By Dylan Bettencourt
- The Powerline Inspection Robot, first built as a UKZN student project, is now patented in South Africa and the US.
- Eskom says the robot is transforming power line maintenance, cutting faults and reducing dangerous helicopter and foot patrols.
A proudly South African robot built to check power lines is now making waves around the world.
The Powerline Inspection Robot was first created by engineer Trevor Lorimer and former UKZN professor Edward Boje as part of Lorimer’s master’s degree. What began as a student project has become a global innovation, patented in both South Africa and the United States, MyBroadband reported.
The invention has already caught the attention of Japan’s Tokyo Electric Power Company and is being developed for commercial use through UKZN’s InQubate programme.
Eskom, which helped fund the project alongside the KwaZulu-Natal government, says the robot is changing how it looks after the national grid.
The machine moves along live power lines using wheels, cameras and sensors to spot damage before it becomes a problem. It can climb over towers, withstand strong wind and rain, and even detect obstacles using smart machine vision.
Lorimer, now head of Power Line Robotics, says the robot will help Eskom prevent power cuts that affect homes and businesses.
“Eskom handles many faults every year,” he said. “These cause power dips that affect homes and businesses.”
Before this invention, Eskom relied on helicopters or ground patrols – both costly and dangerous. Lorimer says future versions could stay on the lines permanently, warning operators before faults occur.
“This is a disruptive innovation,” he said. “It’s different from what others in the world are building, and that gives us an edge.”
Pictured above: Trevor Lorimer’s power line inspection robot in action.
Image source: UKZN
