Expliner Robot - High Voltage Transmission Line Inspection Robot #DigInfo

[Sworksepic12]

Question - look at the linesman walking on the 3 phases. Now - look at the ring that is touching all 3 phases then connected to his body, how in the hell is that ring not creating a phase to phase short? Anyone???

[cshull09]

@Sworksepic12 all three of those wires are actually one phase, its called "bundling conductors." There for all three wires are the same potential, so that is why there is no arc or short. Its more efficient to use 3 conductors that size than one conductor 3 times that size.

[Kenjikentai]

always in japan

[kokaiini]

stunning!! bows to the inventor!

[amdaglas]

how easier would be to use an rc heli :P

[akai454]

Wow, that's actually pretty cool and it looks kinda stable, but definitely the ability to transfer over the towers makes this realistic, plus using the center of gravity to aid in acrobatics shows that some one has been using "nonlinear thinking".

[HyperGolem]

So that's where GlaDOS went after Portal 2.

[Tricyklist]

@ArtOfKillingTY The angles between the wheel flanges are clearly designed to pinch onto the cables on which they are riding. This ensures grip without resorting to rubber. Which might slip in wet conditions.

[KottonmouthSoldiers]

isnt the problem of stopping the electricity solved by the use of faraday cage suits? forgive me, im no expert.

[kokaiini]

@KottonmouthSoldiers As far as I know, Faraday cage can only protect you from high frequency voltage.. Correct me if I'm wrong, anybody :)

[ZzRvXzZ]

Darn... it doesn't look like anything obscene... : (

[ForcedAgenda]

Right..."people have to do the job". Who needs people anymore!

[WavesOfTrolls]

@ForcedAgenda what we need are robotic women

[niiidar]

Cool invention!

[kmarinas86]

Now you just need to develop it some more so it can have human riders. Then you will have a form of transportation.

[MrJohn1966elliott]

Good idea !!! 

[Diginfonews]

@ArtOfKillingTY There is a clip (at 1:21) which basically secures the robot to the wire. If it falls off because of strong winds (or birds!) it will still be attached and the operator can then manually maneuver it back on to to the wire.

[arieldude]

@ArtOfKillingTY I think that the rubber would get worn out by the threads of the lines if they tried that

[FlumenSanctiViti]

Wow! Simply amazing! o.O

Why didn't I think of that? :/

[odstroy22]

Amazing invention, and i would gladly give them money to help them out. But wouldn't this take jobs of humans = unemployment?

[Valca000]

@odstroy22 how so..... you would need a whole bunch of marketers, engineers and accountants to build sell this piece of robot

[andeng567567]

this is awesome!

[djmarcos702]

They just need to make it grab for the wind

[Virchew]

Great idea. It looks precarious up there though. If there was too much wind it looks like it would fall easily. Maybe they'll add something to support it more.

[myshoescramp]

Seems like a great alternative to the job. I just feel sorry for the guys who wont get to do that any more XD

[adessokun]

@myshoescramp the guys that are doing the job now, don't want to do it anymore in first place...it is dangerous...and actually those are the guys that are now driving the robot for the inspection...nobody lost his job and more than that nobody will lose his life doing that job..

[pakedskeezer]

it looks awesome when it climbs around the tower :D

[lolergramCCCP]

co za asy

[tkk92]

this is brilliant.

[GmodMark]

This freaking awesome. I would have never thought of anything like that.

[CiNtRaX]

brutal el concepto de sto !! muy bueno

[poopdude]

Neat!

[seterry]

that looks awesome! but how is it powered? by the lines themselvs?

[Diginfonews]

@seterry The box that acts as a counterbalance (at 2:03) contains the battery that powers the Expliner.

[letteralex]

@Diginfonews thats clever :) i see great potential in this device, heh

[LTF85199]

interesting

[cesarbattistinim]

Awesome