Facebook Connectivity, in partnership with ULC Robotics, has developed a robot capable of winding fiber optics into medium voltage (MV) power cables that typically serve residential areas around the world, three to five times cheaper than traditional way of laying fibers.
Karthik Yogeeswaran, a wireless engineer at Facebook Connectivity, told a blog publishing that the idea of the project it came about after traveling to Africa and observing the ubiquitous power cable infrastructure, which is far more widespread than the country's overall fiber footprint.
Watch this video
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=320046849029260
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 for handling a medium voltage line, which was a major challenge for manufacturers as it would limit the amount of fiber it could carry.
To be able to navigate obstacles, the robot can raise its middle section containing the fiber systems and rotate. Once it passes the obstacle it lowers its middle section to continue winding. The robot has one system vision to detect obstacles and adjust its movements.
"By reducing the overall cost of deploying aerial fiber, we expect our system to have a significant impact on the availability of Internet, especially in countries where workers earn less than $5,50 a day."
