OptoAI: Autonomous drones achieve 100x efficiency in grid asset inspection (Exelon)

Exelon, one of the largest US energy companies serving over 10 million customers, deployed OptoAI autonomous drone solution for grid asset inspection in collaboration with Deloitte and NVIDIA. Built on NVIDIA Jetson edge AI platform for real-time computer vision at the edge and NVIDIA Omniverse for digital twin simulation. Led by Baltimore Gas & Electric (BGE). Drones operate autonomously to locate and inspect assets (power lines, distribution poles, transmission towers), recognize defects (damaged crossarms, insulators, lightning arrestors, transformers, wires) and make prioritized repair recommendations. Drone operation time reduced from up to one hour to as little as 30 seconds (100x improvement). Field teams receive color-coded inspection reports on tablets via interactive UI; supervisors access real-time insights via computer or XR headset. Eliminates weeks of manual defect image sorting. Won the Edison Pioneers Top Innovator Award for Collaboration in Innovation. Also reduces preflight planning time and automates GIS asset location correction.