Development of a preformed armor rod repair robot for optical fiber composite overhead ground wire (OPGW)

Abstract

This study presents the development of a compact, lightweight automatic robot for preformed armor rod installation, designed to enhance efficiency and adaptability in OPGW maintenance. The robot features a simplified structure that enables simultaneous mobility and rod winding, eliminating the need to traverse obstacles on wires and significantly reducing repair time. The design incorporates modular components, including a disk chuck that can be tailored to various armor rod specifications and easily replaced, ensuring compatibility with different OPGW sizes and rod lengths. The installation process is performed cyclically, minimizing the robot's volume while maintaining versatility and operational precision. Through theoretical analysis and experimental validation, the optimal relationship between the rotational speeds of the rod and lead screw was determined. The robot demonstrated high work efficiency with an overall installation time of approximately 25 min, requiring no manual intervention.