SkySweeper robot makes inspecting power lines easy and inexpensive (w/ Video)
Tuesday, August 6, 2013 - 13:20
in Physics & Chemistry
Mechanical engineers at the University of California, San Diego invented a robot designed to scoot along utility lines, searching for damage and other problems that require repairs. Made of off-the-shelf electronics and plastic parts printed on an inexpensive 3D printer, the SkySweeper prototype could be scaled up for less than $1,000, making it significantly more economical than the two models of robots currently used to inspect power lines.