(ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.) – Today, PNM hosted a local group of students who are part of a robotics competition, to educate them about the job that PNM linemen do, the tools they use, and the dangers that they face every day. The students are all part of a nonprofit called R4Creating, and they will be working to build a robot that can be used by linemen to aid in their efforts to restore power in a safe, quick manner.
R4Creating is a New Mexico nonprofit whose mission is to provide training and inspire students in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) fields. Each year, they compete in a robotics competition against similar teams across the country. Each team works to engineer and construct a robot based on a theme, which changes every year. This year’s theme is all about creating a robot that can be used in the utility industry to help make linemen’s jobs safer and assist in power restoration.
“It’s no secret that linemen have one of the most dangerous professions,” said Corey Plant, manager for the PNM Line Department. “While technology in the utility industry has made great strides in job safety for linemen, a true understanding of the trade is needed in order for advancements to continue. Educating today’s youth on this is vital.”
In order to help the R4 robotics team have a better understanding of the work that linemen do every day, PNM hosted a demonstration at Reeves Generating Station in Albuquerque. The demo covered the personal protective equipment (PPE) and tools that PNM linemen use each day in their jobs. The line crew also demonstrated pole climbing, discussed the bucket trucks and other equipment that they use, and provided an arc demonstration to visually show the dangers of electricity and the importance that PPE plays when linemen perform their jobs.
"What PNM is doing is critical to developing the STEM career pipeline for students by helping them understand this important industry,” said Dr. Shelly Gruenig with R4Creating. “This collaboration will benefit the robotics team as we face hundreds of competitors from all over the region, and we are grateful for companies like PNM for making a real difference in the lives of so many students and investing in the youth of our state.”
Some short videos of the demonstrations can be found here:
R4Creating robot prototype meets a PNM Lineman
About PNM
With headquarters in Albuquerque, PNM is the largest electricity provider in New Mexico, serving 525,000 customers in dozens of communities across the state. PNM is a subsidiary of PNM Resources, an energy holding company also headquartered in Albuquerque. For more information, visit www.PNM.com.