Design and Application of a Top-mounted UAV Thermal Fusion Cutter Robotic Device

The attachment of foreign objects such as plastic films and sunshade nets on overhead transmission lines poses critical threats to power line safety. Conventional clearance methods relying on manual live-line operations or flame-throwing drones have significant limitations, while laser cannons exhibit poor combustion efficiency on transparent plastic films, along with issues such as low efficiency, high safety risks, and poor environmental adaptability. This paper presents a top-mounted UAV thermal fusion cutter robotic device. The inspection robot employs carbon fiber insulating materials and achieves equipotential connection with conductors through a bracket and insulated rollers. Capable of both aerial navigation and locomotion along transmission lines, the device can adapt to conductors of different specifications, climb slopes, and perform thermal fusion cutting of plastic films. It is engineered to accommodate various conductor configurations, maintaining stable operation when traversing obstacles such as compression splices and vibration dampers. Practical tests verify its controllability, flexibility, and potential for intelligent substitution in power line maintenance applications.