Eco Factor: Solar powered robots to inspect power lines in North America.
Researchers at the Electric Power Research Institute have developed robots that can scan thousands of miles of power lines in North America for cable defects and overgrown trees. Eliminating the need for human inspection, the robots will be able to navigate pylons by using special cables.
The crawlers will be powered by electricity flowing in the wire it hugs, but if something goes wrong, the onboard solar panels will take over the task. Weighing about 140 pounds, the robot will be able to crawl at an average speed of about 3mph. It will also be equipped with high-def cameras and sensors to find overgrown trees, which is a major cause of blackouts.
The robot is expected to cover about 160 miles of cable each year and cost utilities less than $500,000.
Via: CNet
