Abstract: A transmission measurement system for a guided surface wave transmitted by a guided surface waveguide probe, wherein the transmission measurement system includes at least one mobile metering device configured with a mobile 3-axis antenna and a plurality of sensing subsystems to continuously sense and measure a plurality of meter measurement data while being conveyed by a ground-based or airborne vehicle, the plurality of meter measurement data include but is not limited to the electromagnetic field strength of the guided surface wave, the weather and atmospheric conditions local to the mobile metering device, and soil sigma measurements selected from at least estimated soil sigma measurements and direct soil sigma measurements along the path of the mobile metering device.

Abstract: Various examples are provided related to anisotropic constitutive parameters (ACPs) that can be used to launch Zenneck surface waves. In one example, among others, an ACP system includes an array of ACP elements distributed above a medium such as, e.g., a terrestrial medium. The array of ACP elements can include one or more horizontal layers of radial resistive artificial anisotropic dielectric (RRAAD) elements positioned in one or more orientations above the terrestrial medium. The ACP system can include vertical lossless artificial anisotropic dielectric (VLAAD) elements distributed above the terrestrial medium in a third orientation perpendicular to the horizontal layer or layers. The ACP system can also include horizontal artificial anisotropic magnetic permeability (HAAMP) elements distributed above the terrestrial medium. The array of ACP elements can be distributed about a launching structure, which can be excited with an electromagnetic field to facilitate the launch of a Zenneck surface wave.

Abstract: The present disclosure involves positioning a plurality of metering devices positioned along a terrestrial medium relative to a Zenneck waveguide probe in order to generate field measurements of the wireless output of such Zenneck waveguide probe. A computing device configures each of the metering devices for operation at an operating frequency. Each of the metering devices generates field measurements over time during the testing of the Zenneck waveguide probe. The field measurements from each of the metering devices are stored in a data store, where the field measurements indicate a wireless signal output of the Zenneck surface waveguide probe. A user interface is generated and rendered on a display that indicates a field strength over distance of the wireless signal output of the Zenneck surface waveguide probe. The metering devices include various components to facilitate taking the field measurements.

Abstract: Various examples are provided related to anisotropic constitutive parameters (ACPs) that can be used to launch Zenneck surface waves. In one example, among others, an ACP system includes an array of ACP elements distributed over a medium such as, e.g., a terrestrial medium. The array of ACP elements can include one or more horizontal layers of radial resistive artificial anisotropic dielectric (RRAAD) elements positioned in one or more orientations over the terrestrial medium. The ACP system can include vertical lossless artificial anisotropic dielectric (VLAAD) elements distributed over the terrestrial medium in a third orientation perpendicular to the horizontal layer or layers. The ACP system can also include horizontal artificial anisotropic magnetic permeability (HAAMP) elements distributed over the terrestrial medium. The array of ACP elements can be distributed about a launching structure, which can excite the ACP system with an electromagnetic field to launch a Zenneck surface wave.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for transmitting energy conveyed in the form of a guided surface-waveguide mode along the surface of a lossy medium such as, e.g., a terrestrial medium by exciting a guided surface waveguide probe.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for preventing theft of energy transmitted as a guided surface wave along the surface of a terrestrial medium, by pulsing the transmitted energy and protecting authorized devices from the pulse. In one embodiment, a guided surface wave receive structure is configured to obtain electrical energy from a guided surface wave. An electrical load coupled to the guided surface wave receive structure. The electrical load is experienced as a load at an excitation source coupled to a guided surface waveguide probe that is generating the guided surface wave with an electrical field strength that may be selectively increased. A pulse protection circuit is employed to selectively protect the electrical load from an increase in electrical energy received by the guided surface wave receive structure when the electrical field strength is selectively increased, while unprotected circuits may be damaged or disrupted by the pulse.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments of load shedding techniques for a guided surface wave power delivery system. In one embodiment, among others, a guided surface waveguide probe is configured to transmit a guided surface wave along a lossy conducting medium; and a load shedding controller device is configured to send load shedding instructions to a plurality of user devices. The load shedding instructions regulate user device consumption of electrical energy provided by the guided surface wave amongst the plurality of user devices by spreading out activation and deactivation of load shedding conservations amongst the plurality of user devices.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments of a guided surface wave transmitter/receiver configured to transmit a guided surface wave at a first frequency and to receive guided surface waves at a second frequency, concurrently with the transmission of guided surface waves at the first frequency. The various embodiments can be configured to retransmit received power and applied the received power to an electrical load. The various embodiments of the guided surface wave transmitter/receiver also can be configured as an amplitude modulation (AM) repeater.

