Sydney, Australia, Jun 2025 – Endeavour Energy, DJI and Unleash live have unveiled a new case study video showcasing how autonomous drone technology is transforming utility pole inspections. The video, just released, highlights the efficiency, safety, and environmental benefits of drone-powered inspections while demonstrating how this technology is reducing bushfire risks.
Endeavour Energy delivers electricity to over 3 million people across 25,000 square kilometers in New South Wales. With increasing demands for reliable power and the growing challenges of extreme weather, the company has prioritised innovation to enhance network management.
“Our work is critical to economic growth and community safety,” said Steve Lette, Head of Data, Digital, and Insights at Endeavour Energy. “By integrating autonomous drone technology, we are ensuring our infrastructure remains resilient while improving safety and operational efficiency.”
Endeavour Energy’s Pre-Summer Bushfire Inspection (PSBI) program assesses more than 180,000 poles in high-risk areas before bushfire season. Drones have proven to be a game-changer in this process, replacing traditional methods that posed operational challenges.
“Our network spans bushfire-prone areas like the Blue Mountains, Hawkesbury, and the South Coast,” Lette explained. “Drones allow us to capture high-resolution imagery with greater precision, ensuring potential defects are identified and addressed before they become hazards.”
Previously, Endeavour Energy relied on helicopters for aerial inspections, but this approach had limitations, including noise pollution, restricted image quality, and difficulty accessing infrastructure beneath dense vegetation, not to mention it was significantly more costly.
“Drones are safer, quieter, and provide significantly better image resolution,” said Michael Ryan, Manager of Field Operations at Endeavour Energy. “Since transitioning to drones, we’ve seen a sharp decline in community complaints and a dramatic improvement in inspection accuracy.”
This new case study video highlights the role of DJI’s state-of-the-art drones combined with Unleash live’s Autofly AI technology. This seamless integration enables automated drone flights, AI-driven defect detection, and efficient data processing, streamlining Endeavour Energy’s inspection workflow.
“Our platform makes autonomous inspections scalable and repeatable,” said Unleash live CEO Hanno Blankenstein. “Endeavour Energy can now conduct rapid, high-precision inspections while enhancing safety and reliability.”
Endeavour Energy is now exploring full-scale automation with DJI Dock for Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations. This advancement will enable post-storm assessments, real-time asset monitoring, and emergency response improvements.
“With the success of our drone inspections, we’re focused on scaling automation,” said Lette. “BVLOS technology will allow us to further enhance resilience, response times, and operational efficiency.”
Unleash live will present this cutting-edge case study at their trade booth on 18-19 June (A2), at Australian Energy Expo, at Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre, giving attendees an inside look at the future of AI-powered drone inspections in the utility sector.
Stay tuned to see how Endeavour Energy, DJI, and Unleash live are setting new benchmarks in infrastructure management and bushfire prevention.
Watch the full video and download the Case Study PDF.