The ice covering of transmission lines is very harmful to the power grid. How to ensure the stability of power supply while efficiently removing ice has become a major research focus. The traditional deicing method has obvious disadvantages and low versatility. Robot deicing technology can integrate the advantages of traditional deicing methods, and gradually become the development trend of future transmission line deicing. Based on the current research status of deicing robots at home and abroad, the composition and functions of deicing robots such as walking, deicing, pressing and equipotential bonding are reviewed and summarized in this paper. Finally, it points out the existing problems in the research of transmission line deicing robot in the aspects of fast up and down line, equal potential lap and anti-electromagnetic interference, and puts forward future research suggestions from the theoretical point of view.