System and method for stringing spans of cable
AssigneeFt Holdings Inc.
InventorsJason Peter Clarke, Daniel John Clarke
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Abstract
Systems and methods are described for stringing spans of cable, in particular, electric power transmission lines between utility poles using a robotic device suspended from an unmanned aerial vehicle (“UAV”). In some aspects, a thrust assembly suspended by a UAV pulls the cable from pole to pole whereas in other aspects, an aerial robot integrating the functions of the thrust assembly and the UAV pulls the cable from pole to pole.
Claims19
A system for stringing a span of cable, the system comprising a robotic aerial assembly for pulling the cable, wherein the robotic aerial assembly comprises:
- a) an aerial thrust assembly, comprising:
- i) a central frame rod having a first end and second end,
- ii) at least one electric motor disposed on the first end, the at least one electric motor operatively coupled to a propeller,
- iii) a quick release assembly disposed on the second end, the quick release assembly configured for releasable coupling to the cable, and
- iv) a battery assembly disposed on the central frame rod, the battery assembly operatively coupled to the at least one electric motor;
- and
- b) an unmanned aerial vehicle (“UAV”) for suspending the aerial thrust assembly above a ground surface.
A method for stringing a span of cable disposed on a spool over a plurality of utility poles, each utility pole comprising a cable sheave disposed thereon, the method comprising:
- a) attaching the cable to a robotic aerial assembly;
- b) operating the robotic aerial assembly to raise the cable, thereby dispensing the cable from the spool, to bring the cable near the cable sheave of a first of the plurality of utility poles;
- c) attaching a grappling hook to a portion of the cable near the spool;
- and
- d) operating the robotic aerial assembly further to pull the cable onto the sheaves of one or more of the plurality of the utility poles.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.