TOKYO: Japan’s Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (NTT) has unveiled a revolutionary drone-based system that can detect, attract, and redirect lightning strikes, opening a new frontier in storm protection and energy capture.
This breakthrough involves unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), specially equipped with lightning-resistant cages, flying at high altitudes near storm clouds. These drones are designed to respond to shifts in electric fields, allowing them to anticipate lightning strikes and channel the electrical discharge safely to the ground via conductive pathways. The technique is envisioned as a preventive shield for critical infrastructure exposed to frequent thunderstorms.
NTT says the system aims not only to minimise lightning-related damages but also to convert the captured energy for future use. By employing compressed air and advanced energy storage technologies, the system aspires to retain thunderstorm electricity and transform it into usable kinetic and magnetic energy.
Engineers are currently enhancing the drones to withstand intense lightning currents and strong electromagnetic interference, ensuring stable performance even within active storm systems. The long-term vision includes developing a method to neutralise thundercloud energy altogether, potentially preventing lightning from reaching the ground.
This innovation could prove invaluable for power grids, telecom networks, and municipal infrastructure, offering a proactive solution to lightning threats across the globe. With approximately 6,000 lightning bolts striking the Earth every minute, such technology could transform lightning risk management worldwide.
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