Introduction

Catastrophic wildfires have become the new normal throughout California and other western states, resulting in the devastating loss of hundreds of lives, billions of dollars in property destruction and damage, and the interruption of essential services vital to everyday life. Since 2015, power lines have caused six of California's 20 most destructive wildfires. The remote location of power lines coupled with high wind events can result in fast-spreading fires that quickly get out of control. Serious and aggressive action must be taken by all utility companies to promote public safety, better protect their ratepayers and their properties, and assure uninterrupted delivery of electrical power.

anyCOMM provides a way to modernize a utility company power infrastructure. We offer an extensive installation of highly innovative and comprehensive safety and fire detection technology along power transmission lines and within select substations. The anyCOMM technology utilizes solar power and cellular transmission of data in remote locations, providing real-time monitoring of a variety of events that can result in either power line generated or power line enhanced wildfires. The anyCOMM solution has achieved significant product enhancements over the years including smart motion detectors, load cell devices, and a solar panel power source to extend the serviceable locations for the devices.

Deployment Hardware - Featuring Powerful AI Software

The AI Camera Communications Node is the central "intelligent" hardware unit through which the other ancillary system devices communicate. It also houses 3 cameras/image sensors and runs anyCOMM's secure and proven proprietary software which communicates with backend servers.

ANYCOMM AI CAMERA COMMUNICATIONS NODE

ANYCOMM AI COMMUNICATIONS NODE

The cameras record snapshot data internally for 30 days, similar to ATM cameras. In the case of an event trigger, live video can be accessed, and small video clips can be recorded, and permanently archived (as defined by pre-set parameters).

In the case of fire or smoke, the anyCOMM solution uses AI (Artificial Intelligence) to continuously analyze images from the sensors. Once smoke or fire is detected, a virtual box is drawn around that part of the image, along with a display of the probable accuracy percentage of the identified likely phenomena.

The analytic software has the capability to compare frames of video and use its sensors to determine if there is a change of information that falls into a specific category. This applies to fire, smoke, gas, power line sway or sag, or contact with hazardous obstructions (vegetation/balloons/animals/vehicles).

The nodes have a built-in magnetometer and accelerometer function, to measure tower twist. When towers twist beyond certain limits, they must be replaced. Currently, other than physical inspection, there is no indication this is happening with a utility company's towers. Tower twist data can be measured, monitored and reported with the anyCOMM nodes and software technology. Critical data and triggered events can be made available to authorized utility company staff in real time.

anyCOMM expects to continue to enhance innovative product offerings to detect any number of disturbances or events.

ANYCOMM GUY WIRE TENSION LOAD CELL

anyCOMM Load Cell

The provision of real-time data through the anyCOMM system revolutionizes multiple methods of a utility's asset management. Currently, IGS single-leg transmission towers are common throughout the USA and are normally secured with 4 long guy wires. These towers and supporting wires degrade over time, challenging their structural integrity. The only way to currently measure the tension on the guy wires is via physical meters in the hands of utility crews. High winds and normal wear and tear of the wires can result in weakening connections.

In 2010, a tower in the Haiwee Reservoir area of Owens Valley, CA collapsed due to guy wire failure, causing 12 additional towers to collapse along with it. The time for crews to repair the damage was approximately 3 weeks. The cost of repairs, coupled with the loss of revenue from downed service, resulted in significant losses for the local utility company.

With anyCOMM's load cell device, the tension on a guy wire can be constantly measured. The device communicates with the node, and data is then transmitted to the servers. Triggers can be established based on pre-set parameters. The financial and time-management benefits of this innovation are far-reaching. Real-time data provides critical information of pending problems, before they have a chance to create catastrophic events. Considerable savings of crew time and resources will be realized by virtually eliminating the need for on-site tension inspections of these remote towers, freeing crews to address other maintenance issues. Tension tracking over time can be used for generating and prioritizing maintenance schedules.

anyCOMM Weather Station

The anyCOMM weather stations are critical for providing high-fidelity wind direction and speed specifically at transmission tower and distribution pole locations. High winds coupled with low humidity are catalysts for wildfires, and the weather station detects and reports both. The weather station also detects and reports on the presence of smoke and gas, both indicators of an imminent fire situation.

The internal lightning sensor within the weather station identifies lightning flashes and measures distance from the node in miles. This data can be analyzed and set to create triggers for notifications of when/if lightning could strike power lines, towers or encroaching vegetation. Lightning triggers can also advise of potential storms that can cause fires in the vicinity of utility assets.

Barometric pressure readings are recorded and transmitted, as are rainfall amounts. Triggers can be set up to report on rainfall amounts over a specific time period, to notify of flash flooding events. Such an extensive array of live weather data gives the utility the option to pre-emptively halt power transmissions during a threat of impending danger to the towers or lines.

anyCOMM Solar Power Pack

The anyCOMM power pack is used when it's not economically feasible to install step-down transformers. The power pack and its associated 100w solar panel provides 50 amps of lithium battery power and operates 24/7. Onboard the power pack is an intelligent CPU that monitors solar power and battery levels then reports this data to the servers. The power pack is self-contained and pre-configured. The installation is simple and only requires 4 bolts.

On transmission tower installations, an optional tri-camera (tri-cam) is attached to the power pack front door. There is an advance three-view pan/tilt/zoom camera mounted onto the front of the enclosure. It looks down and around the perimeter of each tower.