A method first developed at Université Côte d’Azur for fusion research is opening new possibilities in industrial electrical engineering. The technology makes it possible to estimate electrical current inside conductors from magnetic field measurements taken by discrete probes. In practice, it turns magnetic data into a usable picture of how current flows inside a material or a device.

The method was originally created for tokamak research, where magnetic measurements are essential for understanding and controlling plasma behaviour. Researchers used it to identify the plasma boundary and to reconstruct current profiles from experimental data. These capabilities are central to plasma control, because the shape of the plasma and the distribution of current directly affect performance and stability.

The same mathematical approach was later adapted for industrial use in collaboration with a major electrical equipment manufacturer. The objective was clear, develop a fast and reliable way to identify current distributions from magnetic field measurements in configurations relevant to industrial products. This work relied on optimal control methods and numerical modelling, with a strong focus on results that could be used in real engineering conditions.

The transfer created value on both sides. For industry, it offered a new route to assess current behaviour without intrusive measurements, helping engineers evaluate design choices and better size the associated electronics. For the research team, it showed that methods developed for fusion diagnostics could address concrete industrial needs beyond the laboratory.

The project also helped clarify where the method could deliver exploitable results in the short, medium, or longer term, depending on technical constraints such as sensor number and sensor performance.This story shows how fusion research can generate useful tools far beyond the reactor environment. A method designed to monitor plasma through magnetic signals has become a practical approach for understanding electrical current in conductors, with promising applications in advanced power systems and industrial diagnostics.