PinnaclX provides thorough inspections of transmission structures, distribution lines, solar panels & substations across New England.

PinnaclX offers an innovative inspection service that gives clients full access to our professional and highly qualified operators, inspection instruments, post-flight data analysis, and custom software that allows clients to quickly access photos, video or data. We also offer long-term data storage, and strategic priority inspection planning. PinnaclX crews have been inspecting distribution lines, high voltage transmission structures, and other utility assets since 2014.

PinnaclX uses small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS) to inspect utility assets. PinnaclX systems can image key components at distances as close as 5 ft. We inspect assets such as transmission structures, distribution lines, vegetation encroachment, solar power plants and substations. We have ample experience with these inspections and have perfected an inspection service that meets many utility company needs. We’ve coined this service “The PinnaclX 4 Step Inspection”. 

The PinnaclX 4 Step Inspection:

Step 1: Field inspection 

During field inspections, our teams analyze utility assets from the ground and from the air. We look for apparent hazards that would require immediate attention. Severe problems are reported immediately. We note things like vegetation hazards, hardware damage, and general data on structures. For field inspections PinnaclX teams use our specialized sUAS platforms and DSLR cameras with a 200-500mm zoom len. Our teams are capable of inspecting 30 - 100 transmission structures or utility assets, by ground and air, per day depending on weather and terrain conditions. PinnaclX teams are capable of inspected over 20 miles of distribution ROW daily during storm duty patrol.

Step 2: Data and media organization

PinnaclX typically receives around 50 images per transmission structure or utility asset along with ample data. It is very important to us that we organize this data in a way that is user friendly and efficient for our clients so we have created our own program, sMAP, that does just that. This program allows us to import all of our media and data into a map style application. Users can see all of their structures on a map represented by icons. The user can then click the icon and access all of the data and media that we have for each structure or utility asset. Currently sMAP manages 1.2 million photos, video and thermal images.

Step 3: Remote inspection

Once our data and media is sorted we review all of our photos, videos, and data for a second time to make sure everything is accurate while looking for smaller easy to miss problems with hardware that can be difficult to see in the field. We flag problem structures or utility assets and provide detailed descriptions of any discrepancies or hazards that we find with these assets in the sMAP program. 

Step 4: Final Report

PinnaclX provides clients an in-depth report for each of the transmission lines or groups of utility assets that we inspect in addition to sMAP. Reports highlight problem assets and summarize our findings. This report allows us to review our media and data a third time to make sure we are providing our clients with the most accurate and carefully analyzed information on their structures or utility aspects. 

More than just the PinnaclX 4 step inspection

The PinnaclX 4 step inspection is a service we provide for annual inspections for utility companies to carefully monitor and maintain their assets. However, we are a flexible and innovative company that strives to make our resources available to our clients in a variety of ways. We also offer storm damage services where we can deploy teams after severe weather events to reinspect assets and identify problems that storms may have caused. In addition, PinnaclX is capable of 3D mapping, thermal infrared inspections, and so much more. PinnaclX is a company that strives to tailor services to customer needs because we understand that every utility company has unique and diverse needs.

our equipment

PinnaclX maintains a fleet of sUAS that include quadcopters, hexcopters, and fixed-wing vehicles. The Chameleon PinnaclX quadcopter sUAS can fly between/around high-voltage lines, structures, and vegetation to capture high-resolution photos. PinnaclX also modifies off the shelf commercially available sUAS platforms for specialized applications like; night and beyond visual line of sight inspections. PinnaclX has had several NASA sponsored sub contracts for manufacturing and flight testing of advanced sUAS fixed-wing platforms. The engineers and pilots have extensive experience designing and manufacturing sUAS for specific applications. Some of the past research projects include mortar launched micro sUAS, multirotor sUAS collision avoidance, and pneumatic launched sUAS.

Safety

As a company that operates around high voltage transmission lines safety is not something we take lightly. All of our teams go through extensive training that includes but is not limited to transmission line safety training, proper offroad drive training, and specialized sUAS training for flying in hazardous areas. Our teams are also all FAA Certified to fly under the part 107.