Robot dogs are coming to America's power grid, and they're doing more than just looking futuristic.
At Sacramento Municipal Utility District, three robot dogs named Astro, Judy, and Elroy (The Jetsons, anyone?) are helping inspect substations, detect equipment problems, and prevent costly failures.
With more than 270 substations and 400 large transformers to monitor, SMUD is exploring how robotics can improve grid reliability while keeping utility workers safe.
In this episode, SMUD's Director of Substation Telecommunications and Metering Assets, Eric Poff, explains to Energy Central's Matt Chester how the utility is deploying these robots, why catching a faulty $2,000 component could save a $4 million transformer, and what it takes to turn an innovative pilot into a practical utility solution.
We also explore how robot dogs could eventually patrol substations for security and inspect hazardous hydroelectric infrastructure, all without replacing the humans who keep the grid running.
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