A revolution in power line inspection: DJI Zenmuse L2 and its Power Line Follow feature redefine the LiDAR workflow

Drone flying near a power line.

DJI, world leader in civil drones and aerial imaging technology, announces a major breakthrough for the power industry with the update of its Zenmuse L2 LiDAR pod. The introduction of the innovative « Power Line Follow » functionality promises to radically transform power line inspection methods, automating LiDAR data collection for greater efficiency and safety. This technology, compatible with M350 RTK and M300 RTK UAVs, simplifies a traditionally complex and time-consuming process, paving the way for more proactive management of energy infrastructures.

The traditional challenge of power line inspection

Inspecting electrical transmission and distribution lines is a crucial task for ensuring continuity of energy supply and preventing costly outages. Traditionally, this task has relied on manual methods or pre-planned flights, which present several significant challenges. The need to know the precise coordinates and heights of electricity pylons, which are often unknown or difficult to access, makes flight planning complex. Operators had to manually mark these points or carry out detailed flight route planning upstream, a time-consuming and potentially error-prone two-step process (« Flight route planning » and « Task operation »). In addition, the safety of crews on the ground or during close inspections by helicopter remains a major concern. The collection of LiDAR data, essential for analyzing the surrounding vegetation or planning future inspection routes, was thus hampered by these operational constraints, limiting the efficiency and frequency of inspections.

Lignes électriques traversant forêt sur colline

Zenmuse L2 and Power Line Follow: DJI’s LiDAR revolution

DJI has come up with a powerful technological response to these challenges with the latest update of its Zenmuse L2 LiDAR pod, featuring the revolutionary « Power Line Follow » functionality. This innovation, available via firmware update v04.00.1001 for the Zenmuse L2 and compatible with DJI M350 RTK (firmware v10.01.0805) and M300 RTK (firmware v60.01.0806) drones piloted via RC Plus (firmware v05.02.1301) and the Pilot 2 application (v10.1.8.17), is specifically designed for the electrical industry. Power Line Follow enables the drone to autonomously follow power lines, whether distribution or transmission lines, without the need for complex pre-route planning. This capability radically transforms the LiDAR data collection workflow, merging planning and execution into one fluid, automated step. The Zenmuse L2, equipped with this function, thus becomes an indispensable tool for obtaining accurate point cloud models of infrastructures, facilitating vegetation analysis, inspection planning and preventive maintenance.

Simplified operation and multiple benefits of Power Line Follow

The major advantage of the Power Line Follow function lies in its ease of use and the operational gains it delivers. The process is intuitive: after positioning the drone over power lines and adjusting the Zenmuse L2’s camera, the operator activates the function via the Pilot 2 application. The system then performs an automatic « Wire Recognition », identifying main channels and branches, and allowing the user to select the specific line to be inspected. Once the selection has been made, the drone begins an « Automated Flight », following the power line according to defined parameters (speed, altitude relative to the cables) while collecting LiDAR data. The operator benefits from a « Real-Time View » of the 3D point cloud directly on the RC Plus remote control, enabling constant monitoring of the operation. This integrated workflow advantageously replaces the separate planning and execution stages, considerably reducing preparation and intervention time in the field. The benefits are tangible: significant gains in efficiency, reduced risks for operators thanks to automation, and improved quality and completeness of collected data for better infrastructure management.

Key parameters and field use

The use of Power Line Follow has been designed to be as efficient as possible in the field, while guaranteeing safety and data quality. Before launching the mission, a few preparations are recommended, such as installing a CSM radar for enhanced obstacle detection and activating horizontal obstacle avoidance in the Pilot 2 application.

Drone avancé avec caméra sur fond bétonné.

We also recommend checking the RTK signal and using flight mode N. Once in flight over the target line, the operator configures parameters via a dedicated interface: line type (distribution or transmission), tracking speed (adaptable, typically 8-10 m/s), altitude relative to the cables (around 30m recommended), and gondola inclination (around -70°). Advanced options such as IMU calibration at the start and end of the mission (requiring a clear space) and RGB coloring of the point cloud are available to optimize accuracy and visual rendering.

Paramètres de suivi des lignes électriques par drone

Recommended LiDAR parameters include triple return, 240 kHz sampling rate and non-repetitive scanning mode for dense coverage. Mission launch is simple: after calibration, the system identifies the lines, the operator selects the desired one, and autonomous flight begins.

During tracking, monitoring via FPV view is recommended to anticipate unforeseen obstacles. In the event of a junction, the drone goes into standby mode, allowing the operator to choose which branch to follow. The mission can be terminated manually, or stops automatically in various situations (end of line, loss of recognition, low battery, etc.), creating a PinPoint for later resumption if necessary.

Aerial view of a power line in the forest.

Update compatibility and availability

This significant advance is made possible by the latest software update released by DJI on December 6, 2024. To benefit from the Power Line Follow feature, users must ensure that their equipment is up to date with the following versions: the Zenmuse L2 pod must be version v04.00.1001, the M350 RTK drone v10.01.0805, and, notably, compatibility has been extended to the M300 RTK drone, which requires version v60.01.0806. The RC Plus remote control needs to be updated to v05.02.1301, and the DJI Pilot 2 application to v10.1.8.17. DJI stresses the importance of updating all components (aircraft, radio control, L2 and Pilot 2 application) to ensure optimal, stable operation. This update also includes general optimizations, such as the correction of discrepancies in the estimation of the number of images for RGB coloring, and the resolution of occasional malfunctions during repeated use of the playback function or video transmission freezes.

Conclusion: Towards smarter, more efficient energy inspection

The introduction of Power Line Follow functionality for the Zenmuse L2 nacelle marks a decisive step in the evolution of inspection technologies for the electrical industry. By automating line tracking and LiDAR data collection, DJI not only simplifies a complex workflow, but also opens the door to more frequent, safer and more informative inspections. This innovation enables network managers to improve predictive maintenance, optimize vegetation management and strengthen the overall resilience of their infrastructures.

Compatible with the M350 RTK and M300 RTK platforms, this solution demonstrates DJI’s ongoing commitment to providing high-performance professional tools that meet the specific needs of critical industries. The future of power line inspection looks set to be smarter, faster and safer, thanks to advances such as Power Line Follow.

Our Lidar pack solution: DJI Matrice 350 RTK Pack LIDAR L2

FAQ - Power line monitoring

What are your recommendations for ensuring safety during the flight?

For optimum safety during operation, we recommend equipping the drone with a CSM radar. During tracking, constantly monitor the FPV view in real time to avoid collisions with small objects, especially cross-cables.


Can you recommend specific flight parameters?

Successful tracking of power lines is highly dependent on cable diameter, material and tower width. Always adapt your parameters to the actual conditions observed on site. Here are some recommended references:

Voltage / WidthType of cable or towerSpeedAltitudeNacelle tilt
10 kVVinyl cable4 m/s16 m-75°
10 kVVinyl cable8 m/s22 m-75°
10 kVTwisted aluminum cable13 m/s38 m-75°
500 kV / width > 23 cmLow height difference13 m/s38 m-75°
500 kV / width > 23 cmLarge height difference10 m/s40 m-70°

Which situations are particularly difficult for power line tracking in L2 mode and should be avoided?

In particular, avoid the following situations:

  1. Parallel power lines close to each other, as in the vicinity of a substation.
  2. Distance between towers less than 7 m.
  3. Distance of less than 2 m between power lines and ground vegetation.
  4. Frequent presence of linear objects close to power lines in aerial views, such as buildings, street lighting, billboards, etc.