World-first: Japan developing drone system to make power from lightning strikes
Updated: Apr 21, 2025 07:16 AM EST
Japanese firms have developed the world’s first lightning-triggering and guidance system using flying drones, according to reports translated from Japanese sources.
Developed by The Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (NTT), these drones have successfully induced and guided lightning using electric field fluctuations. Engineers designed a lightning-resistant cage to protect the drones during strikes.
Following successful trials earlier this year, there are plans to deploy networks of these drones across cities and around critical infrastructure to help prevent lightning-related damage and improve public safety.
“In the future, this result is expected to contribute to research into the generation of lightning, which has yet to be fully understood, and to the reduction of lightning damage to cities and people,” said the firm in a statement.
Guided lightning defense
A significant natural danger, lightning is thought to cause between $702 million to $1.4 billion (¥100 and ¥200 billion) in damage in Japan each year.
The risk still exists despite current defenses, such as lightning protection for vital infrastructure like the communications facilities of NTT Group.
NTT is responding by developing its lightning protection technology with the goal of completely preventing lightning strikes on important infrastructure and metropolitan areas.
The use and range of traditional lightning rods are limited, especially in difficult-to-equip places like wind turbines and outdoor event spaces.
NTT has been investigating drone-based lightning induction, a cutting-edge technique that uses drones to monitor thunderclouds, intentionally trigger lightning, and safely reroute it, in order to remedy this issue.
In a recent field demonstration under natural thundercloud conditions, NTT, in collaboration with Fujitsu, successfully tested this concept.
The experiment featured two key technologies: lightning induction using electric field fluctuations to attract lightning to a drone, and a specially designed lightning-resistant cage that prevents drone failure even under direct strikes.
Lightning safety breakthrough
In the hilly area of Hamada City, Shimane Prefecture, Japan, a first successful drone-based lightning-triggering experiment was carried out between December 2024 and January 2025.
To safeguard vital infrastructure, the test sought to create technologies that can safely control and actively trigger lightning.
The researchers employed a ground-based field mill to track the strength of the electric field during the experiment.
A drone with a lightning-resistant cage was flown to 984 feet (300 meters) on December 13, 2024, when an oncoming thundercloud increased the electric field.
The drone was wired to a ground switch, and when the switch was turned on, an abrupt shift in the electric field caused a lightning strike.
It was the first documented instance of a drone actively causing lightning, according to NTT.
A lightning-resistant cage and a technique for initiating electric field fluctuations were two significant advancements that the experiment showcased.
Even after a strike, the drone remained stable in mid-air thanks to the metal cage’s ability to distribute magnetic fields and redirect lightning current away from delicate drone components.
https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/japan-drone-system-trigger-guide-lightning
No offense intended for OP (who I admire greatly), but this is a mieading title. Japan is developing a drone network to redirect lightning strikes away from vulnerable targets. There's one sentence at the end that says future efforts may included attempting to store and utilize the power from lightning strikes. Cool article, but fuck the author for that title.
They're a long way from storing all that energy, 50k volts per foot, my bad. 🤔
Not your fault. And I appreciate everything you do for this place!
Thanks, I needed that after the mob found me but 'Bill Nye the Science Guy' saved me, really, he came up & said, "That's enough boys. 😂🤣🤣
Looks like the start of sky net to me.
Just put in adequate lightning rods.
Oh, cool! Now all we need is thunderstorms that last for 24 hours a day, all year long.
The modern kite and key.
That’s a lot of gigawatts if you can harness it, store it, and distribute it.
Now they just need a DeLorean and a flux capacitor...
...that is some really compelling engineering...