Systems and methods for installing fiber optic cable onto a powerline conductor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020358268-A1
Application number	US-202016867312-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 5, 2020
Priority date	May 10, 2019
Publication date	Nov 12, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

The disclosed robotic system may include (1) a drive subsystem that translates the robotic system along a powerline conductor and (2) a rotation subsystem coupled to the drive subsystem, where (a) the rotation subsystem is coupled to a container that defines an arcuate volume about an axis such that the container partially surrounds the powerline conductor when the axis aligns with the powerline conductor, (b) the container carries a segment of fiber optic cable coupled to the powerline conductor, and (c) the rotation subsystem, while the drive subsystem translates the robotic system along the powerline conductor, rotates the container about the powerline conductor while the axis is aligned with the powerline conductor such that the segment of fiber optic cable is wrapped helically about the powerline conductor. Various other systems and methods are also disclosed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A robotic system comprising:
a drive subsystem that translates the robotic system along a powerline conductor; and a rotation subsystem coupled to the drive subsystem, wherein:
the rotation subsystem is coupled to a container that defines an arcuate volume about an axis such that the container partially surrounds the powerline conductor when the axis aligns with the powerline conductor;
the container carries a segment of fiber optic cable coupled to the powerline conductor; and
the rotation subsystem, while the drive subsystem translates the robotic system along the powerline conductor, rotates the container about the powerline conductor while the axis is aligned with the powerline conductor such that the segment of fiber optic cable is wrapped helically about the powerline conductor.

2 . The robotic system of claim 1 , wherein the drive subsystem comprises:
a first drive subsystem end portion that leads the rotation subsystem while translating the robotic system along the powerline conductor; and a second drive subsystem end portion that follows the rotation subsystem while translating the robotic system along the powerline conductor.

3 . The robotic system of claim 2 , further comprising a payload subsystem that carries the container and is coupled to the rotation subsystem such that the rotation subsystem rotates the payload subsystem about the powerline conductor as the drive subsystem translates the robotic system along the powerline conductor.

4 . The robotic system of claim 3 , wherein the payload subsystem further comprises a payout straw assembly coupled to a trailing end of the second drive subsystem end portion such that the payout straw assembly rotates about the powerline conductor with the payload subsystem to helically wrap the segment of fiber optic cable about the powerline conductor while maintaining tension on a portion of the segment of fiber optic cable being wrapped.

5 . The robotic system of claim 4 , further comprising a fiber payout track that guides the segment of fiber optic cable past the second drive subsystem end portion between the container and the payout straw assembly.

6 . The robotic system of claim 3 , wherein the payload subsystem further comprises a tensioner assembly that maintains tension on a portion of the segment of fiber optic cable being wrapped.

7 . The robotic system of claim 2 , wherein each of the first drive subsystem end portion and the second drive subsystem end portion pivots vertically relative to the rotation subsystem.

8 . The robotic system of claim 2 , wherein each of the first drive subsystem end portion and the second drive subsystem end portion extends and retracts longitudinally relative to the rotation subsystem.

9 . The robotic system of claim 8 , wherein each of the first drive subsystem end portion and the second drive subsystem end portion comprises:
a driving mechanism that selectively engages the powerline conductor to translate the robotic system along the powerline conductor; and a grasping mechanism that selectively engages the powerline conductor while a corresponding one of the first drive subsystem end portion or the second drive subsystem end portion extends and retracts longitudinally relative to the rotation subsystem to translate the robotic system along the powerline conductor.

10 . The robotic system of claim 2 , wherein each of the first drive subsystem end portion and the second drive subsystem end portion comprises:
a first driving mechanism that selectively engages the powerline conductor to translate the robotic system along the powerline conductor; and a second driving mechanism positioned between the rotation subsystem and the first driving mechanism that selectively engages the powerline conductor to translate the robotic system along the powerline conductor.

11 . The robotic system of claim 10 , wherein each of the first driving mechanism and the second driving mechanism translates orthogonally to the powerline conductor relative to a corresponding one of the first drive subsystem end portion or the second drive subsystem end portion.

12 . The robotic system of claim 10 , wherein at least one of the first driving mechanism or the second driving mechanism translates along the powerline conductor relative to a corresponding one of the first drive subsystem end portion or the second drive subsystem end portion.

13 . The robotic system of claim 1 , further comprising:
an extension subsystem that:
mechanically couples the rotation subsystem to the drive subsystem; and
selectively extends the rotation subsystem away from the powerline conductor to avoid an obstacle along the powerline conductor.

14 . The robotic system of claim 13 , wherein the rotation subsystem further comprises at least one stabilization component that maintains a desired rotational position of rotation subsystem relative to the powerline conductor.

15 . The robotic system of claim 14 , wherein the at least one stabilization component comprises one or more thrusters.

16 . A method comprising:
translating a robotic system along a powerline conductor; and rotating, about the powerline conductor, while translating the robotic system along the powerline conductor, a container coupled to the robotic system to helically wrap about the powerline conductor a segment of fiber optic cable that is carried in the container and is coupled to the powerline conductor, wherein:
the container defines an arcuate volume about an axis such that the container partially surrounds the powerline conductor when the axis aligns with the powerline conductor; and
the container is rotated about the powerline conductor while the axis is aligned with the powerline conductor.

17 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
maintaining a range of tension on a portion of the segment of fiber optic cable while the container is rotated about the powerline conductor.

18 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
selectively extending the container away from the powerline conductor while translating the robotic system along the powerline conductor to avoid an obstacle along the powerline conductor.

19 . A container for carrying a segment of fiber optic cable, the container comprising:
an arcuate volume about an axis such that the container partially surrounds the axis without intersecting the axis; and an aperture through which the segment of fiber optic cable is drawn.

20 . The container of claim 19 , wherein the container further comprises an attachment structure by which the container is removably attached to a robotic system that rotates the container about a powerline conductor while the robotic system translates along the powerline conductor and while the axis aligns with the powerline conductor to helically wrap the segment of fiber optic cable via the aperture to the powerline conductor.

Assignees

• Facebook Inc

Inventors

• Kuriloff Jonathan M
• Lagosz-Sinclair Benjamin
• Symington Alex Edwin
• Webster John J
• Kachmar Wayne Michael

Classifications

• H02G1/02

  for overhead lines or cables · CPC title

• G02B6/486 Primary

  by helical wrapping · CPC title

• G02B6/4457

  Bobbins; Reels · CPC title

• H02G1/04 Primary

  for mounting or stretching · CPC title