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US 8,660,698 B2Granted
Line inspection robot and system
AssigneeElectric Power Research Institute, Inc.
InventorsAndrew John Phillips, Mark Major, Glynn R. Bartlett
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention relates to an overhead transmission line inspection robot and system for inspecting transmission line components and right of way conditions. The line inspection robot includes at least one drive system for propelling the robot along a line, a platform adapted to pivot relative to the at least one drive system, and a control system adapted to control the robot.
Claims18
A line inspection robot, comprising:
- (a) at least one drive system configured to propel the robot along a line;
- (b) a platform configured to pivot relative to the at least one drive system;
- and
- (c) a control system configured to control the robot, the control system having:
- (i) weather sensors configured to measure external air temperature, relative humidity, and wind speed;
- (ii) an internal robot temperature sensor configured to determine an operating temperature of the robot;
- (iii) a DC charge sensor configured to determine when lightning events may occur;
- (iv) a 3-D accelerometer configured to measure tilt or vertical inclination of the robot and identify major vibration modes of the shield wire;
- and
- (v) a radio frequency interference sensor configured to provide broadband radio frequency interference detection.
7 more elements
A line inspection robot, comprising:
- (a) a pair of spaced-apart trucks adapted configured to propel the robot along a shield wire, each of the spaced-apart trucks having a drive system contained therein;
- (b) a platform having a first end pivotally connected to a first one of the spaced-apart trucks and a second opposing end pivotally connected to a second one of the spaced-apart trucks to allow the robot to move around turns or up and down grades, wherein the pivotal connections provide the platform with at least two degrees of freedom relative to each of the spaced-apart trucks;
- and
- (c) a control system contained by the platform and configured to control the line inspection robot.
1 more element
A line inspection system, comprising:
- (a) a line inspection robot having:
- (i) a pair of spaced-apart trucks interconnected by a platform and configured to propel the robot along a shield wire;
- (ii) a control system contained by the platform and configured to control the line inspection robot;
- and
- (iii) a wireless sensor reader;
- (b) a plurality of sensors positioned along an overhead transmission line, wherein the sensors collect data on the health of the overhead transmission line and its components, and wherein when the robot is in close proximity one of the plurality of sensors, the wireless sensor reader receives data transmitted from the sensor for analysis by the robot.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.