Wonder if you considered a bow design on the top part, so it always wants to hug the pole like the transitioning part of the pole where it's tapered.

My first design (Of witch I don't have any pics) was a multiple carbon fibre bow design but I couldn't keep the wheels on the pole.

I see. How's the project going now? Does it have an onboard camera/transmission feed you can pan around? Or "will it" I guess is a better question.

I took a bit of a break from this project but no it didn't do anything else other  than go up and down a pole but you can do all that stuff probably, But one thing I would do first is lighten it up a bit by using carbon fibre instead of those aluminium extrusions. ohh and it did fall once.

Ahh I gotcha, well good luck with it or whatever you're working on now haha.

Thanks Jacob :)

Really cool! I was thinking about something like this to climb trees to put up ham antennas. Much rougher surface than a pole, of course, but the idea would be the same. Have you given any thought to how your robot could work around obstructions? I'm thinking like fixtures or enclosures attached to the pole.

No sorry so far just strait objects like poles, I think to climb trees you would require something like limbs, And I haven't acquired enough skill points for that. 

My mistake, should have clarified - here in Idaho we have Ponderosa pines that are straight pretty much from the root flare to 40' or 50' up. Almost no branches, so my guess is something like you built but with larger, softer wheels would work with the rough bark.

Great build so far, very inspiring. You might see a tree-climber from me based on your design - lots of uses for such a thing around here.

That should work, And thanks for liking the project Dan :)

Look what I found, This one climbs trees.
https://www.inceptivemind.com/amaran-novel-robotic-tree-climber-safely-harvest-coconuts/15112/?fbclid=IwAR1zeEmo5XkUkfhvaVV257fUljaac4LuMa54WHOr4pJQgOSXgw8ic7Qgh7U

Love it. I wondered about this concept a few years ago. Did you try magnetic wheels? Can you leave a payload at the top and return the vehicle? 

No so far it uses traction and pressure from tensioned springs from one side, And yes you can leave it there, Because the drivetrains are 6 converted servos its not gonna just slide down (since they are not that easy to back drive) when you cut the power to them. 

And thanks for the like and follow :)