From the Editor’s Desk |
Rise of the machines
R
obotics and autonomous systems are moving from research programmes and demonstration projects into operational hydropower and dam management. Across the sector, utilities and technology
developers are investigating how robotics can improve inspection efficiency, strengthen environmental monitoring and support the long- term management of ageing infrastructure operating under more demanding conditions. In this issue, we examine how that transition is beginning to take shape across several areas of hydropower operations in the feature article on p38. The industry’s interest in robotics reflects several converging pressures. Many hydropower operators are managing assets that were designed decades ago but are now expected to operate more dynamically as power systems integrate larger shares of variable renewable generation. At the same time, operators face growing expectations around dam safety, asset reliability and environmental compliance, all while attempting to control maintenance costs and reduce operational risk. Those pressures are creating demand for more continuous inspection and monitoring capabilities than conventional approaches can easily provide. Hydropower infrastructure also presents unusually difficult operational environments. Dams, spillways, waterways and generating equipment are often located in remote or hazardous areas where inspections can require shutdowns, confined-space access or extensive manual surveying. Robotics offers a way to gather more frequent and higher- quality data while reducing safety exposure for personnel.
One of the clearest examples of this shift is the
growing use of autonomous aerial inspection systems. Utilities have used drones for years, but recent developments show how those programmes are beginning to scale operationally. The New York Power Authority’s expansion of beyond-visual- line-of-sight drone operations demonstrates how utilities are moving toward more standardised and autonomous inspection workflows across large infrastructure portfolios. The implications extend beyond labour efficiency alone. Autonomous systems can conduct inspections under conditions that are difficult or dangerous for human teams, while also allowing operators to increase inspection frequency and
4 | June 2026 |
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improve asset visibility. Over time, that could significantly alter how condition monitoring and maintenance planning are approached across the hydropower sector. Environmental monitoring is also becoming an important area for robotics development. The eDNA-bot project under development by Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and Smith-Root reflects growing interest in autonomous aquatic monitoring systems capable of collecting and analysing environmental DNA data in real time. For hydropower operators, technologies like this could eventually support more continuous biological monitoring around reservoirs and waterways while reducing the operational burden associated with conventional survey methods.
Importantly, robotics development in hydropower
is increasingly tied to broader digitalisation efforts already underway across the power sector. Autonomous inspection systems are becoming integrated with sensors, AI-assisted analytics and predictive maintenance platforms designed to improve operational awareness and support faster decision-making. At research centres such as Vattenfall’s
hydropower development facility in Älvkarleby, Sweden, robotics is being evaluated not as a standalone technology trend, but as part of a wider effort to adapt conventional hydropower assets to more dynamic operating conditions. That distinction is important. Much of the sector’s future investment will likely focus on extending asset life, improving operational flexibility and strengthening reliability rather than replacing existing infrastructure entirely. For hydropower operators, robotics is therefore becoming less about experimentation and more about operational practicality. As inspection demands increase and operating profiles become more variable, autonomous systems are increasingly being viewed as a tool for managing complex infrastructure safely, efficiently and at scale.
Carrieann Stocks
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