SkySweeper is V-shaped with a motor-driven “elbow” and its ends are equipped with clamps that open and close as necessary to move it down utility lines, searching for damage, inch by inch. It was designed by graduate student Nick Morozovsky in the Coordinated Robotics Lab led by mechanical and aerospace engineering professor Tom Bewley. Photo Credit: UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering.
The SkySweeper prototype could be scaled up for less than $1,000
Mechanical engineers at the University of California, San Diego invented a robot designed to scoot along utility lines, searching for damage and other problems that require repairs. Made of off-the-shelf electronics and plastic parts printed on an inexpensive 3D printer, the SkySweeper prototype could be scaled up for less than $1,000, making it significantly more economical than the two models of robots currently used to inspect power lines.
“Current line inspection robots are large, complex, and expensive. Utility companies may also use manned or unmanned helicopters equipped with infrared imaging to inspect lines,” said Nick Morozovsky, a graduate student in mechanical engineering at UC San Diego, who designed the robot. “This is much simpler.”
Morozovsky, who works in the lab of Professor Thomas Bewley at the Jacobs School of Engineering at UC San Diego, will introduce the robot at the International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems, also known as IROS 2013, from Nov. 3 to 8 in Tokyo. He will also present a paper, titled “A Low Degrees of Freedom, Dynamic High Wire Robot,” at the conference.
SkySweeper is V-shaped with a motor-driven “elbow” in the middle and its ends are equipped with clamps that open and close as necessary to move it down the line, inch by inch. Morozovsky is strengthening the clamps so they can release from the rope and swing down the line, one end to the other, thereby swinging past cable support points.
You can watch the robot in action here: http://bit.ly/16vpFnO
SkySweeper could be outfitted with induction coils that would harvest energy from the power line itself, making it possible for the robot to stay deployed for weeks or months at a time. It could also be equipped with a mounted camera, which would transmit images to an inspection crew.
The Latest Bing News on:
Inspecting Power Lines
- With spring on its way, now is the time to make sure your trees aren't touching overhead power lineson March 4, 2021 at 7:46 am
With warm weather finally on its way, now is the time to check the trees in your yard to make sure they aren't touching any power lines. While trees are still empty, you can easily see if power lines ...
- Hot-running test carried out for Guangzhou Metro Line 18on March 3, 2021 at 7:34 pm
A train of the Guangzhou Metro Line 18 is under hot-running test in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, March 3, 2021. The electric train, with a maximum designed speed of 160 km per hour, ...
- Inspection Machine Market Is Predicted To Grow At A CAGR Of 5.4% During The Forecasting Periodon March 3, 2021 at 1:30 am
Inspection Machines include manual, mechanical, and computerized systems that are used to check the quality of the products in terms of packages, packaging components to ensure they conform to a ...
- Power outage on train line affecting commuters in Tokyo areaon March 2, 2021 at 7:09 pm
A power outage has caused a suspension of services on part of a train line between central Tokyo and nearby Kanagawa Prefecture, affe ...
- Introduction to the Symposium on New Challenges in Weapons Inspectionon March 1, 2021 at 11:54 am
This symposium addresses challenges relating to weapons inspection. The common thread among the contributions is a concern that the future of weapons inspection may prove even more difficult than its ...
- As Beijing’s power grows, can it shift meaning of ‘human rights’?on February 26, 2021 at 8:20 pm
Debates over whether to boycott Beijing’s 2022 Olympics highlight a deeper trend: China’s growing leverage in reshaping the human rights agenda.
- Raptor Maps Releases 2021 Global Solar Aerial Inspection Reporton February 25, 2021 at 2:03 am
Raptor Maps Releases 2021 Global Solar Aerial Inspection Report: Software reveals record-high collaboration amongst users in benchmarking report ...
- JCP&L Drone To Inspect Manalapan Transmission Lines Wednesdayon February 24, 2021 at 7:16 am
This drone will be flying near - but will maintain a safe distance from - transmission lines in the township, officials said.
- Iranian Parliament Speaker Puts Interim Nuclear Inspection Agreement with IAEA in Doubton February 22, 2021 at 6:41 pm
Iran's parliament appears to have left in limbo the interim nuclear inspection accord reached over the weekend, saying that the government of President Hassan Rouhani overstepped its authority. It ...
- ‘It’s safer and faster’: Kentucky Power using drone pilots to assess power line damageon February 19, 2021 at 3:54 pm
Before Kentucky Power can send crews to restore power, a damage assessment has to be completed. Some of that assessment is begin completed by drones. “Our main goal is to get the information they need ...
The Latest Google Headlines on:
Inspecting Power Lines
The Latest Bing News on:
robots inspecting power lines
- Smart Robot Market Size, Status, Demand, Growth and Overview Outlook 2020 - 2025on March 2, 2021 at 1:52 am
The scope of the report includes a detailed study of Smart Speaker Market with the reasons given for variations in the ...
- How to Put the Power Grid to Work to Prevent Wildfireson February 28, 2021 at 6:02 pm
The technology to mitigate and manage risks of climate change already exists, but it needs to be used more effectively to promote sustainability and safety.
- This robot dog is changing the way buildings are designed, constructed, and usedon February 22, 2021 at 3:00 am
Just four legs and a torso, it could transform the way buildings get made. The tool is the dog-like robot called Spot, which was created by Boston Dynamics and is now being used by the London-based ...
- Collaborative Robot (Cobot) Marketon February 15, 2021 at 4:35 am
Collaborative robots have additional features, such as safety monitored stop, hand guiding, speed & separation monitoring, and power & force ... assembly line insertions and screw driving for ...
- New 10K/15K resolution line scan image sensors enable higher throughput in optical inspection systemson February 12, 2021 at 9:28 am
higher-resolution line scan image sensors creates a new opportunity for industrial-camera manufacturers and machine-vision system developers to add value to their products by enabling higher ...
- How wireless charging could unlock commercial drone potentialon February 10, 2021 at 1:28 pm
Commercial drones are still at the starting line in the ... in spaces like robots and drones. Last year the company was granted equipment authorization for high power transmitters and receivers ...
- CONCERT project: designing configurable collaborative robot to help workerson February 10, 2021 at 10:00 am
Genova (Italy), 10th February 2021 - CONCERT, acronym for CONfigurable CollaborativE Robot ... production lines in manufacturing, warehouses and logistics, agriculture, inspection, maintenance ...
- Boston Dynamics introduces an enhanced Spot roboton February 2, 2021 at 10:15 am
The Spot Enterprise robot can be used to inspect remote or dangerous areas around the clock. The system includes a recharging dock where the machine can power up its battery pack as needed ...
- Boston Dynamics shows off enhanced Spot robotson February 2, 2021 at 9:45 am
The Spot Enterprise robot can be used to inspect remote or dangerous areas around the clock. The system includes a recharging dock where the machine can power up its battery pack as needed ...
- Soon Boston Dynamics’ Spot will be remotely opening doors anywhereon February 2, 2021 at 5:53 am
“[W]e have a power plant customer who had a possible equipment failure. They were able to use the robot to repeatedly inspect something ... is limited to line of sight. Jackowski adds ...
