ASTROSE®That is how the ASTROSE System works
The ASTROSE monitoring system is based on the local monitoring of the power line. For this purpose, an ASTROSE sensor node is installed in each grid section and monitors the relevant parameters in that section. The sensor nodes operate autonomously and receive the power they need directly from the power line itself. This energy harvesting process relies on capacitive harvesting.
Compared to the usual inductive approach, capacitive harvesting has the distinct advantage of not requiring any current in the line to harvest the required power!
In each grid section, the monitoring data is transmitted wirelessly in a dedicated communication chain. The first sensor node sends its data to the next link in the line. That node receives the data, adds another set, and passes it on to the next link. At the end of the chain, the stationary base station receives the combined monitoring data from the entire chain and transmits it to an ASTROSE server.
The monitoring data is checked for plausibility by the sensor nodes and then transmitted wirelessly. The transmission uses a special antenna that is integrated into the sensor node body and located in parallel to the power line. Each antenna has a reach of more than 1000m, even though the sensor nodes are usually located at no more than 500m distance. This means that each transmission is picked up by two sensor nodes down the line – a level of security that helps prevent data loss.
The data is transmitted wirelessly over the license-free 2.4 GHz band. A special proprietary transmission protocol has been developed for the data.
ASTROSE works without relying on established mobile phone or internet services and needs no external IT infrastructure!
The ASTROSE server, typically located in a substation, records and archives all monitoring data. The server keeps the ASTROSE operators automatically informed about the new data coming in. Depending on the use case, monitoring and control data can be transmitted at regular intervals. If the use case includes alarm or event notifications when defined thresholds are reached, the ASTROSE server sends these notifications to the defined recipients.