An unmanned inspection vehicle pulls up smoothly at its designated spot, its onboard hatch opens, and a four-legged robot dog leaps out with agility, crawling into a cramped power distribution space to begin autonomous inspection duties. Temperature and humidity checks, partial discharge detection... outside the power distribution room of the Smart Net Valley Town in Gongshu District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, the scene is a hive of activity. Eighteen inspection tasks are completed in just 20 minutes, all in one seamless go. On-site worker Wang Yan noted, "Previously, manual inspections took more than twice as long." This "unmanned vehicle plus robot dog" inspection combination for distribution stations and rooms has already been deployed across Gongshu District and several other areas.
A massive population, a thriving industrial economy, and continuously rising temperatures have placed ever-increasing demands on equipment precision management and power supply reliability. Leveraging its local advantages in the artificial intelligence industry, State Grid Hangzhou Power Supply Company is accelerating the formation of a multi-form, multi-scenario AI team across six key business areas, including planning and construction, operational control, and grid operation.
At the dispatch control center of State Grid Hangzhou Power Supply Company, a large screen displays real-time data on the citywide power grid operation. A command comes through: "Grid load has increased 13.85 percent compared to the previous day. It is projected that after 11 a.m., load in the Binjiang area will surge significantly. Please optimize the power supply plan." The AI dispatcher "Guangqing" responds immediately, analyzing in real time the operational status of 9,517 transmission and distribution lines and 504 substations. Within just one minute, the power load assessment is completed and the dispatch strategy is implemented simultaneously. In the past, dispatchers needed lengthy simulation and calculation to develop load transfer plans. Now, relying on AI, complex assessment tasks can be completed in minutes, greatly reducing dispatch decision-making costs. With clear instructions cascading down, all grid equipment operates in coordination, ensuring stable and orderly urban power consumption.
From the dispatch hub to street corners, AI "employees" are everywhere. In Qianjiang Century City, Xiaoshan District, a robot dog navigates through a cable tunnel 19 meters underground. Its robotic arm extends automatically to detect cable discharge conditions and collect temperature data, achieving a hidden defect detection rate of over 95 percent. At the 220 kV Caihong Substation on the banks of the Qiantang River, a six-legged bionic "spider" robot enters the interior of gas-insulated switchgear cavities with a diameter of 300 millimeters, inspecting for concealed issues such as internal wall cracks while simultaneously generating a three-dimensional digital model of the equipment. On the ground, underground, at heights, and in trenches... AI "employees" are helping the Hangzhou grid build a comprehensive intelligent inspection defense line with no blind spots.
"In the past, manual inspections carried high risks and demanded intense physical effort. Now, with AI equipment on duty 24/7, hidden dangers are detected more promptly and accurately," said cable inspection and maintenance personnel Chen Wei. At the AI Workshop of State Grid Hangzhou Power Supply Company, cutting-edge intelligent equipment is undergoing intensive commissioning. Under the direction of AI trainer Huang Di, a humanoid live-line operation robot successfully completed a switching operation. The team has transformed frontline practical experience into algorithmic parameters, solving the challenge of adapting to outdoor operational environments. This batch of robots can now adapt to complex working conditions and perform high-risk tasks, and they are about to officially "come on duty."
Behind the steady rollout of intelligent equipment lies a mature and well-established innovation ecosystem. State Grid Hangzhou Power Supply Company has joined forces with universities and technology enterprises to form an innovation alliance, tackling technical challenges in the power sector. "Over the past five years, Hangzhou's power supply capacity has grown by over 30 percent, and the grid scale continues to expand. Intelligentization and unmanned operations are the inevitable path to ensuring the safe and efficient operation of the grid," said Tang Tieying, a senior expert at State Grid Hangzhou Power Supply Company.