16:07, 17 January 2026

A Russian Nuclear Plant Deploys a “Smart” System to Monitor Critical Equipment

At the Rostov Nuclear Power Plant, a new intelligent diagnostic complex is designed to detect electrical anomalies early—before they turn into equipment failures that could compromise safety.

A Russian nuclear power plant has rolled out a new intelligent monitoring system aimed at improving equipment reliability and operational safety. At the Rostov Nuclear Power Plant, engineers have deployed a universal measurement complex called IK EPO-M, designed to monitor current parameters in electric motors and drive systems and detect early-stage deviations that could lead to malfunctions, as reported by AtomMedia.

The system was developed by researchers at the Volgodonsk Engineering Physics Institute, part of National Research Nuclear University MEPhI. IK EPO-M allows technicians to identify emerging technical issues well before they escalate into serious faults.

Cutting Time—and Errors—Out of Diagnostics

According to Rosatom, the new complex is built around a unified, modern software platform. Earlier diagnostic setups required multiple separate programs for measurement, data processing, analysis, and report generation. IK EPO-M consolidates the entire workflow into a single system. That integration significantly reduces the time required for diagnostics and virtually eliminates human error—an outcome that directly improves overall plant safety.

Interest in the system is already spreading beyond Rostov. Specialists at other nuclear facilities, including the Novovoronezh Nuclear Power Plant, have expressed interest in adopting the technology.

From Laptops to Tablets

“The software for this measurement complex is constantly being improved and updated. And, importantly, it is supported by a domestically developed operating system that is already used across the nuclear industry,” said Dmitry Mironov, a lead engineer in the technical diagnostics department at the Rostov plant - “Previously, data processing required connecting a laptop. Now we can use tablets instead, which last much longer on a single charge and allow us to plan and carry out diagnostic work more efficiently.”

The rollout of IK EPO-M fits into a wider effort to automate and digitize operations across Russia’s nuclear sector. Previously reported, Rosatom launched serial production of spider-like inspection robots for nuclear power plants that cut maintenance time by 40 percent and reduce human risk, with plans to automate up to 80 percent of routine operations by 2030.

Together, these projects reflect a clear trend: at Russia’s nuclear facilities, safety is increasingly being enforced not just by procedures and personnel, but by software, sensors, and intelligent diagnostic systems designed to catch problems long before humans would.

The nuclear industry