As the artificial intelligence continues to evolve and integrate into various of the industries in nowadays, many tasks that once done by humans are now is able to be assisted or even be replaced by the automation. However, in the field of the electric power line construction, the role of utility electricians and the linemen still remains irreplaceable. Our MARSHINE as a electric power tool manufacturer, believe that despite the rapid technological advancements, the AI still can not, and should not replace the human electricians in this vital industry. That’s why we want to share this article with you.
The power line construction involves working at heights in all weather conditions, and often near the live electrical systems. These tasks such as climbing the towers, handling the heavy conductors, and installing or repairing the high-voltage components requires the physical coordination, strength, and adaptive decision-making, which was the skills that the current AI-powered machines or robots cannot perform reliably in the uncontrolled outdoor environments. And during the power line constructions, the utility electricians will face the unexpected challenges, such as the weather changes, unknown faults, or the urgent repairing tasks after the storms, the job-site condition will be very complex, sometimes there are multiple errors or dangers combined together, that's the off-grid AI support machine ore the robots can not figure out. And these situations requires the quick judgment, experience-based reasoning, and the on-the-spot problem-solving. In these areas, the human intuition was still far surpasses the AI systems, which depends heavily on the pre-defined programming and the structured database. Because the every construction site is different. The terrain, tower structures, cable configurations, and even the regional regulations vary. The electricians can quickly adapt to the unfamiliar conditions, troubleshoot problems on-site, and improvise the solutions when needed. But the AI and the robots typically perform best in the predictable, repetitive environments, which is rarely the case in the field utility works. You need to know that the power line construction is not a solo task, it requires the tight coordination among the crews, the communication with control centers, and the cooperation with the engineers and the inspectors. Human interaction, quick verbal instructions, and efficient teamwork are essential to the project success. On the other hand, AI cannot yet engage meaningfully in the dynamic human-to-human collaborations. And the most important is, the electrical construction is one of the most dangerous professions. While the AI can assist with monitoring or diagnostics of the error or the construction problems, but it still lacks a true understanding of the risk, responsibility, and the moral judgment when the lives are at stake.
While the AI technologies now can support the utility electricians to deal with the automation of planning, fault detection, or the material management, they still cannot replace the electricians due to the hands-on expertise, physical agility, safety judgment, and the human adaptability that the electric power line construction demands. As a electric power industry tool manufacturer, our MARSHINE want to say, the electricians are not just workers, they are the skilled professionals who bring the experience, awareness, and the critical thinking to one of the most essential infrastructure services in the world. In the future, the power line work will involve the humans and AI working together, with the AI serving as a tool to enhance the personal safety while ensuring the construction efficiency, but not as a substitute for the human electricians.
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