Robot avatar safely trims trees around active power lines

Workers use VR to control the bot from the safety of the ground.

A robot avatar that mimics the motions of a human controller could take the place of workers in several dangerous jobs, such as tree trimming and construction, by the end of 2022. 

The challenge: If a tree branch gets too close to a power line, it can cause electrical outages or, even worse, dangerous fires (as Californians know all too well). To avoid this, utility companies have to regularly trim trees near their lines.

But it’s dangerous work, as workers are dozens of feet above the ground, using sharp power tools to trim trees while power lives are still active — this puts them at risk of falls, cuts, and electrocution, all at once. 

By some estimates, tree trimming is one of the most dangerous jobs in the country.

“The robot goes and does the work for you in the dangerous or difficult environment.”

Ben Wolff

Workers’ robot avatar: Sarcos Robotics thinks its dexterous Guardian XT robot should take over humans’ tree-trimming duties and more. 

It’s developed a system that turns the robot into an avatar for human workers. A VR headset lets them see what the bot sees, and a wearable called a SenSuit lets them dictate the robot’s actions — whatever motion the human makes, the robot replicates in real-time.

During a recent demonstration, Sarcos’ robot avatar was equipped with cutting equipment and lifted up in a crane. A human then used the robot to trim trees near active power lines — all while they remained safely on the ground.

Multipurpose bot: Tree trimming is just one potential application for the Guardian XT.

Sarcos has also demonstrated how the robot avatar could be used to inspect pipes high above the ground at a chemical plant and to help with construction activities at an oil and gas company.

“The robot goes and does the work for you in the dangerous or difficult environment, at height or in a confined space,” CEO Ben Wolff told the TechFirst podcast

Looking ahead: Sarcos hopes feedback from these demonstrations will help it optimize the robot avatar in ways that allow future customers to “increase productivity while eliminating the need for … employees to operate in dangerous environments,” Wolff said.

The company expects to have the Guardian XT ready for market before the end of 2022, but it doesn’t plan to sell the robots — instead, it will lease the machines to customers.

“By 2026, we have a goal of having a fleet of more than 40,000 robots.”

Ben Wolff

This should make the robots far more affordable than if companies had to buy them outright, which could increase the number of businesses that can afford to give them a shot — and Sarcos is hopeful the avatars will really take off.

“By 2026, we have a goal of having a fleet of more than 40,000 robots,” Wolff told Fierce Electronics.

We’d love to hear from you! If you have a comment about this article or if you have a tip for a future Freethink story, please email us at tips@freethink.com.

Related
Man receives donor lung through tiny 3-inch incision
The first fully robotic lung transplant was completed in Spain by surgeons using a robot and a brand-new access point.
Shape-shifting space robots help firefighters on Earth
The designer of a new type of rover for NASA has found a way to make her space robots useful to firefighters on Earth.
The AI healthcare revolution has begun
The ability of AI to diagnose diseases, discover drugs, and even perform surgery is increasing rapidly — but will patients accept Dr. AI?
This robotic arm study is preparing us for our cyborg future
A new study at the University of Tokyo aims to find out how people feel using robotic arms — and sharing them with others.
A general-purpose robot is entering the workforce
Tech startup Sanctuary AI has unveiled Phoenix, a general-purpose robot designed to perform many workplace tasks.
Up Next
apple ar vr headset
Subscribe to Freethink for more great stories