SIFT Algorithm Applied to Real-Time Inspection System for Overhead Power Lines Using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

摘要

In this paper, a novel method for transmission lines or distribution lines inspection was presented. Power delivering is important for modern industry. Power lines inspection can guarantee the performance of power lines stability and increase the lifetime of power lines. An advanced power lines inspection can prevent massive power system outage due to power lines' failures. Although the power lines inspection is necessary, there are still several difficulties that need to be solved. The first one is using human squads to do inspection. Due to the distance of power lines and various geographical locations, the efficiency of human squads is not sufficient. The second one is using helicopters to inspect power lines. This method is costlier comparably and there is limitation because of various weather. The third method is using UA V to do inspection. In this paper, a combination of SIFT algorithm and UVA power lines real-time inspection system is presented. SIFT algorithm is widely used in object recognition. While UA Vs videoing power lines, UVAs have a chance to shake due to wind or other weather issues. The advantage of SIFT is invariant to image translation, scaling and rotation. The video is processing to ground station to do analysis frame by frame. Using SIFT algorithm can match the recording frames with reference to locate or to recognize unhealthy parts in power lines.