JOUAV deploys fixed-and-mobile autonomous drone system for power grid inspections
JOUAV has launched what it described as China’s first “fixed + mobile” autonomous UAS inspection system for power grid operations through a partnership with the Guangxi Power Supply Bureau. The setup targets one of the toughest parts of utility maintenance: inspecting transmission infrastructure across mountainous terrain. Instead of relying on a single drone base, the system links fixed and mobile operating nodes to keep aircraft moving across a wide area with minimal human involvement. The result is a model aimed at raising inspection frequency while cutting labor and operating costs.
The pilot deployment uses five JOS-C800 VTOL hangars and two CW-15V drones. Each aircraft can fly automated missions within a 50-kilometer radius and remain airborne for as long as three hours. The drones move from hangar to hangar, autonomously landing and recharging before launching again on the next mission leg. JOUAV said that approach allows the network to sustain continuous remote operations over as much as 15,000 square kilometers. For utilities, that expands coverage without requiring field crews to reposition equipment at every inspection point.
The system is designed around centralized control of multiple drones and docking stations. That architecture reduces the need for on-site personnel and helps maintain a consistent inspection routine across dispersed assets. Real-time data transmission gives operators immediate visibility into the condition of lines and structures, allowing potential faults to be identified faster. In rugged regions, where manual patrols are slow and helicopter inspections are costly, that speed can materially change how maintenance teams prioritize repairs and dispatch crews.
JOUAV said the platform has also shown value in emergency response. Equipped with high-resolution 4K video and LiDAR payloads, the drones can complete damage assessments within hours, compared with several days under earlier methods. That shorter timeline can accelerate fault isolation and restoration planning after storms or other incidents. The pilot suggests that multi-site autonomous drone networks are moving beyond trials into practical utility operations, with implications for how critical infrastructure is monitored, maintained, and restored at scale.