To increase safety for birds coming into contact with the power grid, staff members from the State Grid Zhenjiang Power Supply Company installed a bird's nest-shaped device made of simulated wood and artificial grass at the transmission tower of the 110-kilovolt Huashu 754 line in Zhenjiang, Jiangsu province, on Monday.

Equipped with an artificial intelligence-powered camera, this new device, named the "smart bird's nest", ensures the safe and stable operation of the power grid.

Transmission towers are the "main arteries" of power transmission, but in the ecologically pristine Zhenjiang Jurong area, birds nesting on the towers can easily cause short circuits and tripping of the lines. During peak summer periods, when there are frequent thunderstorms, strong winds and a surge in electricity demand, the risks increase significantly.

The night vision and infrared imaging capabilities of the AI cameras on the "smart bird's nest" allow for continuous monitoring of bird activities around the power lines. By using AI to detect abnormal bird movement, the observed data is transmitted in real-time to the operations and maintenance terminal, enabling staff members to promptly identify bird species and behavior patterns, take appropriate safety measures and guide bird habitats.

Since the deployment of this device in January last year, the fault rate of transmission line tripping caused by bird activities in the area has decreased from 10 percent to zero, providing strong support for stable power supply during peak summer periods.