Abstract: Disclosed is a sensing device including a guided surface wave receive structure, a physical parameter sensor, and a radio frequency transmitter. The guided surface wave receive structure may be configured to obtain electrical energy from a guided surface wave traveling along a terrestrial medium. The physical parameter sensor may be coupled to the guided surface wave receive structure. The physical parameter sensor may also measure a physical parameter associated with a physical environment local to the physical parameter sensor. The radio frequency transmitter may be coupled to the guided surface wave receive structure and communicatively coupled to the physical parameter sensor. The radio frequency transmitter may also obtain a physical parameter measurement and transmit the physical parameter measurement over a wireless network.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for disaster warning recovery including a power modulator. A location is determined for an area affected by an emergency event. An emergency message is generated that corresponds to the emergency event. The emergency message is transmitted by via a guided surface wave. The guided surface wave is launched by a guided surface waveguide probe. The power modulator is coupled to the guided surface waveguide probe.

Abstract: Disclosed is a guided surface waveguide probe with a charge terminal that is elevated over a lossy conducting medium. A primary coil can be coupled to an excitation source within a substructure. A secondary coil can provide a voltage to the charge terminal with a phase delay (?) that matches a wave tilt angle (?) associated with a complex Brewster angle of incidence (?i,B) associated with the lossy conducting medium. The primary coil can be configured to inductively couple to the secondary coil.

Abstract: Disclosed is hybrid communication in which a first message from a guided surface wave probe node is embedded in a guided surface wave, and a second message from a guided surface wave receive node uses a different messaging mechanism.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for fixing a navigational position using guided surface waves launched from guided surface wave waveguide probes at various ground stations. A guided surface wave is received using a guided surface wave receive structure. A reflection of the guided surface wave is received using the guided surface wave receive structure. An amount of time that has elapsed between receiving the guided surface wave and receiving the reflection of guided surface wave is calculated. A location of the guided surface wave receive structure is determined based at least in part on the amount of time elapsed between receiving the guided surface wave and receiving the reflection of guided surface wave.

Abstract: Disclosed are various approaches for navigation identifying one's current position. A navigation device receives a guided surface wave using a guided surface wave receive structure. The navigation device then receives a reflection of the guided surface wave using the guided surface wave receive structure. The navigation device calculates an amount of time elapsed between receiving the guided surface wave and receiving the reflection of guided surface wave. The navigation device then measures an angle between a wave front of the guided surface wave and a polar axis of the Earth. Finally the navigation device determines a location of the guided surface wave receive structure based at least in part on the angle between the wave front of the guided surface wave and the polar axis of the Earth the amount of time elapsed between receiving the guided surface wave and receiving the reflection of guided surface wave.

Abstract: Disclosed are various approaches for measuring and reporting the amount of electrical power consumed by an electrical load attached to a guided surface wave receive structure. A guided surface wave receive structure is configured to obtain electrical energy from a guided surface wave traveling along a terrestrial medium. An electrical load is coupled to the guided surface wave receive structure, the electrical load being experienced as a load at an excitation source coupled to a guided surface waveguide probe generating the guided surface wave. An electric power meter coupled to the electrical load and configured to measure the electrical load.

Abstract: Disclosed are various approaches for determining a location using guided surface waves. A guided surface wave is received. A field strength of a guided surface wave is identified. A phase of the guided surface wave is identified. A distance from a guided surface waveguide probe that launched the guided surface wave is calculated. A location is determined based at least in part on the distance from the guided surface waveguide probe.

Abstract: Aspects of a hierarchical power distribution network are described. In some embodiments, a first guided surface waveguide probe launches a first guided surface wave along a surface of a terrestrial medium within a first power distribution region. A guided surface wave receive structure obtains electrical energy from the first guided surface wave. A second guided surface waveguide probe launches a second guided surface wave along the surface of the terrestrial medium within a second power distribution region using the electrical energy obtained from the first guided surface wave.

Abstract: Disclosed are various receive circuits by which to receive a plurality of guided surface waves transmitted by a plurality of guided surface waveguide probes over a surface of a terrestrial medium according to various embodiments.

Abstract: Various examples are provided for global electrical power multiplication. In one example, a global power multiplier includes first and second guided surface waveguide probes separated by a distance equal to a quarter wavelength of a defined frequency and configured to launch synchronized guided surface waves along a surface of a lossy conducting medium at the defined frequency; and at least one excitation source configured to excite the first and second guided surface waveguide probes at the defined frequency, where the excitation of the second guided surface waveguide probe at the defined frequency is 90 degrees out of phase with respect to the excitation of the first guided surface waveguide probe. In another example, a method includes launching synchronized guided surface waves along a surface of a lossy conducting medium by exciting first and second guided surface waveguide probes to produce a traveling wave propagating along the surface.

Abstract: The use of wireless power distribution equipment can be used to distribute power across various regions. Power from a power plant can be distributed to sub-transmission stations. For example, a transmission probe can be configured to launch a transmission frequency guided surface wave for power transmission over a transmission region. A sub-transmission station can receive the transmission frequency guided surface wave. A sub-transmission probe can be configured to launch a sub-transmission frequency guided surface wave to transmit power over a sub-transmission region to transmit power. A distribution station can receive the power from the sub-transmission frequency guided surface wave.