XIANGYANG, CHINA — China power companies are using drones that emit flames to burn down the trash stuck on power lines.

When faced with certain objects twining round an ultra high voltage (UHV) power line, workers no longer need to climb a high ladder to remove it any longer, drones can now be used to do the dangerous deed.

Maintenance workers in Xianniang City in central China’s Hubei Province demonstrated the removal of a 12-metre long nylon net entwining around a UHV with a flame-throwing drone on Tuesday.

“In the morning, our inspector found a foreign matter on the line. Through investigation, the nylon net was brought by strong wind, and severely affected the line’s safe operation. We’ll use a drone to deal with the emergency to ensure safety,” said Feng Qi, head of Xianning power line maintenance station, Hubei power transmission and transformation project company.

Workers flew the flame-throwing drone towards the net, spitting fire at about four to five meters away from the nylon net and burnt it to the ground. In ten minutes, the power line resumed its normal operation.

….From UK Construction Online