Patent ID: 7496459

Claim:
A self-propelled, automated, autonomic mechanical device which, when attached to a power network wire, travels along the wire and is able to recognize the basic states of the wire and communicates the state of the wire to a central station, the device comprising: means adapted to engage and move along the wire; a main body of the device supported by said means adapted to engage and move along the wire, the main body including a central processing unit (CPU), working memory, persistent memory, sensor electronics, a communication interface, a location device, motive power system for said means adapted to engage and move along the wire, and a battery; and a docking member associated with the main body for with one or more docking devices positioned at periodic intervals on poles supporting the power grid, said docking member providing one or more of a recharging path from a docking device to charge said battery, and a communication path for uploading said information that potentially indicates a fault to the docking device.