Preliminary proof of concept for using sUAS to inspect HML systems

The inspection of high mast luminaire (HML) structures depends heavily on visual assessments from experienced field inspectors. State agencies rely on these visual inspections to make key decisions about the health of structures-such as allocation of human resources and funds to maintain\repair structures — that significantly affect public safety and costs. This paper describes an ongoing research approach — and results obtained — to evaluate the use of sUAS for HML inspections. Four preliminary field tests were carried out to understand the level of sUAS maneuverability required to capture live data of HML elements in an open field with varying winds speeds, and establish a general testing process for subsequent field tests that included HML inspectors. Three galvanized steel and one weathered steel HMLs were used as test subjects during the field tests. Preliminary results from this research effort provide evidence to support the use of sUAS for HML inspections. Future research areas are identified to extend the work presented in this paper.