Page 46 - Energize June 2021

TECHNICAL

Effective implementation of robotic Although failure of an OHTL is not desirable, total elimination of this risk may not be
technologies economically justifiable. A transmission line is regularly inspected in order to achieve
Ensuring personnel safety when performing updated information about the condition of the line as well as the immediate surroundings,
maintenance, inspections and/or upgrades with the development of various inspection techniques for assessing the condition of
on energised transmission lines is the most the OHTL. Condition assessment will enable transmission line asset owners to achieve
important concern and can be significantly greater efficiency when planning OHTL refurbishments or more effectively to direct their
enhanced by the use of robots. Further maintenance activities, at a time when systems are ageing and consents for new lines are
benefits of using robots becomes apparent becoming increasingly difficult to obtain. The inspection should be performed so that the
for access to difficult-to-reach places, transmission line owner is provided with sufficient information to plan the maintenance
and potential time savings which could of the OHTL. Personnel safety has always been the biggest concern and the practice of
be achieved. Robotic technologies have energised line work especially in places difficult to reach or when time is critical, means that
already proven to be a valuable means of the use of robots to assist with maintenance, inspections and/or upgrades on transmission
inspecting certain systems, and robotic lines can offer a major advantage.
inspection is now considered to be a As robotic technologies presently under development become more mature and
realistic approach for grid owners. A few accepted by utilities as routine tools, applications will emerge requiring the development of
major utilities have already introduced new technologies. The key drivers in the emergence of these new robotic technologies will
robots into their maintenance practices, continue to be improved safety, increased reliability, better availability and reduced costs. n
and several are funding projects to do so.
Safety, efficiency, reliability and Acknowledgement
availability of equipment are the main This article was first published in the August 2018 issue of Electra and is republished here
factors driving this trend. Maintenance with permission.
tasks, including inspection and repairs,
are identified as high-value applications
in transmission live-line work. The ability
to perform maintenance and inspection
services and upgrading transmission lines
without shutting down (de-energising) the
transmission line has many economic,
social and environmental benefits to the
network owner.

Future applications of robotic
technologies
The future of robotic technologies applied
to OHTLs is very promising. There is a
wide range of potential future applications
of robotic technologies which are limited
only by the needs of the industry and
imagination. Such applications could
include autonomous UAVs for inspection of
OHTLs or a UAV to measure compression
connector condition. Robotic technologies
have the potential to revolutionise the
way the power transmission system
is constructed and maintained. The
opportunity is vast and undiscovered.
However, a large number of gaps exist
ranging from financial to technical to
regulatory. It remains important to continue
to have a vision for the future and make
steady progress in attempting to reach it.

Conclusion
Inspection and maintenance activities
are conducted to prevent degradation
of an OHTL asset beyond a desired
performance level. The time to perform
these required maintenance activities in
order to achieve a desired performance
Figure 1: Linescout robot conducting a line inspection (Hydro-Quebec).
level of the OHTL is a critical question.

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