Novel Power Line Grasping Mechanism with Integrated Energy Harvester for UAV applications

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) have been introduced in the energy domain to solve complex tasks involving operations in close proximity to active power lines. Previous research by the authors explore how to grasp such power lines to secure a split-core transformer around the conductor, and hereby harvest energy to recharge the UAVs batteries towards continuous operation. However, no previous research investigate how to integrate an energy harvester (current transformer) into a mechanical grasping solution for a UAV system. In this work, the authors present a novel approach to an integrated mechanism prioritizing low weight for extended flight time. By utilizing the strong electromagnetic forces, the system prove opportunity for further optimization and adoption in other use cases across the UAV domain as well.