Cable-net deployment robot for automated protective barrier installation on the transmission lines

Crossing construction over existing infrastructure may cause substantial economic losses and introduce serious safety risks. Therefore, improving the safety and efficiency of live-line crossing construction is of practical importance. This paper proposes a cable-net deployment robot system that automates the installation of protective barriers on energized transmission lines. The system integrates a mobile robot with multiple cooperative deployment units and incorporates mechanisms for stable locomotion, anti-fall self-locking, and axial locking. Experiments under simulated operating conditions demonstrated that the system maintained structural stability under a maximum load of 5750 N, withstood a 22 kg equivalent impact mass at a 5 m drop height, climbed a 15° slope without slippage of the conical magnetic-adsorption wheels, and exhibited a traction force of approximately 41 N during steady motion, with fluctuations of 15-65 N during obstacle traversal. Moreover, a clear, consistent fluctuation pattern between traction and wheel angular velocity enabled adaptive locomotion across varying conditions. These results verify the feasibility and reliability of the proposed system and provide a practical robotic solution for improving the safety and efficiency of live-line barrier installation.