UAV Simulation Environment for Fault Detection in Wind Farm Electrical Distribution Systems

The application of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in electrical system inspection and maintenance has grown significantly - although most research focuses on transmission systems, with relatively few works addressing distribution networks. In this context, this paper introduces a simulation environment designed to replicate real-world conditions for UAV-based fault detection missions in wind farms electrical distribution networks. By leveraging Unity for visualization and user interaction, and Python for simulating a DJI Matrice 350 aircraft's dynamic behavior, this computational platform enables the testing of task operational concepts with minimal risk and cost. The proposed system features an intuitive user interface, supports weather integration, and allows for flexible mission configurations through a user-friendly interface. The results demonstrate the environment's capability to simulate realistic scenarios, highlighting its potential to support the development and validation of UAV technologies for electrical systems inspections.