Mobile device configured to perform tasks related to a power transmission system

• US 9,246,314 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2012
• Issued: 01/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Hyde, Roderick A., Wood, Lowell L. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Bao Long T
• Application Number:
  US13/436,404
• Publication Number:
  US 20130261797A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,397 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/10 Terrestrial scenes scenes under surveillance with static cameras G06V20/52; scenes perceived from the exterior of a vehicle G06V20/56; scenes perceived from the interior of a vehicle G06V20/59
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 1/02 for overhead lines or cables
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/532 Conductor

Abstract

Described embodiments include a system and an apparatus. A described mobile robotic device includes a mobile chassis configured to travel on a transmission line of a power transmission system. The mobile robotic device includes an inspection module physically associated with the mobile chassis and configured to automatically inspect a structure associated with the power transmission system. The mobile robotic device includes a risk-assessment module physically associated with the mobile chassis and configured to assess a potential risk to the power transmission system in response to inspection data provided by the inspection module. The mobile robotic device includes a communication module physically associated with the mobile chassis and configured to output data indicative of the assessed potential risk.

Claims

1. A mobile robotic device comprising:

a mobile chassis configured to travel on a transmission line of a power transmission system;

an inspection module physically associated with the mobile chassis and configured to automatically inspect a structure associated with the power transmission system;

a risk-assessment module physically associated with the mobile chassis and configured to assess a potential risk to the power transmission system in response to inspection data provided by the inspection module;

a communication module physically associated with the mobile chassis and configured to output data indicative of the assessed potential risk; and

a maintenance module physically associated with the mobile chassis and configured to perform a maintenance, repair, or modification activity relative to the power transmission system in response to the assessed potential risk, the maintenance module being further configured to trim vegetation encroaching the structure associated with the power transmission system.

2. The mobile robotic device of claim 1, wherein the power transmission system includes a high-voltage power transmission system.

3. The mobile robotic device of claim 1, wherein the power transmission system includes a power distribution system.

4. The mobile robotic device of claim 1, wherein the transmission line is an overhead transmission line.

5. The mobile robotic device of claim 1, wherein the transmission line is a live transmission line.

6. The mobile robotic device of claim 1, wherein the inspection module is configured to automatically inspect for potential damage or deterioration to the structure.

7. The mobile robotic device of claim 1, wherein the inspection module is configured to automatically inspect the structure for a potential maintenance, repair, or modification need.

8. The mobile robotic device of claim 1, wherein the inspection module is configured to automatically inspect for encroaching vegetation.

9. The robotic mobile device of claim 1, wherein the structure includes at least one of the transmission line, other transmission lines, insulators, ground line, encasement, cooling system, or towers associated with the power transmission system.

10. The mobile robotic device of claim 1, wherein the risk-assessment module is configured to assess a potential risk to the power transmission system from normal wear and tear in response to data provided by the inspection module.

11. The mobile robotic device of claim 1, wherein the risk-assessment module is configured to assess a potential risk to the power transmission system from encroaching vegetation in response to data provided by the inspection module.

12. The mobile robotic device of claim 1, wherein the maintenance module is configured to automatically perform a maintenance, repair, or modification activity relative to the power transmission system.

13. The mobile robotic device of claim 1, wherein the maintenance module is configured to perform a maintenance, repair, or modification activity relative to the power transmission system in response to a received authorization.

14. The mobile robotic device of claim 1, wherein the maintenance module is configured to repair or clean a power line insulator.

15. The mobile robotic device of claim 1, wherein the maintenance module is configured to de-ice a transmission line.

16. A mobile robotic device comprising:

a mobile chassis configured to travel on a transmission line of an overhead power transmission system;

a vegetation inspection module physically associated with the mobile chassis and configured to measure a characteristic of vegetation growing proximate to a portion of the overhead power transmission system; and

a communication module physically associated with the mobile chassis and configured to output data indicative of the measured characteristic of the vegetation, the communication module being further configured to communicate with a maintenance module configured to trim vegetation.

17. The mobile robotic device of claim 16, wherein the vegetation inspection module includes a sensor configured to measure a height or extent of vegetation relative to the transmission line.

18. The mobile robotic device of claim 16, wherein the communication module is configured to wirelessly output data indicative of the measured characteristic of the vegetation.

19. A system, comprising:

a mobile device configured to travel on a transmission line of a power transmission system and measure one or more characteristics of vegetation encroaching the power transmission system; and

a vegetation management tool configured to address the measured one or more characteristics and assess risk to the power transmission system posed by the encroaching vegetation;

wherein the mobile device is further configured to trim the encroaching vegetation to address the assessed risk.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the mobile device is configured to trim vegetation using electrical or photonic energy, chemical spray, and/or physical cutting.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the vegetation management tool is configured to assess risk to the power transmission system posed by the encroaching vegetation at least partially based on generally available guidelines and/or protocols.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein the vegetation management tool is configured to use imaging, triangulation and/or time-of-flight measurement data to determine a height or extent of the encroaching vegetation.

23. The system of claim 19, wherein the vegetation management tool is configured to determine clearances between encroaching vegetation and the transmission line in response to the measured one or more characteristics of the encroaching vegetation.

24. The system of claim 19, wherein the vegetation management tool is configured to assess risk to the power transmission system from the encroaching vegetation based on one or more local geographic or topographic factors including whether the encroaching vegetation is above, below, or to the side of the power transmission system, and/or whether the encroaching vegetation is uphill or upwind from the power transmission system.

25. The system of claim 19, wherein the vegetation management tool is configured to address a measured clearance between the encroaching vegetation and the power transmission system, and to automatically assess risk to the transmission line posed by the encroaching vegetation based on the measured clearance.

26. A mobile robotic device comprising:

a mobile chassis configured to travel on a transmission line of an overhead power transmission system;

a vegetation inspection module physically associated with the mobile chassis and configured to measure a characteristic of vegetation growing proximate to a portion of the overhead power transmission system;

a communication module physically associated with the mobile chassis and configured to output data indicative of the measured characteristic of the vegetation; and

a maintenance module physically associated with the mobile chassis and configured to trim vegetation growing proximate to a portion of the overhead power transmission system.

27. The mobile robotic device of claim 26, wherein the maintenance module is configured to trim vegetation growing proximate to a portion of the overhead power transmission system in response to the outputted data indicative of the measured characteristic of the vegetation.

28. The mobile robotic device of claim 26, wherein the maintenance module is configured to automatically trim vegetation growing proximate to a portion of the overhead power transmission system.

29. The mobile robotic device of claim 26, wherein the maintenance module is configured to trim vegetation growing proximate to a portion of the overhead power transmission system in response to an instruction originated by a vegetation management tool.

30. A system, comprising:

a mobile device configured to travel on a transmission line of a power transmission system and measure one or more characteristics of vegetation encroaching the power transmission system; and

a vegetation management tool configured to address the measured one or more characteristics and assess risk to the power transmission system posed by the encroaching vegetation;

wherein the vegetation management tool is configured to assess risk to the transmission line from the encroaching vegetation based on a time-lapse analysis of changes in the height or extent of the encroaching vegetation.