Abstract: A system for locating defects on a single-wire earth-return (SWER) network can include a network, a plurality of data collection units, and a server communicably coupled to the plurality of data collection units via the network. Each data collection unit can be positioned at a distribution transformer of the SWER network and configured to measure broadband signals originating from a defect along the SWER network; convert the broadband signals to a digital signal; extract parameters from the digital signal; and transmit the extracted parameters over the network. The server can be configured to receive the extracted parameters from each of the plurality of data collection units; and determine a location of the defect based on the extracted parameters.

Abstract: A system for housing a drone for inspecting a section of electrical grid includes a nest connected to a power supply and positioned on a powerline structure. The nest can be configured to house a drone; charge the drone while the drone is housed; and receive an alert from a server, the alert indicating a geolocation of a detected radio frequency (RF) event. The system can also include a drone. The drone can include at least one RF sensor and can be configured to, in response to the alert being received by the nest, autonomously travel to the geolocation; perform RF measurements via the at least one RF sensor at the geolocation; upload the RF measurements to the server; and return to the nest.

Abstract: A system for housing a drone for locating a source in an electrical structure includes a plurality of drones capable of hovering in positions to form a virtual enclosure around an electrical structure and a server communicably coupled to the drones. The virtual enclosure is divided into a plurality of cells. The drone is configured to measure a plurality of time difference of arrival (TDOA) values from signals originating from the source; calculate a plurality of propagation times comprising a propagation time for a calibration signal that travels from a drone to each of the plurality of cells; and send the TDOA values and the propagation times to a server. The server is configured to receive the TDOA values and the propagation times from the plurality of drones; and determine a location of the source based on the plurality of TDOA values and the plurality of propagation times.

Abstract: A system for detecting an event in an electrical infrastructure is disclosed. The system includes a plurality of monitoring stations configured to monitor signals from electrical equipment to detect one or more events associated with the electrical equipment. The monitoring stations are spaced at intervals along the electrical infrastructure. The system further includes a processor configured to analyze the detected events to obtain information regarding at least one of location, character and severity of each event associated with the electrical equipment, and output the obtained information.

Abstract: An early fault detection system for a low voltage distribution network including: at least two detectors, each located on one of two power poles at either end of a section of a power distribution line; each detector includes a GPS unit, an uninterruptable power supply, a communication means to send data to a base station, antenna sensors having a bandwidth range of 1 MHz to 3 GHz for each wire in the power line, and a processor receiving signals from each sensor and collecting data relating to a maximum value, a time of maximum value, a minimum value, and a time of minimum value for partial discharge signals within the bandwidth range; and the processor or base station being programmed to analyze the collected data to identify a location of pulses above a predetermined value and record the number of such pulses at each location over a predetermined time interval.