Transmission Line Security Monitor: Final Report

April 14, 2011
The electric power Transmission Line Security Monitor (TLSM) System is fundamentally a communications network of small, inexpensive, low-power electronic sensor platforms that are mounted on one conductor at each tower of an electric power transmission or distribution system.

The electric power Transmission Line Security Monitor (TLSM) System is fundamentally a communications network of small, inexpensive, low-power electronic sensor platforms that are mounted on one conductor at each tower of an electric power transmission or distribution system. Each platform has the ability to (a) measure conductor borne impact vibrations generated by tower tampering, (b) sense infrared (IR) human body heat within a set of windows defined at the base of each tower, (c) measure conductor temperature, (d) measure conductor tilt, (e) measure conductor angle, (f) measure conductor height above objects, (g) communicate sensor information to transmission line endpoints located where communication infrastructure exists, (h) derive platform power from the transmission line, (i) store energy for use by the sensor platform when power is interrupted without the use of batteries, and (j) communicate all information to transmission line operators through the use of endpoints.

A typical installation could require one to several hundred sensor platforms and one or more endpoints. The number of endpoints is dependent on the number of points along the transmission line where data is desired to be extracted from the network and presented to the transmission line control room. An event recorded by the sensors that is indicative of tower tampering would cause the platform to “wake up” or activate and generate a message containing event information and tower identification.

The message is then transmitted via a short-range radio frequency (RF) link to the two platforms located on the two adjacent towers. The platforms located on the adjacent towers wake up in response to the message and transmit the information to the next tower. This process continues until the message reaches an endpoint where it can be communicated to authorities in charge of operating the transmission line or providing security...(read more...)

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