Transmission line monitoring system for a power line inspection robot

Abstract

Eskom has thousands-of-kilometres of transmission lines running across South Africa. The current methods of overhead power line inspection (foot patrols and air inspections) have been implemented for a long time now and are expensive and infrequent. The aim was to develop a prototype monitoring system, which had to fit into a transmission line robot to collect information from the power line and will allow a person to remotely (wirelessly) inspect the power line. The hardware consists of a PandaBoard® (SBC) together with a 5 MP camera and GPS receiver to collect information. High detail (resolution) photos of the power line covered the biggest problem faced on the lines, namely: hardware fatigue. The evidence was then accessible on a website hosted by the PandaBoard® via Wi-Fi. The solution is light weight, compact and has a low power consumption. The monitoring system makes collecting evidence easy and fast. The results obtained by this prototype are satisfactory as a concept for further development and can provide a feasible and improved solution for monitoring of transmission lines for Eskom