Aiming at the problems of low efficiency, low accuracy and long maintenance cycle of traditional manual detection methods for switch gear detection, robot is proposed to intelligently detect. Through the analysis on sizes of switch gear and switch room in electric power system, switch gear live detection robot is designed to automatically complete switch gear’s real time live detection. While using D-H parameter method to describe mechanical arm, switch gear live detection robot’s simulations are carried out by MATLAB, which analyse the spatial location of mechanical arm. Designed detection robot can ensure high efficiency and reduce manpower input.