The present invention relates to a method for automatic meter reading, the method comprising: 1) providing a substation inspection robot for automatic meter reading; 2) using said inspection robot automatic meter reading, the inspection robot comprising GPS navigation devices, storage devices, high-definition image pickup apparatus, an image processing apparatus and a digital signal processor model TMS320LF2407A the DSP, the storage device stores in advance various types of instruments for the template, and the full scale for each type of instrument previously stored template , the minimum scale and pointer model, the high-definition image pickup apparatus for capturing an image of the instrument, the image processing apparatus is connected to the high-definition image pickup apparatus to perform image processing, the DSP and the GPS navigation device is connected to control the patrol detecting the traveling position of the robot, also connected to the storage device and the image processing apparatus, for controlling the inspection robot of automatic meter reading.