Russia Begins Mass Production of Smart River Navigation Lights
The autonomous system enables remote monitoring of waterways, reducing manual inspections and improving transport safety.
The Rusel Holding of Rostec State Corporation has launched serial production of an intelligent navigation lighting system for use on Russia’s rivers. The technology combines autonomous 360° navigation lights with a data-collection base station, helping modernize and digitize the country’s inland waterway infrastructure.
Developed by scientists at the Tomsk Research Institute of Semiconductor Devices, the system is designed to improve safety and efficiency in river logistics. The navigation lights are mounted on floating channel markers, while the base station receives, processes, and transmits data to central dispatch centers for real-time monitoring.
Fully Autonomous and Intelligently Designed
The uniqueness of the new lights lies in their complete autonomy and built-in intelligence. Each unit is equipped with sensors that monitor environmental and operational conditions. At night, the devices emit navigation signals, and during the day they recharge using solar panels, eliminating the need for battery replacement throughout the navigation season.
Previously, verifying the functionality of river markers required daily on-site inspections by boat. Now, the smart lighting system allows operators to control navigation channels remotely, sending maintenance teams only when necessary.
All system management takes place via a mobile app that displays a detailed digital map of the river, showing each navigation marker’s status in real time. Operators can adjust individual light settings and track performance metrics from anywhere.
The system’s inclusion in the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade’s Register of Industrial Products opens new opportunities for collaboration with state and industrial partners—marking a key step in the digital transformation of Russia’s river transport network.
