Power Line Inspection UAV With Conductor-Mounted Displacement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Accessing and monitoring high-altitude components of aerial electric power lines is challenging due to their remote location, posing safety risks and requiring time-consuming and cumbersome methods, including raising human technicians or deactivating the power line.
Innovation Solution
An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) equipped with a displacement assembly and component monitoring tool that can be mounted on and displaced along the power line, allowing safe and remote monitoring without the need to raise a human technician or deactivate the line.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a human technician is raised from the ground or scales a neighbouring structure to access high-altitude power line components, then the component can be inspected, but the technician faces inherent safety hazards and the power line often needs to be shut off
Solution Approach 1:
An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is introduced as an intermediary device to access and inspect power line components. The UAV carries a robot that can mount to the power line and perform inspections, eliminating the need for human technicians to physically access high-altitude components while maintaining inspection capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical system of human technicians physically accessing power lines with an automated UAV-based robot system. The robot uses gripper arrangements and drive systems to autonomously navigate and inspect components, substituting human mechanical intervention with automated mechanical systems
2Ease of operation
If a robot is sent along the power line to access remote components, then the component can be accessed, but mounting the robot to the power line is time-consuming and cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The robot is designed with dynamic mounting capabilities, using controllable gripper arrangements that can quickly attach to and detach from the power line. The drive system enables the robot to dynamically navigate along the power line, reducing the time and complexity of mounting operations
Solution Approach 2:
The UAV-based robot system is designed with universal mounting capabilities that can attach to different types of power line components. The gripper arrangements are configured to accommodate various conductor types and configurations, enabling quick deployment without time-consuming custom mounting procedures
3Reliability
If the power line is shut off to allow technician access, then the technician can work safely, but power supply is interrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The UAV-based robot serves as an intermediary inspection device that can operate on energized power lines without requiring shutdown. The robot is designed with insulation and safety features that allow it to conduct inspections while the power line remains active, maintaining both safety and power supply continuity
Solution Approach 2:
The robot creates a virtual copy or representation of the power line component through imaging and sensing devices. This allows inspection data to be captured and analyzed without physical interference or shutdown, enabling maintenance planning while maintaining continuous power supply
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
An unmanned aerial vehicle mountable to an aerial conductor of an electricity transmission line to monitor a component. The unmanned aerial vehicle has a body having a propulsion system to lift, lower, and navigate the vehicle. A component monitoring tool is mounted to the body and is vertically displaceable between a first position and a second position. The tool in the first position is vertically spaced from the component. The tool in the second position is engaged with the component. A displacement assembly is mounted to at least one of the body and the tool and includes at least one displacement member to displace the body and the tool along the conductor.