The university's invention will set up power lines in the UAE, Nigeria, Ghana and India

16:48, October 8, 2018

Successful testing of the project in Dubai launched a pilot implementation to the global market

The developers of the “Laboratory of the Future” of Ural Federal University, together with a representative of the Skolkovo Foundation demonstrated the basic technology and software for diagnostics and maintenance of overhead power lines at one of the facilities of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) in the United Arab Emirates. "Kanatohod” (trans.: “Ropewalker") is a portfolio project of innovative infrastructure of the university.

The participants of the field demonstration saw the operation of the diagnostic platform of the complex with a video camera and thermal imager, how the platform took off and landed on the wire for applying hydrophobic and anti-corrosion coating, installedand removed the short circuit indicator using a drone, evaluated the performance of the simulator with a 3D model of DEWA power line and mobile application software.

‘DEWA is interested in new developments. This is a more essential condition for the successful implementation of innovation than their economic or technological advantages, which is not always possible to fully appreciate at the start,’ says Alexander Lemekh, head of UrFU Laboratory of the Future. ‘Despite the fact that the development is still far from complete, a real demonstration of new Russian technologies at the facilities of foreign energy companies is the best confirmation of the advantages of our project in comparison with existing world practices and a unique opportunity for Russian technologies to enter the world market as soon as possible.’ 

Also in Dubai, the “Laboratory of the Future” conducted the International Road Show of the  project “Kanatohod” (“Ropewalker”). The Laboratory signed an agency agreement for the provision of services in Nigeria and Ghana in the amount of at least two million dollars with Metikon Engineering Limited and an agreement of intent with Prasanna Technologies Pvt Ltd to conclude an agreement of exclusive representation in India.

We would like to remind  March 2018, UrFU Laboratory of the Future took part in the Middle East Electricity exhibition in Dubai.  The development of the company attracted attention of representatives of power grid companies from two dozen countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, India, Pakistan, Ethiopia, and Latin America. In July, Future Lab signed an agreement with DEWA.