Facebook Connectivity, in partnership with ULC Robotics, has developed one robot which is capable of winding optical fibers on medium voltage (MV) power lines that typically serve residential areas in much of the world, at a cost three to five times cheaper than the traditional way of laying fiber.
Karthik Yogeeswaran, a wireless engineer at Facebook Connectivity, told a blog publishing that the idea of the project originated after travel in Africa and observing the ubiquitous power cable infrastructure, which is far more widespread than the country's total fiber optic footprint.
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The robot is made to be able to avoid and cross any obstacles it encounters on its way.
Keeping the robot's weight low makes it ideal to handle a medium voltage line which was a key challenge for manufacturers because it would limit the amount of fiber it could carry.
To be able to navigate obstacles, the robot can lift its middle section containing the fiber systems and rotate. Once the obstacle is passed, it lowers its middle part to continue wrapping. The robot has a vision system to detect obstacles and adjust its movements.
"By reducing the total cost of developing fiber over the air, we expect our system to have a significant impact on internet availability, especially in countries where workers earn less than $ 5,50 a day."
