From "Simple" to "Too Difficult"

To be honest, at first I thought substation inspection was quite simple. Isn't it just about robots walking around and taking photos? Upon arriving on site, I found out—it's not that simple at all.

The environment of the substation is much more stringent than imagined. The most typical problem is the stairsNot ordinary stairs, but steep slopes over 40 degrees, and the space is particularly small. In this environment, the quadruped robot struggles quite a bit.

5cm Blind Zone: Lifeline for Stairs

The most troublesome issue is the near blind zoneProblem: The blind zone of Mid-360 is 10cm, and under a 40-degree steep slope, these 10cm may cause the robot to "not reach" the edge of the staircase, and it may slide down directly.

After switching to M360, the blind zone is only 5cm. Don't underestimate this 5cm gap; in a 40-degree steep slope, these 5cm determine whether the robot can "succeed in climbing up" or "slide down directly." Moreover, M360's vertical FOV reaches 70 degrees, 11 degrees more than Mid-360, allowing for more detailed stair details in steep slope environments.

This is not a parameter comparison game; it's a real difference that can solve on-site problems. Now, the robot can stabilize its up and down stair movements with minimal human intervention.

Working in Rainy Weather: IP67 + Dual Echo

Substations often rain, which is a real issue. Traditional LiDAR performs poorly in rainy and foggy weather, with noisy point clouds and inaccurate positioning.

M360's IP67 protection and dual echo technology are indeed excellent in rainy weather. The dual echo can penetrate raindrops to see obstacles behind them. This is particularly crucial for substations—equipment inspection cannot stop during rainy days, and M360 ensures the robot's normal operation in the rain.

More Energy-Efficient: 30% Battery Life Enhancement

We use wireless robots, and battery life is a lifeline. The power consumption of the M360 is <4.5W, which is significantly less than the 6.5W of the Mid-360.

With the same battery, the M360 allows the robot to work for an additional 30% of the time. For outdoor patrols, this either means fewer charging times or the use of smaller, lighter batteries. Robots often have to climb stairs, and lightweight design is indeed crucial.

Actual application effects

The current application of this quadruped robot in substation includes:

  • Routine patrol: Autonomous collection of equipment status, real-time data upload
  • Emergency response: Reach the scene quickly in the event of equipment failure
  • Hazardous area operations: Reduce the risk of personnel exposure to high-voltage equipment

The M360's time synchronization with the built-in IMU ensures stable multi-sensor fusion. The complex metal structure of the substation makes positioning accuracy crucial for the safe operation of the robot.

Why choose M360 in the end?

Starting from the actual project needs, several advantages of the M360 are indeed very critical:


5cm ultra-near blind zone: Under a 40-degree steep slope, this directly determines whether the robot can complete the staircase task.


Of course, if it is an indoor, mild environment, or a scenario where weight sensitivity is particularly important, the lightweight Mid-360 may be more suitable. However, in industrial environments like substation, the actual performance of the M360 truly matches the needs.

To conclude

The biggest realization from this project is: selection cannot be based solely on specifications, but on specific scenarios and actual pain points.


The blind zone in a staircase environment is not just "useful," it is "essential."

The M360 is not the best LiDAR, but it is indeed a suitable choice for substation patrol. The key is to find the best match between product features and actual needs.