I wrote last year about the use of drones for things such as maintaining utility wires and cables.

It’s an approach that not only has cost benefits, but also significant safety ones, as staff currently have to dress in an array of protective clothing and follow extensive safety procedures as they go about their work.

Robotic testing

A team of researchers, from the University of Georgia, have developed an automated means of doing this, with a new robot that’s capable of gliding alone electrical distribution lines on the hunt for defects.

The robot, which has the look of a small cable car, is considerably lighter and more compact than existing machinery used by utility companies.

“This is a tool that’s small enough for a single utility worker to pack in a truck or van and use daily,” the team say. “Some of the robots currently in use weigh 200-300 pounds while our robot is only 20-25 pounds.”

The robot has a spinning brush attached that can clear the lines of everything from bird poo to salty deposits.  It’s also equipped with a camera that allows it to monitor the line for potential problems.

The wireless nature of the robot allow it to be controlled remotely from a tablet, laptop or even a smartphone.

“This is our first prototype, and there are a number of advances we would like to explore, including making the robot more autonomous,” the team say. “For example, some decision-making could be made on board. If the robot detects a problem, it could send a signal to the controller instead of requiring a person to monitor the robot in real time.”

The next step is to equip the device with GPS technology that will allow utility companies to map and geo-tag issues as they’re discovered throughout the network, thus making it easier for engineers to follow up on the initial report.

It’s certainly an interesting project, and with cities increasingly building smart infrastructure, it’s a technology that will surely see greater use in the coming years.