Robotic Complex for Assessing the Condition of Electrical Equipment of Substations

This article describes the development and testing of a robotic complex for automating the processes of thermal imaging and visual inspection of electrical equipment of electrical substations with voltages of 110 kV and higher. A prototype of a robotic complex was developed taking into account the size of substations for movement and software was written in accordance with regulatory requirements established in the electric power industry for thermal imaging and visual inspection of electrical equipment of electrical substations, which are represented by the “Operator” and “Analyzer” software packages. The capabilities of the developed robotic complex and software were tested on the 110/10 kV transformer model, and a malfunction of the transformer cooling system was identified. The results obtained show the promise of using a robotic complex for diagnosing electrical equipment. The prospects for using a robotic complex to assess the technical condition of electrical equipment in substations are shown.