Case Study: Axpo Group enhances hydropower inspections with FlytBase autonomous drone solution

Axpo Group cuts hydropower inspection travel by 30 minutes with FlytBase

Axpo Group, Switzerland's largest sustainable energy producer, faced significant challenges in monitoring its remote hydropower infrastructure in the Swiss Alps. Traditional inspections required personnel to undertake hazardous and time-consuming hikes into steep, snowy terrain, creating safety risks and operational inefficiencies. To address this, Axpo partnered with vendor FlytBase to implement an autonomous drone-in-a-box solution using a DJI Dock 2 and DJI drone.

FlytBase's solution enabled fully automated drone missions from a remote base station, eliminating the need for personnel to travel to the sites. The results included major time savings by removing a half-hour drive and hiking from each inspection, a substantial enhancement to worker safety by reducing exposure to avalanche risks, and the creation of a more consistent monitoring database. FlytBase's technology also provided nearly instant situational awareness during emergencies like avalanches.

Axpo Group