Palm-sized robot transforms grid inspection in Hangzhou

A palm-sized six-leg inspection robot is on duty inside a power pipeline. [Photo/hangzhou.com.cn]

A palm-sized six-leg inspection robot is bringing intelligence to Hangzhou's power grid maintenance, local media outlets reported.

At the 220-kilovolt Caihong Substation, technicians remotely guided the 84-millimeter-high, spider-like robot into a 300-mm-diameter gas-insulated switchgear (GIS) chamber, where it navigated the narrow interior and transmitted real-time video.

GIS equipment, known for its complex and tightly sealed structure, has long required technicians to open sections of the chamber and rely on flashlights and handheld scopes.

Developed by the State Grid Hangzhou branch, the new robot overcomes these limitations with a compact design, adaptive six-leg mobility, and 360-degree high-definition imaging and sensor modules.

The robot completed a full inspection of a 25-meter GIS pipeline in just 30 minutes, sharply improving efficiency and reducing safety risks. With more than half of Hangzhou's substations now using GIS equipment — and all new stations fully adopting it — the demand for smarter inspection tools is rising.

Capable of working across various voltage levels and GIS specifications, the robot is expected to support the sector's shift from manual to intelligent maintenance and could see widespread adoption across China's power system.