From "High-Altitude Climbing" to "Ground Control": Ezhou Power Supply Deploys Human-Robot Collaboration for Live-Line Bird Deterrence Operations

Recently, in the fields of Guaqi Group 16, Huarong District, Ezhou, Pole No. 7 on the Guaqi Group 16 branch of the 10-kV Guodang Line stood tall along the ridge. Standing on the ground, live-line operators from State Grid Ezhou Huarong District Power Supply Company deployed a dual-arm human-robot collaborative distribution network live-line working robot to precisely install a bird repellent without disrupting the power supply. From scaling heights to operating safely on the ground, maintenance models are undergoing a profound transformation.

Work site of live-line operators from State Grid Ezhou Huarong District Power Supply Company

Su Hang, the on-site operations supervisor, noted that traditional manual installation of a single bird repellent required at least 20 minutes. Working at elevated heights in high-voltage environments caused severe physical strain, and despite stringent protective measures, the inherent risks of electric shock and falls from height remained persistent.

Work site

Today, the same task takes only five to six minutes to complete. The dual-arm human-robot collaborative distribution network live-line working robot completely isolates operators from high-voltage electric fields, virtually eliminating the risks of electric shock and falls from height.

Operational site of the dual-arm human-robot collaborative distribution network live-line working robot

To date, State Grid Ezhou Huarong District Power Supply Company has completed 43 robotic operation plans. Moving from labor-intensive pole climbing under the scorching sun to fingertip controls from the ground, Ezhou Power Supply is stepping into a new era of human-robot collaborative live-line operations. This transition marks not only an operational upgrade, but also a vivid demonstration of the company's commitment to advancing State Grid's digital transformation strategy and cultivating new quality productive forces—safeguarding grid security with intelligent technology and providing strong support for high-quality local socio-economic development. (Photos/Text by Jiang Zhigang)