Hardware components for the termination and/or splicing of overhead electrical cables that have optical fibers associated with the cable. The hardware components enable access to the optical fibers for connecting to interrogation devices or for connecting to telecommunications equipment. The hardware components also enable the optical fibers to pass through terminations and splices without damaging the optical fibers.

The disclosed system may include (1) a spool that carries a length of fiber optic cable to be installed on a powerline conductor, where the spool defines multiple axes of rotation, and (2) a motion subsystem that carries the spool, where the motion subsystem (a) causes the system to travel along the powerline conductor, (b) revolves the spool helically about the powerline conductor at a first rate related to a second rate at which the system travels along the powerline conductor, and (c) rotates the spool about the multiple axes of rotation while revolving the spool helically about the powerline conductor to helically wrap the fiber optic cable about the powerline conductor. Various other systems, apparatuses, and methods are also disclosed.

The disclosed system may include (1) a drive subsystem that translates along a powerline conductor, (2) a rotation subsystem that rotates a segment of fiber optic cable about the powerline conductor while the drive subsystem translates along the powerline conductor such that the segment of fiber optic cable is wrapped helically about the powerline conductor, and (3) an extension subsystem that (a) mechanically couples the rotation subsystem to the drive subsystem, and (b) selectively extends the rotation subsystem away from the drive subsystem and the powerline conductor to avoid obstacles along the powerline conductor. Various other systems and methods are also disclosed.

The disclosed systems for suspending cable (e.g., fiber optic cable) from an overhead powerline may include a payload subsystem for housing and dispensing a cable along an overhead powerline, a rotation subsystem for winging the cable from the payload subsystem around the powerline, an extension subsystem for moving the payload subsystem to avoid obstacles, an obstacle detection subsystem for automatically detecting obstacles encountered along the powerline, a drive subsystem for driving the system along the powerline, and at least one processor for controlling the payload subsystem, rotation subsystem, extension subsystem, obstacle detection subsystem, and drive subsystem in a manner that avoids obstacles as the system moves along the powerline. Various other related systems, devices, components, and methods are also disclosed.

The disclosed robotic system may include (1) a drive subsystem that translates the robotic system along a powerline conductor and (2) a rotation subsystem coupled to the drive subsystem, where (a) the rotation subsystem is coupled to a container that defines an arcuate volume about an axis such that the container partially surrounds the powerline conductor when the axis aligns with the powerline conductor, (b) the container carries a segment of fiber optic cable coupled to the powerline conductor, and (c) the rotation subsystem, while the drive subsystem translates the robotic system along the powerline conductor, rotates the container about the powerline conductor while the axis is aligned with the powerline conductor such that the segment of fiber optic cable is wrapped helically about the powerline conductor. Various other systems and methods are also disclosed.