Transmission line inspection robots: Design of the power supply system

Abstract

This work aims to develop a power supply system to use with the RIOL robot, [1], useful for inspecting high voltage overhead power lines. The power supply operating principle is based on the harvesting of the magnetic energy around the power supply lines by clamping a transformer around the line. A switching power rectifier, controlled to emulate a resistor, is then connected to the transformer secondary to obtain the robot needed voltages (55V ± 2.5%) and power (800W). Simulation results are presented and discussed.