The project, named “Extra High Voltage Powerline Inspection Robot” under the National High-tech R&D Program of China (the 863 Program), has got technical acceptance by the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) of the People’s Republic of China on August 3rd, 2012.

In order to meet the urgent demand of assisting or replacing human force in conducting powerline inspection, Shenyang Institute of Automation (SIA), the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), undertook the research in cooperation with Northeast China Grid Company Limited.

For robot working under 500kV extra high voltage environment, the key technologies of mechanism, controlling, driving, electromagnetic compatibility and insulation were solved to develop the serialized inspection robot system with complete self-owned intellectual property rights. The project team also conducted live inspection experiment in 500kV powerline field, and performed demonstration application in power sectors. Application results show that the system can replace human force when working in high-risk environment, lower the danger faced by staff, and guarantee the safe operation of the powerline, with considerable social and economic benefits in the future. The project has won the second prize of 2012 Science and Technology Progress Award of the State Grid Corporation of China, and the second prize of 2011 Technological Invention Award of Liaoning Province.  (Dai Tianjiao)