A mobile robot for inspection of overhead transmission lines

Abstract

A new mobile robot prototype for inspection of overhead transmission lines is proposed. The mobile platform is composed of 3 arms. And there is a motorized rubber wheel on the end of each arm. On the two end arms, a gripper is designed to clamp firmly onto the conductors from below to secure the robot. Each arm has a motor to achieve 2 degrees of freedom which is realized by moving along a curve. It could roll over some obstacles (compression splices, vibration dampers, etc). And the robot could clear other types of obstacles (spacers, suspension clamps, etc).