Operation and insulation techniques

Abstract

Systems and methods for establishing and maintaining an electrical bonding connection between remotely operated equipment and an energized power line using one or more robotic arms disposed on the remotely operated equipment. Sensory information is communicated to an operator at a remote location across a dielectric gap to maintain electrical isolation of the remotely operated equipment.

1 . A method of monitoring electrical bonding of a remotely operated aerial device operating in a remote work environment adjacent to an energized power line, the method comprising:
 determining an electrical bonding status of the remotely operated aerial device with respect to the energized power line;   monitoring an electrical current leakage of the remotely operated aerial device;   transmitting one or more signals across a di-electric gap from the remotely operated aerial device to a user device disposed in a distinct location from the remotely operated aerial device, the one or more signals comprising:
 an indication of the electrical bonding status of the remotely operated aerial device; and 
 an indication of the electrical current leakage of the remotely operated aerial device; and 
   causing display, on head mounted display of the user device, the indication of the electrical bonding status of the remotely operated aerial device and the indication of the electrical current leakage of the remotely operated aerial device based on the one or more signals.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the indication of the electrical bonding status and the indication of the electrical current leakage are configured to be displayed within a user interface associated with the head mounted display of the user device. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 capturing, via at least one camera disposed on the remotely operated aerial device, real-time visual data associated with the remote work environment;   causing display, within the user interface associated with the head mounted display, of the real-time visual data.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 detecting, using at least one voltage sensor disposed on the remotely operated aerial device, an electrical voltage associated with one or more objects within the remote work environment,   wherein the one or more signals further comprises an indication of the electrical voltage associated with the one or more objects; and   causing display, within the user interface associated with the head mounted display, of the indication of the electrical voltage associated with the one or more objects.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 establishing, using one or more robotic arms attached to the remotely operated aerial device, an electrical connection to between a portion of the remotely operated aerial device and the energized power line.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 positioning, using the one or more robotic arms, an insulating cover over an additional power line distinct from the energized power line to thereby provide electrical insulation from the additional power line.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more signals are transmitted wirelessly using a wireless transceiver disposed on the remotely operated aerial device. 
     
     
         8 . A method of monitoring electrical bonding of a remotely operated aerial device, the method comprising:
 determining an electrical bonding status of the remotely operated aerial device with respect to an energized power line;   monitoring an electrical current leakage of the remotely operated aerial device;   transmitting one or more signals across a di-electric gap from the remotely operated aerial device to a user device disposed in a distinct location from the remotely operated aerial device, the one or more signals comprising:
 an indication of the electrical bonding status of the remotely operated aerial device; and 
 an indication of the electrical current leakage of the remotely operated aerial device; and 
   causing display, on at least one display of the user device, the indication of the electrical bonding status of the remotely operated aerial device and the indication of the electrical current leakage of the remotely operated aerial device based on the one or more signals.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 capturing real-time sensory data associated with a remote work environment of the remotely operated aerial device using at least one of a plurality of sensory capture devices disposed on the remotely operated aerial device.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 receiving one or more control signals from the user device, the one or more control signals instructing an action of at least one robotic arm attached to the remotely operated aerial device.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 executing the action of the at least one robotic arm based on the one or more control signals, wherein executing the action comprises:
 positioning the at least one robotic arm with respect to an energized object to secure an insulating cover over the energized object. 
   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 detecting, using at least one voltage sensor disposed on the remotely operated aerial device, an electrical voltage associated with the energized object; and   wherein the one or more signals further comprises an indication of the electrical voltage associated with the energized object; and   causing display, within the at least one display of the user device, of the indication of the electrical voltage associated with the energized object.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more signals are transmitted through a fiber optic cable disposed between insulated portions of the remotely operated aerial device. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the user device is disposed on at a ground location beneath the remotely operated aerial device. 
     
     
         15 . A method of monitoring electrical bonding of a remotely operated aerial device configured to operate in a remote work environment, the method comprising:
 capturing real-time sensory data associated with the remote work environment using at least one of a plurality of sensory capture devices disposed on the remotely operated aerial device;   determining an electrical bonding status of the remotely operated aerial device with respect to an energized power line;   transmitting one or more signals across a di-electric gap from the remotely operated aerial device to a user device disposed in a distinct location from the remotely operated aerial device, the one or more signals comprising:
 the real-time sensory data associated with the remote work environment; and 
 an indication of the electrical bonding status of the remotely operated aerial device; and 
   causing display, on at least one display of the user device, the indication of the electrical bonding status of the remotely operated aerial device and visual data associated with the real-time sensory data based on the one or more signals.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of sensory capture devices comprises:
 one or more cameras configured to capture image data associated with the remote work environment; and   one or more microphones configured to capture audio data associated with the remote work environment.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 receiving one or more control signals from the user device, the one or more control signals instructing an action of at least one robotic arm attached to the remotely operated aerial device.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 executing the action of the at least one robotic arm based on the one or more control signals.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the action of the at least one robotic arm comprises:
 positioning a conductive clamp respective to the energized power line, wherein the conductive clamp comprises a robot interface adapter configured to be actuated by the at least one robotic arm to thereby electrically bond at least a portion of the remotely operated aerial device to the energized power line.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the electrical bonding status is determined based at least in part on actuation of the conductive clamp by the at least one robotic arm.