The invention belongs to the technical field of robot image collecting system posture control, and relates to a robot visual operation method based on a 3D live-action database. According to the method, a user can directly select an observation point to a target object through a first person main viewing angle in a 3D live-action map (database), the optimal observation position, the optimal observation angle and the optimal observation posture of the observation point are provided by the 3D live-action map, the three parameters are transmitted to an intelligent inspection robot in a transformer substation master-control room at the same time, and accordingly the robot is commanded to reach the optimal observation position and adjust the observation angle and the observation posture of an image collecting system of the robot. Through the method, the operation difficulty of controlling a posture control system of the robot image collecting system through a manual remote-control mode and a manual presetting method can be avoided, and meanwhile, more direct and flexible operation and control experience is provided for the user.