New solutions for effective diagnosis of power lines by UrFU specialists

15:05, February 6, 2017

"Laboratory of the Future" presents the project "Kanatohod" during the engineering expert session in Skolkovo

Today, on January 6, Skolkovo is hosting the engineering expert session, at which experts will discuss new approaches to the design, construction and maintenance of overhead power lines.

The professionals are not satisfied with the growing electrical networks accident rates, the high cost of maintenance and repairs, and the low level of awareness about the state of power supply facilities.

Power engineering specialists consider new opportunities for diagnostics of the electrical network elements. One of the prospective technology platforms is developed by UrFU small innovative enterprises "Laboratory of the Future". The development of robotic systems for the diagnosis of high-voltage overhead power lines "Kanatohod" (can be roughly translated as “Rope-walker”) is supported by the government of the Sverdlovsk region.

The "Kanatohod" can take off from the ground station, place itself on the power line or lightning protection cable and automatically move from one substation to another, collecting and processing information about the state of the object, form lists of deficiencies, generate recommendations and evaluate volumes of the repair work.

This project is not the only technology that enables substantial changes in power engineering. The Federal Grid Company discuss possibilities of creation of an integrated hardware complex capable of incorporating a maximum possible number of solutions for prompt and accurate assessment of powerlines and combine the technology with geographic information systems. The specialists would be able to literally see every object and any, even invisible, defects.

Any specialists and experts in power engineering, robotics, IT, as well as lawyers, economists, structural engineers working in the power industry and interested in the problems and possibilities for development of electrical grid systems with the use of modern intelligent technology are welcome to join the discussion.

The engineering expert session is taking place in Skolkovo on February 6-10, 2017. The preparatory stage and the session itself will include the development of the new edition of “Kanatohod”, manufacturing of its components, assembling, tuning, and preparations for trials.