This thesis considers the potential for unmanned aerial vehicles to deploy condition monitoring equipment directly on a live transmission line. To determine how technologically feasible using UAVs for live line work is, the effect of line proximity has to be considered and mitigated. This is explored while working to develop a proof of concept platform, with the long term goal of perching on top of a transmission line to demonstrate the ability to deploy conditioning monitoring equipment on a live transmission line.

To begin considering line proximity a high current experiment was performed. A small consumer UAV was tested in the strong magnetic field produced by the high current test setup to determine what affect the strong magnetic field has on the UAV’s magnetometer.

A high voltage experiment was performed next. Testing the consumer UAV in the strong electric field confirmed the UAV was at risk of failing. As an initial investigation into methods of mitigating the effect of the strong electric field, the consumer UAV’s battery was modified to increase its durability while operating in the strong electric field.

While this was successfully demonstrated in a further high voltage test, some limitations were identified with this method. As an alternative, the use of a bespoke Faraday cage is presented. To demonstrate this a Faraday cage was designed and constructed to suit the small consumer UAV. To prove the use of a Faraday cage to increase the durability of a UAV operating in a strong electric field the cage was fitted to the consumer UAV and tested in a high voltage experiment.

Building on the experience gained in the previous tests, a proof of concept UAV was assembled. This used a novel, lightweight Faraday cage to increase its durability in a strong electric field. This platform was tested in a high voltage test to confirm the cages novel design still provided adequate shielding for the UAV.

Finally, a new experimental setup is detailed in which the electric field strength along the surface of the test conductor is controlled while a UAV is in close proximity to the test conductor. By measuring partial discharge while controlling the distance between the UAV and the line, the effect of the UAV on partial discharge can be considered. This was repeated using the proof of concept UAV and the consumer UAV, both with and without their bespoke Faraday cages.