Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: This paper presents a pre-industrial, laboratory-stage version of an innovative sensor box designed to enable remote measurement of electrical currents. The proposed prototype functions as a drone-mounted payload that can be deployed onto overhead transmission lines. Utilizing Hall-effect sensors, electronic signal processing through filtering, and digital data transmission via Arduino and Bluetooth, the instantaneous line currents are visualized in MATLAB (R2023a) as time-based curves. The sensor box can also be remotely released from the transmission line once measurements are complete, allowing a fully autonomous mode of operation. Laboratory tests demonstrated promising results for real-world applications, with measurement efficiencies ranging from 92% to 98% under various test conditions, including stress tests involving harmonics and total harmonic distortion up to 40%. Future work will focus on implementing effective shielding against high electric fields to further enhance reliability and advance the sensor’s industrialization as a novel solution for power grid digitalization.
DOI: 10.3390/jsan15010009
Authors: Khaled Osmani, Marc Florian Meyer, Detlef Schulz
Institution: Helmut Schmidt University
Language: English
Subfield: Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,413
Funder: European Commission
OpenAlex ID: W7123551080