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High-Wire Robot to Inspect the Grid

Posted June 09, 2010 10:43 AM

From Technology Review RSS Feeds:

A robot designed to crawl along tens of thousands of miles of transmission lines could help inspect North America's vast and aging grid infrastructure without the need for manned helicopters inspections. Researchers at the Electric Power Research Institute, an independent nonprofit research organization for the utility sector, have designed a 140-pound, six-foot-long prototype of a robot that they plan to test for the first time at an outdoor lab later this month.

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Re: High-Wire Robot to Inspect the Grid

06/09/2010 10:55 AM

Presumably it works on the principal that, if the wire can support the darned thing it's ok.
Del

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#2

Re: High-Wire Robot to Inspect the Grid

06/09/2010 11:30 AM

Why does it need to weigh 140 lb.? Seems a lot of weight to hang on a wire - alluding to what Del said.

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