Unmanned aerial system and method for contact inspection and otherwise performing work on power line components

1. A system for performing work on electrical power lines and/or splices on energized electrical power lines, the system comprising:

an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV);

a power line tool adapted to perch on an energized electrical power line and/or a splice on the energized electrical power line;

a support frame selectively releasably attached to the UAV; and

a plurality of flexible dielectric support lines attaching the power line tool to the support frame, each of the flexible dielectric support lines attached to a corresponding attachment point on the support frame and a corresponding attachment point on the power line tool, wherein a length of each of the flexible dielectric support lines is based on an electromagnetic field of the energized electrical power line.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the power line tool comprises a contact inspection tool having a front section, a rear section, and an elongated middle section therebetween, each of the front and rear sections having an electrical contact portion adapted to contact the energized electrical power line and/or the splice to perform one or more electrical measurements of the energized electrical power line and/or the splice when the contact inspection tool is perched on the energized electrical power line and/or the splice.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of support lines comprises at least three support lines; and

wherein the contact inspection tool has either (a) at least two attachment points on the front section and at least one attachment point on the rear section or on the middle section adjacent to the rear section or (b) at least one attachment point on the front section and at least two attachment points on the rear section or on the middle section adjacent to the rear section.

4. The system of claim 2 , wherein the front and rear sections of the contact inspection tool each have a first elongated guide downwardly extending from a first side of the respective front and rear sections of the contact inspection tool.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the first elongated guide of each of the front and rear sections of the contact inspection tool are substantially vertical when the contact inspection tool is upright.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the first elongated guide of each of the front and rear sections of the contact inspection tool comprise a rigid pole.

7. The system of claim 5 , wherein the first elongated guide of each of the front and rear sections of the contact inspection tool comprise a flexible boom.

8. The system of claim 5 , wherein the front and rear sections of the contact inspection tool each have a second elongated guide downwardly extending from a second side of the respective front and rear sections of the contact inspection tool.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the second elongated guide of each of the front and rear sections of the contact inspection tool are angled from vertical when the contact inspection tool is upright.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the length of the flexible dielectric support lines is adapted to be selected based on a voltage of the energized electrical power line.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the power line tool is adapted to have a center of gravity lower than the energized electrical power line and/or the splice upon which the power line tool is adapted to be perched.

12. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a ground perch for receiving the power line tool thereupon, the ground perch comprising a substantially horizontal landing bar supported by opposing upright support structures, the landing bar having an electrically conductive portion electrically connected to a ground wire and/or a ground rod.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the ground wire is at least partially contained within one of the support structures of the ground perch.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the support structure within which the ground wire is at least partially contained comprises an electrically conductive foot adapted to be pushed into a surface upon which the support structure sits, wherein the ground wire is electrically connected to the foot.

15. The system of claim 12 , wherein the landing bar has an electrically non-conductive portion, wherein the electrically conductive portion is supported by one of the support structures and the electrically non-conductive portion is supported by the other of the support structures.

16. A method for contact inspection of energized electrical power lines and/or splices on energized electrical power lines, the method comprising:

attaching a power line tool to an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) via a support frame, wherein:

the power line tool is adapted to perch on an energized electrical power line and/or a splice on the energized electrical power line,

the support frame is selectively releasably attached to the UAV, and

a plurality of flexible dielectric support lines attach the power line tool to the support frame, each of the support lines being attached to a corresponding attachment point on the support frame and a corresponding attachment point on the power line tool, and a length of each of the flexible dielectric support lines being based on an electromagnetic field of the energized electrical power line;

piloting the UAV to a position adjacent to and at an altitude that is higher than an energized electrical power line and/or a splice on the energized electrical power line upon which it is desired to perch the power line tool;

reducing the altitude of the UAV to lower the power line tool onto the energized electrical power line and/or the splice such that the power line tool is perched on the energized electrical power line and/or the splice; and

further reducing the altitude of the UAV to introduce slack into the support lines.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the power line tool comprises a contact inspection tool having a front section, a rear section, and an elongated middle section therebetween, each of the front and rear sections having an electrical contact portion adapted to contact the energized electrical power line and/or the splice to perform one or more electrical measurements of the energized electrical power line and/or the splice when the contact inspection tool is perched on the energized electrical power line and/or the splice;

and wherein the method further comprises performing one or more electrical measurements of the energized electrical power line and/or the splice while the contact inspection tool is perched on the energized electrical power line.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the plurality of support lines comprises at least three support lines, and wherein the contact inspection tool has either (a) at least two attachment points on the front section and at least one attachment point on the rear section or on the middle section adjacent to the rear section or (b) at least one attachment point on the front section and at least two attachment points on the rear section or on the middle section adjacent to the rear section.

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein the front and rear sections of the contact inspection tool each have a first elongated guide downwardly extending from a first side of the respective front and rear sections of the contact inspection tool; and

wherein, prior to reducing the altitude of the UAV to lower the contact inspection tool onto the energized electrical power line and/or the splice, the method further comprises piloting the UAV laterally until the first elongated guide of each of the front and rear sections of the contact inspection tool contact the energized electrical power line and/or the splice.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the first elongated guide of each of the front and rear sections of the contact inspection tool are substantially vertical when the contact inspection tool is upright.

21. The method of claim 19 , wherein the first elongated guide of each of the front and rear sections of the contact inspection tool comprise a rigid pole.

22. The method of claim 19 , wherein the first elongated guide of each of the front and rear sections of the contact inspection tool comprise a flexible boom.

23. The method of claim 19 , wherein the front and rear sections of the contact inspection tool each have a second elongated guide downwardly extending from a second side of the respective front and rear sections of the contact inspection tool.

24. The method of claim 23 , wherein the second elongated guide of each of the front and rear sections of the contact inspection tool are angled from vertical when the contact inspection tool is upright.

25. The method of claim 16 , wherein a length of the support lines is adapted to be selected based on a voltage of the energized electrical power line and/or the splice.

26. The method of claim 16 , wherein the power line tool is adapted to have a center of gravity lower than the energized electrical power line and/or the splice upon which the power line tool is perched.

27. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:

increasing the altitude of the UAV to lift the power line tool off of the energized electrical power line and/or the splice;

piloting the UAV to a position adjacent to and at an altitude higher than a ground perch, the ground perch comprising a substantially horizontal landing bar supported by opposing upright support structures, the landing bar for receiving the power line tool thereupon, the landing bar having an electrically conductive portion electrically connected to a ground wire and/or a ground rod;

reducing the altitude of the UAV to lower the power line tool onto the landing bar of the ground perch such that the power line tool is perched on the landing bar of the ground perch;

further reducing the altitude of the UAV to introduce slack into the support lines;

piloting the UAV laterally away from the ground perch; and

detaching the support frame from the UAV.

28. The method of claim 27 , wherein the ground wire is at least partially contained within one of the support structures of the ground perch.

29. The method of claim 28 , wherein the support structure within which the ground wire is at least partially contained comprises an electrically conductive foot adapted to be pushed into a surface upon which the support structure sits, wherein the ground wire is electrically connected to the foot; and

wherein the method further comprises pushing the electrically conductive foot into the surface upon which the support structure sits prior to reducing the altitude of the UAV to lower a contact inspection tool onto the landing bar of the ground perch.

30. The method of claim 27 , wherein the landing bar has an electrically non-conductive portion;

and wherein the electrically conductive portion is supported by one of the support structures and the electrically non-conductive portion is supported by the other of the support structures.