sees.ai is transforming the way National Grid Electricity Transmission (NGET) inspects and maintains its overhead line infrastructure. Since 2021, sees.ai has been developing a pioneering autonomous BVLOS drone inspection service – to efficiently collect high-value close inspection data across the transmission network. These operations have allowed NGET to explore how to reduce inspection costs, emissions and risk while improving decision-making through more detailed and AI-optimised insights.
“This rollout underscores our commitment to use innovative technologies to manage and upgrade our network”,said Kathryn Fairhurst, Overhead Line Operations Director at National Grid. “By handling non-intrusive inspection tasks, this technology enables our highly skilled lineworkers to focus more efficiently on the complex, hands-on work that requires human expertise, and will form an important part of how we continue to manage our assets and deliver a safe and reliable network.”
Challenge
NGET manages more than 22,000 steel lattice towers across England and Wales. Traditionally, inspections of these assets relied on helicopters, climbers or manual drone flights.
NGET required a solution that could:
- Deliver higher-quality, AI-ready inspection data
- Reduce the need for specialist climbing
- Increase inspection frequency and consistency
- Minimise environmental impact and public disruption
- Support the transition toward scalable, digital-first infrastructure management
Approach
sees.ai deployed its proprietary autonomous drone inspection solution under advanced BVLOS permissions from the UK Civil Aviation Authority (unmatched in the UK and top ten globally). The system enables high-resolution, close-quarter inspection of OHL fittings and steelwork – operated remotely from a central control centre.
Key features of the solution:
- AI-optimised image capture at scale
- Perfect consistency and repeatability
- Real-time 3D mapping for autonomous flight navigation
- Secure cloud-based portals for mission planning, supervision, and data access
- Seamless integration with NGET’s asset management platforms (e.g. Keen AI).
This approach was developed, tested and refined across multiple contracts and innovation trials. sees.ai is now engaging in a multi-year contract with NGET to scale the service across NGET’s network, as part of its BAU operations.
Deliverables
- High-resolution “nut & bolt” level imagery geo-referenced into a 3D digital twin
- AI-ready datasets transferred directly to NGET platforms
Benefits
- Improved Data Value: More detailed, AI-ready data (tighter framing, consistent angles) with perfect consistency and repeatability
- Experts Focused on Highest Value Work: Technology complements existing helicopter and human assessments, freeing up engineers to perform other skilled tasks
- Environmental Impact: Over 95% reduction in emissions compared to helicopter-based surveys
- Cost Savings: More efficient today, and cost expected to drop significantly year on year leveraging advances in automation as well as economies of scale
- Scalability: Deployed using a centralised model, suitable for nationwide rollout and integration into BAU operations
- Enhanced Safety: Eliminates need for climbing; fewer helicopter flights; aligns with NGET’s ‘climb to do, not to view’ approach
- Future-Proofing: Supports longer-range inspections, predictive maintenance, and integration with emerging applications (e.g. DLR sensor installation, live line work)
As of September 2025, we have signed our fourth contract with National Grid Electricity Transmission (NGET). The contract for national rollout of sees.ai’s ground-breaking system represents culmination of four-year innovation journey from trials to business-as-usual operations, and is part of National Grid’s multi-billion investment to maintain and upgrade its network.
