Humanoid & robot atlas
LineScout
Photo: Hydro-Quebec (official image), from spectrum.ieee.org. Image policy
CommercialCanada

Hydro-Quebec · working robot

LineScout

A remote-controlled robot that rolls along live transmission conductors on pulleys, with a three-axis arm carrying a high-definition camera, thermal imager and repair tools, driven from the ground with two joysticks. It grew out of Hydro-Quebec's work after the 1998 ice storm and was followed by LineRanger.

Price
—licensed by Hydro-Quebec to utilities
Height
85 cmTaller than 44%
Weight
112 kgHeavier than 60%
Payload
—Not published
Speed
3.6 km/hFaster than 14%
Battery
—Not published
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Why it matters

One of the first robots to travel along energized high-voltage transmission lines (up to 735 kV) and cross obstacles such as spacers to inspect and repair them.

Real-world use

Used on Hydro-Quebec's live lines since about 2006, tested by BC Hydro, National Grid (UK), utilities in China and NYPA in 2015 (T&D World, 2015).

Timeline

First shown
2006
Released
Not yet
First use on energized Hydro-Quebec lines

Maker

Hydro-QuebecCompany

How it stacks up

Against other working & field robots that publish the figure. Pick a measure.

  1. Chico Mendes hybrid environmental robot (Chico)Petrobras · 2008105 cm
  2. LineScoutHydro-Quebec (IREQ research institute) · 200685 cm
  3. HV-100 (Harvey)Harvest Automation · 201253 cm
  4. Husky (A200)Clearpath Robotics (now part of Rockwell Automation) · 201139 cm
  5. LD series (Adept Lynx; LD-60, LD-90, LD-250)Omron Adept (Omron) · 201338 cm
  6. Versatrax 450Inuktun (Eddyfi Technologies) · 201227 cm
  7. JackalClearpath Robotics (now part of Rockwell Automation) · 201425 cm
  8. BraavaiRobot · 20138 cm

LineScout is taller than 44% of the 72 other working & field robots that publish a height. Bars show the 7 closest in date.

Height 85 cm 8 cm200 cm #41 of 73 · taller than 44%

Not published by the maker: payload, joints, battery, price.

Public attention

How much public attention LineScout gets, from open data.

  • No Wikipedia article of its own yet
  • No recent press stories listed yet

Measures how much people read and write about a robot, not how good it is. Measured 2026-10-14; same method for every robot. How it is measured

What’s inside

No component details published yet.

Movement
Other movement

Lineage

Every Hydro-Quebec (IREQ research institute) machine in order.

  1. LineScoutLineScout2006Commercial
  2. LineRangerLineRanger2018Prototype

Made, sold and where

No production or sales figures published yet.

Price
Not publishedlicensed by Hydro-Quebec to utilities
How to get one
No official buying page found

Sources

Figures come from press coverage. Every link below backs something on this page.

IEEE Spectrum LineScout Robot Climbs on Live Power Lines to Inspect Them T&D World Scouting Out Trouble

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