wiredInUSA June 2018

New twist for robots A new twisted-pair cable from Hradil Special Cables is designed to offer a robust alternative to standard coaxial cable. Targeted applications include power supply systems and data transmission for underground TV inspection robots. Coaxial cables usually transmit the camera signals when performing sewer inspection work by robot. This exposes the cables to very high mechanical loads, and not only because sometimes brute force is applied to pull the cables around corners or protruding edges.

The high mechanical robustness of the new cable is due to its design: it absorbs tensile and torsional forces, evenly distributing them across the different construction elements. Its tensile strength exceeds 2,500N, and its bending radius is 80mm. It is stranded free from strain with a fixed lay length, and features an open braided shield made from high strength textile yarn embedded into the PUR cable jacket. In the double-layered twisted-pair cable with 9x0.5mm², 2x0.09mm² and 2x0.15mm², the layers are separated by a special non-woven fabric to ensure smooth slide properties. Hradil’s new twisted-pair cable is low-adhesion and resistant to hydrolysis, oil, UV radiation and microbes.

Variation on a cable theme

TE SubCom has started production of the latest version of its SL17 cable, the A1 variant. The new cable type features a similar structure to the standard SL17 cable product, but with a more compact assembly. The design has been refined for specific applications, with a new nominal transient tensile strength optimized to 50kN. Over 3,000km of the A1 variant has already been produced, with more than 10,000km under contract.

S S The new twisted-pair cable from Hradil Special Cables

If a heavy robot has an accident it is pulled out of the sewer using the cable.

The mechanical forces can inflict severe damage on coaxial cables and, as these forces act directly on its central coaxial conductor, eventual core fracture or core damage is inevitable.

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wiredInUSA - June 2018