DTEK digitalization increases detection of power line defects to 98%, significantly reducing repair time

The digital product “Mobile Patrol Teams”, implemented in DTEK Grids as part of the DTEK Group's digitalization program “Modus”, ensures the detection of defects on power lines with an accuracy of up to 98% and significantly reduces repair time, noted Dmitry Osyka, CEO of the IT company MODUS X.

“We helped develop and implement our product — mobile patrol teams. This is a comprehensive solution, which is primarily designed to detect defects and assess the condition of overhead power lines. The company has been using this solution for a long time: a drone equipped with LiDAR, video and photo recording, GPS coordination is used and scans the line using all these sensors. The system detects defects, records their location and transmits data for analysis to artificial intelligence. We trained it to detect defects on power lines with 98% accuracy,” Osyka said in an exclusive interview with the Interfax-Ukraine agency.

According to him, human participation in these processes is not required, since AI independently detects problems and generates work assignments for mobile repair teams, which already have a clear idea of the damage and methods for eliminating it.

“This approach provides colossal savings in time and resources. We calculated that eliminating paper documents allows each team to save an hour. Then there is route optimization, which further saves time and fuel. Ultimately, for DTEK clients, this means fewer power outages,” explained the CEO of MODUS X.

He also noted that the company is negotiating with a regional electricity distribution operator that is not part of the DTEK Group and has expressed interest in this solution.

“At the moment, the main obstacle is financing. As you know, the activities of distribution system operators (DSO) are regulated by tariffs set by the national energy regulator NKREKU. It is sometimes difficult for companies to get approval for the inclusion of digitalization in the tariff structure or to prove its economic efficiency. But I am glad that the regulator has a positive attitude towards this. After all, DTEK Grids were able to demonstrate that digital twins are the most important part of the future of the entire distribution business,” Osyka noted.