Drone-Robot to Clean Power Line Insulators

Area of Science:

• Electrical Engineering
• Robotics
• Power Systems Maintenance

Background:

• Accumulation of pollutants on insulator chains can lead to power system failures and supply interruptions.
• Current manual cleaning methods for insulator chains are labor-intensive, hazardous, and costly.
• Existing robotic and drone technologies for insulator maintenance present significant challenges.

Approach:

• Development of an integrated drone-robot system for autonomous insulator chain identification and cleaning.
• The drone-robot features a robotic module with a portable washer, demineralized water reservoir, depth camera, and electronic control system.
• Methodology includes a comprehensive literature review, system design, and validation through controlled and field tests.

Key Points:

• The drone-robot autonomously identifies insulator chains using camera vision.
• A robotic module performs cleaning using a battery-powered washer and demineralized water.
• The system aims to improve the efficiency and safety of power line maintenance.

Conclusions:

• The developed drone-robot system offers a promising automated solution for insulator chain cleaning.
• Validation in controlled and field environments demonstrates the system's potential for practical application.
• Further research and development are suggested for future enhancements and broader implementation.