A robot for installation and removal of aircraft warning spheres on aerial power transmission lines

摘要

This work presents the development of a mobile robot for autonomous installation and removal of aircraft warning spheres on overhead wires of electric power transmission lines. It will enable power distribution companies to replace highly dangerous operations which are currently performed by a human operator hanging off the side of a helicopter hovering a couple of meters away of live transmission lines. The robot was built and field tested in real operational situations and proved to be both efficient and robust.