The electricity infrastructure sector in Israel is taking a significant step toward the autonomous era. The electric company, in cooperation with the Israeli company Axioma Robotics, has developed an advanced maintenance robot designed to operate in a high-voltage line environment. The project, which required an investment of millions of shekels and hundreds of hours of planning and engineering, is intended to solve one of the most complex problems in network management: The need to carry out maintenance work without interrupting the flow of electricity to customers while simultaneously reducing the real risk to workers’ lives at height.
The robot is mounted on a lifting platform and operated by a single operator who remains safely on the ground. The system includes two robotic arms capable of performing delicate and precise mechanical actions on the transmission lines. Although the robot can perform many actions independently, its control is defined as semi-autonomous – the system executes tasks under close supervision and real-time approval from the human operator, ensuring full control in the sensitive work environment.
To navigate the complex space of power lines, the robot is equipped with a rich sensing array that includes high-resolution cameras and a LiDAR sensor for precise distance measurement. This technology enables the robot to build a complete spatial picture and identify its exact position relative to the conductors and various infrastructure components. The brain behind the machine is based on artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms, trained to identify different work scenarios and adapt the movement of the arms to the density of the lines and obstacles along the way.
Beyond performing physical actions, the system serves as an advanced diagnostic tool. The robot performs real-time visual and thermal analysis, allowing it to detect weak points such as heat sources, corrosion, or structural defects before they become serious malfunctions. The list of tasks it is already capable of performing includes installing line accessories, handling damaged conductors, trimming vegetation near the lines, and installing bird protection measures. At the electric company and Axioma Robotics, they continue to improve the machine learning models, with the aim of expanding the robot’s range of tasks and gradually reducing the need for human contact in these hazardous work environments.