Project ENORASIS came to life as part of the second cycle of the Single RTDI State Aid Action “Research – Create – Innovate”, the purpose of which is to link research and innovation with entrepreneurship, improving competitiveness, productivity and outward orientation of Greek enterprises. ENORASIS aims to develop an integrated robotic system for autonomous inspection and fault diagnosis of electric power substations in Greece.
The initiative's primary focus is to ensure the smooth functioning of electrical power substations through systematic inspection, detection and diagnosis, and accompanying facilitation of prompt repair and improved maintenance. ENORASIS seeks to find a way to achieve a 20% reduction in the need for power substations maintenance in 15 years, with the potential for the power grid to be more reliable, due to fewer electrical failures, than it is at present. Last but not least, the project’s inspection data could help the administration deal with future failure mechanism issues in the best possible way.
Around Greece, phenomena like unexpected faults in electrical components, or system failures due to fast electrical transients, are not rare occasions, implying that the electrical power supply may suffer interruptions or blackouts. Therefore, implementing a cost-effective and condition-based inspection system could make early fault diagnosis possible. Currently, the demand for continuous monitoring cannot be met since the Independent Power Transmission Operator (IPTO/ ADMIE) is not well-staffed with specialised personnel or equipped with the necessary technologies. So new, advanced technologies can offer a much-needed helping hand by providing automated, electrical equipment inspection and maintenance.
TWI Hellas is contributing to the ENORASIS project by:
- Developing an autonomous robot able to navigate safely through the areas of the Extra-High Voltage Centre, where electromagnetic noise can affect the accuracy of specific sensors
- Employing data fusion techniques to combine information and measurements from multiple sources to help the robotic vehicle locate its position utilising state-of-the-art, localisation algorithms
- Creating a teleoperation system for both the robotic vehicle and the camera system to increase flexibility, allowing the user to take over
- Developing the mechatronics design, implementing the sensors and, most importantly, the electronics and communications of the camera motion system.
- Designing and manufacturing docking and storage stations, as well as installing the robotic system at the Extra-High Voltage Centre
Partners: Independent Power Transmission Operator (IPTO/ ADMIE), the Institute of Communications and Computer Systems (ICCS), Castalia and TWI Hellas.
ENORASIS is funded by the Operational Programme “Competitiveness, Entrepreneurship and Innovation” (EPAnEK).