The reliability and intelligence of intelligent disconnecting switches breaking-closing is one of the key technologies for intelligent substation construction. The tasks of substation operation and maintenance have increased greatly due to the increasing requirements of security operation level and service quality. Only to enhance the intelligent and automatic level of power grid, reliability of smart substation devices operation can be improved. The research condition of breaking-closing position monitoring technology for intelligent disconnecting switches at home and abroad is summarized and the methods are illustrated respectively from the views of their basic idea, characteristics, and disadvantages, including image recognition method, optical sensing method, pressure sensor method, auxiliary contact principle method, attitude sensor method, and so on. Finally, the research tendency in the intelligent disconnecting switches position monitoring field is point out.