Russia Develops a System to Monitor Wear in Power Transmission Line Supports
In Russia, engineers have introduced a novel vibration‑based diagnostic system designed to assess wear and structural degradation in overhead power line supports.
Engineers at Novosibirsk State Technical University (NSTU) have developed software that classifies the wear level of overhead power‑line supports. The university reports that the new approach relies on measuring the natural oscillation frequencies of each structure — a method that sharply accelerates diagnostics traditionally carried out only once every six years.
The system automatically processes large datasets captured by the LEPTON‑1 sensor, a device previously created at NSTU. It then distributes supports into condition categories based on structural integrity.
According to the developers, the program — created jointly with graduate student Pavel Lastochkin — has already been registered and integrated into educational activities. The team notes that the system has no domestic equivalents in the Russian energy sector.
The software enables power‑grid companies to reduce diagnostic costs and schedule repairs more effectively — an important step in modernizing the reliability and safety of the country’s electrical infrastructure.
