Design and Modeling of a Robot for De-Icing Overhead Power Lines

Abstract In cold climates, removing accumulated ice and snow from power lines is an important aspect of protecting critical infrastructure. Current methods for power line de-icing suffer from cost, efficiency, and/or scalability limitations. In this paper, a robotic solution is presented to quickly and scalably provide mechanical de-icing functionality. A design concept, dynamic model, and simulation results are presented.