of specs, but we will go in-depth into all of our top picks. 

Drone Price  Flight Time  Camera Options Range  Best For 
Matrice 350 RTK $12,000+ 55 minutes Zenmuse H20T, L1, P1 20 km All-around inspections
Matrice 30T $9,000+ 41 minutes Thermal and zoom built-in 15 km Thermal imaging inspections
Autel EVO 4T $8,999 42 minutes Thermal, wide-angle, laser rangefinder 12 km Non-DJI, geofencing-free option

Matrice 350 RTK: best overall drone for power line inspections

DJI Matrice 350 RTK
The DJI Matrice 350 RTK

For all-around power line inspection work, the DJI Matrice 350 RTK, or M350 RTK for short, is hard to beat. It’s built for industrial use, offering long flight times of up to 55 minutes, and it’s loaded with advanced features like RTK positioning, which provides centimeter-level accuracy—crucial for precise inspections. The O3 Enterprise Transmission gives you a 20 km range. That’s critical in covering long stretches of power lines in a single flight. 

This is our top recommendation because it supports various mission types and, when paired with DJI Terra, enables efficient high-precision mapping with 2D and 3D digital results. For automated inspections, features like Live Mission Recording and AI Spot-Check streamline repetitive tasks and improve accuracy in repeated shooting.

Its IP rating is IP54 and can operate in temperatures between -20° and 50℃. The ability to handle tough weather conditions makes it a big plus for power line inspections in unpredictable environments.

This is our go-to recommendation if you want a versatile, high-performing drone for large-scale inspections.

The DJI M350 RTK is available for purchase, but pricing is only accessible through approved DJI Enterprise Dealers. TheDroneGirl recommends B&H Photo in the U.S. for its reliable customer service and Aerial Tech in Canada for fast shipping, free demos, and repairs.

Price: $12,000+  

Flight time: Up to 55 minutes  

Camera options: Zenmuse H20T, L1, P1  

Range: 20 km  

Matrice 30T: best for thermal imaging

If you need thermal imaging in your inspections, the DJI Matrice 30T is the perfect fit.  It offers built-in thermal and zoom cameras, giving you the ability to detect heat anomalies in power lines, which could indicate potential issues like overheating. The thermal camera on the 30T captures detailed heat maps, which are crucial for preventative maintenance.

Compared to the DJI Matrice 350 RTK paired with the Zenmuse H20T, the Matrice 30T is more compact and easier to transport, while still offering advanced features like six-way obstacle sensing and a 41-minute flight time. From a price standpoint, the Matrice 30T is also more affordable for most users, typically costing around $9,000. The Matrice 350 RTK with the Zenmuse H20T costs significantly more when you factor in the added thermal imaging setup, making the 30T a better value for those who need a balance of performance and cost.

For power line inspections where thermal imaging is key, I’d personally recommend the Matrice 30T for its balance of performance and portability.

Similar to the M350 RTK, purchasing a DJI Matrice 30 requires going through a specific DJI Enterprise Dealer like Aerial Tech, Adorama, or B&H Photo. Prices vary by dealer, with added services such as maintenance or training, but you can expect to pay around $9,000 for the Matrice 30.

Price: $8,000+  

Thermal resolution: 640×512  

Range: 15 km  

Autel Evo Max 4T: best non-DJI drone for power line inspections

For those looking to avoid DJI or prefer a non-Chinese drone, the Autel EVO Max 4T is a strong alternative. It comes with a triple camera system featuring thermal imaging, a wide-angle lens, and a laser rangefinder. This makes it ideal for power line inspections that require detailed imagery and heat detection. 

One standout feature of the EVO Max 4T is its no geofencing, meaning you won’t have to deal with restricted areas that are common with DJI drones. (This means it can be used in no-fly zones). 

The EVO Max 4T is ideal for search and rescue, firefighting, mapping, and inspections. It’s designed to counter GPS jammers and other tech that interferes with drones. Privacy is a key feature, with all user and flight data stored locally, not in the cloud. It also supports AES-256 encryption for added security on photos, videos, and flight logs.

It’s also slightly more affordable than DJI’s higher-end models, which makes it an appealing option if you’re looking for solid performance at a lower price point. You can purchase the EVO Max 4T directly from Autel’s website.

Price: $8,999

Flight time: Up to 42 minutes  

Camera options: Thermal, wide-angle, laser rangefinder  

Range: 12 km  

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UAV Navigation-Grupo Oesía Develops Heads-Up Display for Enhanced First-Person Flight Visualization

– UAV Navigation-Grupo Oesía, the company that is an expert in guidance, navigation and control solutions for UAS, has announced the development of advanced On-Screen Display (OSD) technology which improves the Primary Flight Display (PFD) of the flight control system to show first-person visualization to NATO CAT I & II UAS operators. This advancement has […]