At the Pesquería Power Plant (CEP), a new autonomous drone is changing the game. With remote charging and operation, it's making inspections safer, faster, and far more effective in spotting potential transmission line failures.

In Mexico, a 75-kilometer transmission line cuts through Monterrey’s industrial zone, carrying power to the Pesquería plant. It’s a vital link, as any failure can mean production losses, in addition to financial impact and serious operational risks. That’s why the teams in Argentina and Mexico joined forces to investigate other ways of monitoring it, coming up with a solution that until recently sounded more like something out of a sci-fi film. Today, an autonomous drone with a remote charging base inspects the entire line, captures detailed images, and sends them back in real time. No need to send anyone out into the field.

“We wanted a solution that would make a real difference in terms of safety, cost, and efficiency,” says Javier Nickels, IT Digital Innovation Expert. “That’s when we found this autonomous technology. It lets us schedule flights and run automated inspections without needing anyone on-site.” The team chose the DJI Dock 2, a compact, hangar-style base that protects, charges, and launches the drone entirely on its own and even checks the weather conditions before each flight.

The base includes a camera, sensors, a weather station, and a direct internet connection. Everything is managed remotely, and the system can be monitored from Buenos Aires. The drone is fitted with a thermal imaging camera that spots heat anomalies in the infrastructure.

Beyond spotting potential failures, the new system also makes things safer for the team. “Before, it meant boots on the ground and long walks along the line,” says Jorge Mendoza, Maintenance Engineering Engineer. “Now we keep an eye on everything remotely and can see what’s going on with pinpoint accuracy.” That means better planning, fewer surprises, and less exposure for the people on the ground.

The project started as a proof of concept, focused on just one stretch of the line. Now the goal is to scale up. That means adding more bases along the route and upgrading to the DJI Dock 3, which offers better coverage and greater operational capacity. As Javier explains, “If something happens at kilometer 70, we can dispatch a drone from the closest base with just one click on the map.”

Sergio Savka, IT Enterprise Architect Expert, offers some key technical insights: “Drones are already being used in the industry, but usually someone has to go out, set them up, and fly them manually. This is one of the first autonomous models we’ve deployed at Tecpetrol, and it completely changes how we work.”

The process was not without its challenges. “By the time the equipment arrived, a new version had already been released,” adds Javier. “But that’s part of how innovation works. You test, you learn, you measure, and then you decide if it’s time to scale.”

For Jorge Ilarios, Maintenance Engineering Coordinator, the drone marks a major leap in reliability. “It lets us monitor the line more often and with greater precision, especially in high-risk sections,” he explains. Looking ahead, the team is already picturing how it could respond in real time to extreme events. Just a few months ago, in early summer, over 200 fires broke out around Monterrey during a spell of intense heat and strong winds. Several came dangerously close to the transmission line. “In situations like that, having a tool that can respond instantly makes all the difference,” Jorge points out.

As plans to expand the system move forward, one thing is clear: this drone doesn’t just fly. It’s reshaping how the company handles logistics, inspections, and decisions in one of the plant’s most critical operations.