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NETWORK / 22 / SEpTEmbER 2016 The nexT genera- Tion of roboTics for consumer and industrial applications will be defined by recent advances in artificial intelligence and machine learning. These will redefine the art of the possible for image, object, and even language recognition. for industrial applications, this means a much wider scope of tasks and decisions could be delegated to robots and automation devices. Machine learning also links to enhanced predictive modelling of assets. Robotics Drones or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are increasingly being used by electricity genera- tors to carry out hazardous and expensive inspection jobs for wind turbines and other big plant. Networks have been slightly slower on the uptake, but most DNOs have now at least dabbled in using drones to inspect and identify maintenance require- ments on pylons and overhead lines. SSE, with extensive tracts on remote and o‚en inhospi- table land in its licence area, is among the leaders. It works with Cyberhawk to collect and interpret data on the state of assets. Drones are not just eyes in the sky. UAV's can carry sensors to detect and monitor ambient radio frequency, cellular phone signals and even the coronal discharge from working grid components, so their scope for Technological advances are changing the face of energy networks and allowing them to respond in new ways to existing and unprecedented challenges. In this technology round-up, Network examines three trends making a big impact on network operations today. Trending What's next? teCh tRenDs