Development of Automatic Inspection Robot for Live-line Insulators

Live line inspection of transmission line insulators using a robot is becoming an essential tool for fully examining the details of defects in the insulators. The robot being developed by KEPRI is designed to move automatically along insulator strings to clean insulators, measure insulation resistance, and detect cracks. The insulation resistance is measured by means of live line megaohmmeter equipped within the robot, and the crack is detected by analyzing sonic resonance frequency of insulator generated when the robot applies impact to the insulator. The robot system has been tested successfully at the live line testing facility of Korea electric power research institute up to 345 kV. This paper deals with the design, test, and performance of the testing devices installed in the robot.