Devices configured to cooperatively measure properties of a power transmission system

• US 9,048,639 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2012
• Issued: 06/02/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Hyde, Roderick A., Wood, Lowell L. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, VINH P
• Application Number:
  US13/436,462
• Publication Number:
  US 20130257449A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,159 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/10 Terrestrial scenes scenes under surveillance with static cameras G06V20/52; scenes perceived from the exterior of a vehicle G06V20/56; scenes perceived from the interior of a vehicle G06V20/59
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 1/02 for overhead lines or cables
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/532 Conductor

Abstract

Described embodiments include a system and an apparatus. A described system includes a stationary device configured to be electrically coupled to a transmission line of a power transmission system and remain at a fixed location during a test measurement of the power transmission system. The system includes a mobile device configured to travel on the transmission line. The stationary device and the mobile device are further configured to cooperatively measure properties of the power transmission system.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a stationary device configured to be electrically and physically coupled to a transmission line of a power transmission system and remain at a fixed location during a test measurement of the power transmission system; and

a mobile device configured to travel on the transmission line,

the stationary device and the mobile device further configured to cooperatively measure properties of the power transmission system.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the power transmission system includes a high-voltage power transmission system.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the power transmission system includes a power distribution system.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the transmission line is a live transmission line.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the transmission line is a depowered transmission line.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the stationary device and the mobile device are configured to cooperatively measure properties of a component of the power transmission system located between the stationary device and the mobile device.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the stationary device and the mobile device are configured to automatically and cooperatively measure properties of the power transmission system.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the stationary device and the mobile device are configured to cooperatively measure electrical and/or mechanical properties of the power transmission system.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the stationary device and the mobile device are configured to automatically and cooperatively determine a voltage standoff-capability of an insulator supporting or holding the transmission line.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the stationary device and the mobile device are configured to cooperatively measure properties of the transmission line and/or other structures associated with the power transmission system without instruction from a third device.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the stationary device and the mobile device are configured to cooperatively measure properties of the transmission line and/or other structures associated with the power transmission system in response to instruction from a third device.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein one of the stationary device or the mobile device is configured to apply a test excitation to the transmission line and the other of the stationary device or the mobile device is configured to measure a response of the transmission line to the test excitation.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the test excitation frequency is at about a nominal transmission line excitation frequency.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the test excitation frequency is different than a nominal transmission line excitation frequency.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the test excitation is applied to the live transmission line at about zero crossings in the excitation carried by the live transmission line.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the at about the zero crossings includes not more than plus or minus ten degrees of the zero crossings in the excitation carried by the live transmission line.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the at about the zero crossings includes not more than plus or minus five degrees of the zero crossings in the excitation carried by the live transmission line.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the at about the zero crossings includes not more than plus or minus two degrees of the zero crossings in the excitation carried by the live transmission line.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the at about the zero crossings includes not more than plus or minus one degree of the zero crossings in the excitation carried by the live transmission line.

20. The system of claim 12, wherein the test excitation is applied to the live transmission line during a select time portion of a frequency cycle of the excitation carried by the live transmission line.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile device is configured to apply a test excitation to an insulator supporting or holding the transmission line and the stationary device is configured to measure a response of the insulator to the test excitation.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein the stationary device and the mobile device are configured to cooperatively conduct a passive or active electrical inspection of the transmission line and/or structures associated with the transmission line.

23. The system of claim 1, wherein the stationary device and the mobile device are configured to cooperatively measure physical transmission line parameters including one or more of temperature, cleanliness, stress/strain, and/or sag.

24. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile device includes a sensor configured to measure a height or extent of encroaching vegetation along the transmission line.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the sensor includes a camera, radar, lidar, or sonar device.

26. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile device includes a mobile robotic device.

27. The system of claim 1, further comprising a test controller configured to manage the cooperative measurement of properties of the power transmission system by the stationary device and the mobile device.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the test controller is further configured to control an aspect of travel over the transmission line by the mobile device.

29. The system of claim 27, wherein the test controller is further configured to initiate the cooperative measurement of properties of the power transmission system.

30. The system of claim 27, wherein the test controller is further configured to receive data indicative of the cooperatively measured properties from the stationary device or the mobile device.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the test controller is further configured to output informational data responsive to the data indicative of the cooperatively measured properties.

32. A method comprising:

electrically and physically coupling a stationary device at a fixed location to a transmission line of a power transmission system;

initiating travel of a mobile device over the transmission line to a selected location on the transmission line;

measuring a property of a structure of the power transmission system using the stationary device and the mobile device, the stationary device and the mobile device configured to cooperatively measure the property of the structure; and

outputting data indicative of the measured property of the structure.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the power transmission system includes a high-voltage power transmission system.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein the power transmission system includes a power distribution system.

35. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

managing the cooperative measurement of the property of the power transmission system by the stationary device and the mobile device.

36. A system, comprising:

at least two mobile devices configured to (i) travel on or along a transmission line of a power transmission system, and the at least two mobile devices further configured to (ii) cooperatively measure properties of the transmission line and/or other structures associated with the power transmission system; and

a mobile device management tool configured to control the traverse of the transmission line of the power transmission system by the at least two mobile devices.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein the mobile device management tool is configured to schedule and control the traverse of the transmission line of the power transmission system by the at least two mobile devices.

38. The system of claim 36, wherein the mobile device management tool is further configured to provide instructions to the at least two mobile devices regarding their cooperative measurement of properties.

39. The system of claim 36, wherein the mobile device management tool is further configured to control an aspect of the cooperative measurement of properties by the at least two mobile devices.

40. The system of claim 36, wherein the mobile device management tool is further configured to output informational data responsive to the cooperatively measured properties.