Researchers from the Moscow Aviation Institute and the Military Academy of Strategic Missile Forces have introduced a new method for locating faults in buried power cables using unmanned aerial vehicles. Experimental tests have cleared, according to the MAI press service reported by TASS.
The concept is practical and clear. A high frequency current of 1.024 kHz is used to sense damage on underground lines. An operator pilots a drone over the suspected section and records the induced field readings from a set altitude. Those readings guide the drone along the probable cable path. When the sensor detects an induction field value that rises well above baseline, a signal is sent to the operator indicating a fault. The drone then drops a bright LED beacon with a GPS marker to the ground to help emergency teams pinpoint the exact site. The system is designed to speed up response operations and improve situational awareness for responders.
Beyond just locating breaks, the technology can reveal short circuits or insulation failures within buried cables. It enables early warnings of potential emergencies, supports proactive maintenance, and can cut repair costs while extending cable life by enabling planned interventions rather than reactive fixes. Current field trials are ongoing at a facility in the Ivanovo region. [Source: MAI press service via TASS]
Looking forward, the developers envision broader deployment across the energy sector, with scalable implementations that could monitor large networks and provide rapid fault localization for operators and service teams.
Industry observers note that these advances may help reduce personnel constraints across the sector by improving remote diagnostics and fault detection capabilities, contributing to safer and more reliable infrastructure. The progress aligns with broader efforts in national energy resilience and grid modernization. [Source: MAI press service via TASS]