LAUSR

High-voltage overhead transmission lines inevitably cross waterways such as rivers. The insufficient air-gap distance between some parts of ultrahigh ships, such as floating crane ships, and transmission lines has caused many transmission lines tripping and even transmission lines to be broken accidents. This article proposes a measurement method of the shortest distance between ultrahigh ships and transmission lines based on binocular vision for coordinate transformation. The method can measure the shortest distance when the ultrahigh ship will pass under the transmission line in advance. A small simulated experimental platform for measuring the shortest distance between ultrahigh ships and transmission lines based on binocular vision is established. The influence factors on the measurement error of the shortest distance are analyzed on the experimental platform. Based on the simulated small experiment, some suggestions are proposed to extend to the practical application. The results show that the relative error of the shortest distance obtained by the method proposed in this article is less than 10% in the small simulated experiment, which verifies the method’s effectiveness. This article’s research will help avoid accidents such as overhead transmission lines being scratched by ultrahigh ships when the overhead transmission lines cross the waterway.