R&D in other areas
Focused on improving our service and product efficiency and productivity
In 2019, the Systems area dedicated its efforts to guaranteeing the improvement of efficiency and productivity of the services offered to our customers worldwide through all Iberdrola group companies and with the support of all corporate areas.
R&D
IN OTHER AREAS
Innovation Report 2016-2018: R&D in other areas [PDF] External link, opens in new window.
In a changing world, the Iberdrola group has committed to trialling disruptive concepts using emerging, differentiating technologies to enhance the digital transformation the company is undergoing. Here are some of our most interesting projects.
Connected vehicle
Initially, the scope of this proof of concept is to map the communication networks that cover the concession area of Elektro -the distribution company belonging to the Neoenergia group*, Iberdrola's subsidiary in Brazil- by means of a solution based on the Internet of Things (IoT). Work is being carried out on connecting the car to the Elektro network so that it is able to communicate in real time and safely with the central office, thus facilitating field tasks and monitoring vehicle conditions and driver behaviour.
Augmented reality in network maintenance
A headset with Augmented Reality (AR) intelligent glasses and the communications network provided by the connected vehicle are used so that a field operator can locate buried or aerial transmission infrastructure that is in poor condition and share the detected fault with the expert or receive technical guidelines to solve the problem.
Iberdrola is also conducting a proof-of-concept to integrate an AR tool into the company's network inventory that allows maintenance and incident response brigades to locate affected elements using their mobile camera. In the same vein, work is being carried out on an AR application integrated with the gas pipeline network operated by Avangrid**, a subsidiary of the company in the United States, so that field technicians can identify underground assets during maintenance work.
Machine learning for retail complaints
The aim is to analyse the ability of Artificial Intelligence tools to automatically classify customer complaints in the UK and Spain so that they can be handled more quickly and accurately.
Biometric signature
Iberdrola is testing a combined biometric technology to ensure strong authentication of people when interacting with a capture device (fingerprint reader, iris reader, facial recognition, voice recognition, signature registration, etc.).
Cybersecurity and 'electricity labelling' through blockchain
The use of blockchain technology is being tested to maintain the security of IoT devices and to document green energy certificate transactions in a decentralised way.
* Neoenergia, S.A. is 50 % + 1 share indirectly owned by Iberdrola, S.A.
** Avangrid, Inc. is 81,50 % owned by Iberdrola, S.A.