LineRanger (the robot for the power transmission line)

2019: Announcement of the robot

At the end of May, 2019 the Canadian energy company Hydro-Quebec developed the LineRanger robot who climbs transmission lines and debugs. Such robot can create the serious competition to air UAVs which are already used for check of high-voltage transmission lines.

The Hydro-Quebec company presented the working version of LineRanger at the world's largest exhibition of robotics - the International conference on robotics and automation of 2019 in Montreal. The remotely-controlled device weighing 50 kg is suspended on high-voltage transmission lines with tension of 735 kilovolts. The robot covers a wire rubber rollers with accumulator supply and easily moves on the line, without problems overcoming such obstacles as couplers or insulators.

At the same time LineRanger transfers video in real time from the built-in HD camera that allows the operator to check lines visually. The robot is also equipped with sensors which reveal points of corrosion or excess heating, but also, is capable to estimate resistance of separate connections on lines.

The LineRanger robot climbing transmission lines and debugging is provided

Unlike LineRanger UAVs does not require additional costs of energy on flight therefore it can be used for check of several kilometers of transmission lines on one charge of the rechargeable battery. Developers consider that advantages of their robot on it do not come to an end. The researcher from Hydro-Quebec/IREQ Alain Croteau noted that construction of the device does it extremely easy to use – at the LineRanger robot only one degree of freedom thanks to what the people who do not have special knowledge in the field of robotics can use this mechanism.

LineRanger already passed tests and soon as developers hope, will begin to be used for designated purpose.^[1]

Robotics

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