Mini LineFly is a self-powered robot that a drone lowers onto an overhead power line. It crawls along the line and installs bird-flight diverters from its onboard supply. The devices are intended to make power lines easier for birds to see; the companies describe that as a way to reduce collision risk, but the reported deployments do not measure how many collisions were prevented.
What Mini LineFly does
Preformed Line Products (PLP) and FulcrumAir developed Mini LineFly to install PLP BIRD-FLIGHT Diverters on overhead lines. These helically shaped devices are fitted at planned intervals. Their purpose is to make a line more visible to birds, which the companies say may help reduce collisions. The project announcements document installation activity, not independently measured wildlife outcomes. PLP’s January 16, 2024 announcement describes the system and its intended use.
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How the installation works
- Position the robot: An E2500 HP coaxial-rotor drone lowers the self-powered Mini LineFly onto a section of line.
- Install diverters: Mini LineFly crawls along that section and periodically applies diverters from its onboard supply.
- Move to the next section: At the end of the run, the drone lifts the robot and carries it to another section. The robot remains tethered to the drone, but New Atlas reports that the two are operated independently. New Atlas’ January 23, 2024 account describes this deployment sequence.
Where the system has been used
Company announcements describe two projects on real utility lines. The reported counts show that the installation method has been deployed; they are not evidence of a measured reduction in bird collisions.
| Project | Reported installation | Line and device details | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| High Banks Wind Project, Kansas | Nearly 15,000 diverters across 75 miles of line | 345 kV transmission line; PLP BIRD-FLIGHT Diverters. PLP says the project spans Marshall, Republic, and Washington counties. | PLP, January 16, 2024 |
| Manzana Wind Power Project, Southern California | Nearly 1,400 diverters | Power Line Sentry Hawk Eye devices on a 230 kV transmission-line overhead shield wire and 34.5 kV collector lines, installed using the E2500HP and Mini LineFly method. | FulcrumAir via Business Wire, May 1, 2023 |
Why use a robot instead of conventional installation?
PLP says robotic installation can reduce lineworker safety concerns. Its annual report describes Mini LineFly as avoiding the need for workers to install diverters at height using bucket trucks or helicopters. The available company materials explain the intended safety mechanism, but do not provide an injury-rate comparison, time-and-motion study, or quantified safety improvement. PLP’s 2023 annual report, filed in 2024, gives the company’s description.
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The method is specialized equipment for utility-line work, not a consumer drone feature. Whether a particular installation can use a given robot and diverter depends on factors such as conductor compatibility, product and spacing specifications, line voltage, and project geometry. The reported projects show different line contexts and diverter products, but do not compare installation productivity or product performance.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What is known about bird protection—and what is not
The installation method and its intended mechanism are documented: diverters are placed on lines to make them more visible to birds. The company announcements do not report independently measured bird mortality or collision reductions. They also do not establish results by species or site, or show that one diverter design performs better than another.
For that reason, “to save birds” describes the goal, not a demonstrated outcome of the reported projects. Evaluating effectiveness would require wildlife-outcome measurements, not just the number of devices installed or miles of line treated.
Mini LineFly and bird diverters are different products
Mini LineFly is the robotic installation system. A bird-flight diverter is the device it installs. PLP BIRD-FLIGHT Diverters are named in the High Banks project, while the Manzana project used Power Line Sentry Hawk Eye devices. The announcements establish those project details, but do not provide a head-to-head trial of the diverters.
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