In Russia, a Drone Robot Takes Over Monitoring of Electrical Equipment
A new mobile robotic inspection platform developed in Russia enables power companies to perform safer, more frequent, and more accurate equipment assessments at power plants and substations
Experts at Ural Federal University have developed a mobile robotic system for inspecting equipment at power plants and electrical substations, the university reported.
Aleksandra Khalyasmaa, head of the research project and head of the Digital Twin Laboratory in Power Engineering at UrFU, explained that the platform can be equipped with a wide range of data‑collection tools: visible‑spectrum cameras, infrared and ultraviolet cameras, as well as laser scanners.
The system has already been tested at a real energy facility, and the next step is deployment at the industrial partner’s production site.
Autonomous Operation
The key advantage of the robot lies in its ability to operate in unmanned mode, allowing regular and automated inspections of electrical equipment. As a result, inspection frequency and accuracy increase, while risks to personnel decrease.
