Recently, State Grid Xizang Ultra-High Voltage Company successfully conducted a live repair operation on a broken strand of optical cable using an intelligent robot on the 500 kV Chalong II Line, between tower sections 376# and 377#. This marks the region's first application of a "heavy-lift drone + intelligent repair robot" system to perform unmanned, live-line, high-altitude repairs on a 500 kV optical cable without power interruption, signaling a new phase in the intelligent operation and maintenance of ultra-high voltage transmission lines in the area.
The defective section is located in mountainous terrain with complex topography. The optical cable had developed broken and dispersed strands due to prolonged stress, posing a trip risk. Traditional repair methods involve high safety risks and significant impacts from power outages. As this line is a critical transmission channel, an outage would substantially affect grid stability.
The operation innovatively employed an integrated solution involving a heavy-lift drone for hoisting and placement, an autonomous crawling robot, and remote-controlled repair. The drone precisely delivered the robot to the work point on the cable. The robot then crawled autonomously along the cable, using a high-definition vision system to identify the broken strand locations. Ground personnel remotely operated the robot to complete the entire repair process, including strand combing, repositioning, and reinforcement.
The entire operation was conducted without power interruption, tower climbing, or any personnel working at height. It was completed in approximately 50 minutes, improving efficiency by over 60% compared to traditional outage-based maintenance. This achieved the operational goal of "zero outage, zero height work, zero risk, and high efficiency."
Moving forward, State Grid Xizang Ultra-High Voltage Company will continue to deepen the integrated application of new technologies such as robots and drones. It aims to accelerate the construction of an intelligent operation and maintenance system characterized by "rapid detection, precise positioning, unmanned repair, safety, and efficiency," using technological innovation to ensure the secure and stable operation of the power grid.
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