Grant: CCI Applied Research and Development Grants

Ice storms can cause significant damage to electrical infrastructure which may result in long-term power outages, large-scale and costly repair efforts, stalled economies, and fatalities. The North American Ice Storm of 1998 caused significant damage, and is one of the biggest natural disasters in Canadian history. In North America, ice storms occur every year throughout the northern United States and Canada. This project will advance a solution for preventative maintenance of ice buildup on power distribution lines. Ice Rolling Robotics Inc. (IRR) is a company based in Manitoba that has been developing an automated system for removing ice from high voltage electrical distribution lines. They intend to provide a remote-controlled robotic ice roller that can remove ice buildup and protect electrical distribution lines. The goal of this project is to advance their current ice roller prototype to include a means to bridge distribution line insulators such that a robotic ice roller can continue unimpeded down long stretches of energized conductor. Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s Research in Additive Manufacturing and Prototyping (RAMP) team will collaborate with IRR to develop a mechanism to traverse bridge insulators in electrical power distribution lines, and test the mechanism for proof of concept. Current practice by utilities for removing ice from power distribution lines includes ad-hoc striking (with an insulated pole) and using a crew to operate ice rollers. These ice rollers are insulated poles with rope extensions and a roller on top to run along the conductor. Using such tools is labour-intensive and requires many qualified personnel and a vehicle moving along the ground from which operators drag the tool along the line to break up and shed built-up ice. Given the importance of de-icing, an automated solution is highly desirable to reduce costs, increase efficiency, and increase worker safety. A robotic ice roller capable of bridging insulators and quickly removing ice from distribution lines would reduce or eliminate damage to electrical infrastructure, reduce the frequency and length of power outages, and save lives.