FulcrumAir
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FulcrumAir is a Calgary-based UAV and robotics company specializing in the design, manufacturing, and operation of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and robotics systems for electrical utility installation tasks. With offices in the US and Australia, FulcrumAir aims to revolutionize the utility industry by providing efficient and cost-effective solutions for tasks such as bird diverter installation and bundled conductor installation. FulcrumAir’s proprietary UAVs and robotics devices allow for significant challenges facing the electrical grid and the industries that serve them to be mitigated by leveraging advanced technology and expertise.
currently available Services
1. bird Flight Diverter Installation
Traditional method
Bird flight diverters are devices installed on power lines to prevent bird collisions and reduce the risk of electrocution as per the Migratory Birds Convention Act (MBCA), Species at Risk Act (SARA), Provincial and Territorial Wildlife Protection Legislation and Environmental Assessment Regulations.
A bucket truck and trained lineman crew are required for the installation.
Hard-to-reach areas require helicopter assistance, increasing the crew's risk and the operation's cost.
FulcrumAir LineFly™
Can completely eliminate hazardous bucket truck or helicopter tasks.
Robotic precision ensures accurate and high-quality installation.
Dramatic productivity increases due to the size of the crew required for the operation, combined with the speed of installation.
No outages are required, LineFly™ can install BFDs directly on 240kV energized conductors.
The LineFly™ is placed on the overhead wire with either FulcrumAir’s heavy lift drones (or a bucket truck from every second structure)
Installs Preformed Line Products BIRD-FLIGHT™ Diverters
Precision placement with any spacing required
Drastically improves safety, as there is no human near the operation
Live work-friendly, can be used on overhead wires while conductors below are energized
Environmentally friendly, minimal disruption to powerline right-of-way
Service available in urban environments
2. Line Spacer Installation
Traditional method
The primary purpose of line spacers is to prevent the conductors from touching each other or other parts of the power line infrastructure, thereby reducing the risk of electrical faults, flashovers, and short circuits during new line construction, line upgrades or conductor galloping mitigation.
Bucket trucks, conductor carts and a highly trained large crew are required for most installations.
Hard-to-reach areas require helicopter assistance, increasing risk and cost.
FulcrumAir CSR-Twin™
Completely replaces conductor carts, making the operation significantly safer for the crew.
Ideal for use in hard-to-reach areas, eliminating the need for costly helicopter assistance.
Accurate GPS data, applied torque logging during installation, and high-definition camera systems provide unmatched quality control and data collection.
Performs removal and installation using the same tools and crew.
Can operate while lines are energized up to and including 240kV as well as on all de-energized systems.
Automates the installation of PLP CUSHION-GRIP® Twin Spacers
The CSR-Twin™ is placed on the bundled conductor at the structure with a bucket truck or crane
Travels along the span installing Twin Spacers at the spacing specified.
The spacer is installed at precisely a right angle to the conductor and the bolt is torqued precisely as required.
QC data including torque specs, photos and locations are collected automatically.
Drastically improves crew safety, no conductor carts required.
3. Lead Line Stringing
Traditional method
Lead line stringing is commonly used in the construction of new power lines, as well as in the replacement or upgrade of existing lines. The installation of a pilot or lead line along the path where the main conductor or wire will run can be challenging over difficult terrain.
Helicopter assistance is required if crossing areas with great altitude differences, or if the surface is unsuitable to traverse with stringing equipment.
Aerial support increases cost and risk to the crew.
FulcrumAir E2500HP
Perfect for difficult-to-access terrain features such as rivers, valleys, wetlands, or marshes.
Full-service stringing capability with Capstan to pull in lead line to then pull secondary line.
Easy to combine with other FulcrumAir services for increased savings and efficiency.
Future services (in development)
fire mesh installation
Traditional method
Fire mesh installation on wooden power poles involves the attachment of a fire-resistant mesh or barrier to the pole's surface, preventing the spread of fire from nearby vegetation or other sources to the wooden pole.
Labour intensive operation.
When wrapping at height bucket truck or pole climbing is required, increasing risk or cost.
FulcrumAir FRM-100™
No pole climbing or working at heights is required. Operated remotely and safely from the ground.
The FMR-100™ can operate horizontally to wrap poles prior to them being erected
On-board sensor allow for for gathering data, such as pole location, wrapped height, amount of mesh used, staple count and spacing
Programmable for different installation parameters, such as overlap distance, staple position and count, wrap height, etc.
2. capacity increase of existing services
Increase spacer installation capabilities: The development focus is on machines to install both tri and quad spacers, which, in addition to duals, account for a majority of the global spacer market.
Develop the next generation of heavy-lift UAVs: Our unique regulatory approvals allow FulcrumAir to build on the success of the E7500™ and develop the next generation of powerline slinging heavy lift UAVs.
Advance towards different installation options: FulcrumAir will continue to improve its new and existing spacer installation robot designs to allow for bucket truck, helicopter, and UAV options to be used to place robots on line infrastructure.
Differentiators
A leader in the design, engineering, manufacturing, and operation of proprietary robotics and unmanned aerial systems, offering some of the safest and most productive solutions available.
Over 60,000 hours of R&D invested to date and are investing over 10,000 additional hours annually.
R&D and testing conducted since 2016, and commercial operations since 2021.
Garnered strong recognition/awareness from some of the largest utilities and service providers in North America.
A regulatory leader with the FAA and Transport Canada in the areas of UAS and slung loads.
R&D, manufacturing, and corporate office is in Calgary, Canada.
Regulatory oversight for remote piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) is rapidly evolving to meet today’s demands for the use of unmanned aircraft systems in every sector. FulcrumAir’s team is extremely committed to safety and regulatory compliances. Staying on top of all the latest regulatory developments and being well-positioned with regulators allows us to contribute to ever-evolving regulatory changes with real-time experience and obtain flight approvals due to our proven abilities.
In Canada, FulcrumAir can:
Fly the E2500HP BVLOS over powerlines outside of an airport environment
Fly the E2500HP VLOS under part 9 of the C.A.R.s – in controlled airspace and within 5m of people
Fly the E7500 VLOS anywhere in Canada subject to some restrictions
About the company
FulcrumAir is where ground-breaking technology and industry-transforming solutions combine in the most innovative ways.
FulcrumAir specializes in developing precision-focused aerial robotics for the powerline industry to make working in the high wire environment safer and more efficient. Their in-house engineers invent and create equipment tailored to the needs of the powerline industry, keeping safety, efficiency, and accuracy at the forefront of our focus. They carefully engineer and specifically manufacture their own aerial robotics for maximum performance and practical ruggedness.
FulcrumAir is based in Calgary, Canada, with sales offices in the United States and Australia.
Composite Power Group is the exclusive FulcrumAir sales representative across Canada.
For more information on FulcrumAir services, visit their website:
For more info, product demo or a quote, contact us:
