Risk Management

Maximize Tower Assets

Resource Allocation

Patent Pending

Contact: Mark Allen, 309-339-6475

OVERLOADED?

It is time to go beyond empirical analysis and ultra-conservative software estimations

Estimations can now be accurately supplemented with real time behavioral analysis of the structure as it

performs under various “real world” installed conditions

• Continuous health monitoring • Determine amplitude of vibrations • Correlate displacements with wind

velocity and direction • Determine dominant frequencies • Verify design wind gust effect factors • Tune new or existing damper systems • Generate alarms for unusual behavior

• Trend analysis, track responses of structure

• Early detection of structural issues for towers & mounts

(i.e. alarms past threshold displacements, etc.)

• Detection of the addition of appurtenances

• Detection of unauthorized climbers

• Vibration mitigation

(i.e. vortex shedding, guy galloping, install/tune dampers, etc.)

• Fatigue crack growth detection

• “Black Box” investigations for catastrophic events

• Simulates a full-scale wind tunnel test

• Actual vs. predicted responses

• Alternative to tower mapping & traditional analyses

• Focus on displacements vs. calculated EPA’s & associated forces

• Determine true drag/shielding factors of tower w/ appurtenances

• Use data for determining percentage of tower utilization

• Optimal placement of appurtenances

• Increases value of tower for providing critical services

• R&D for design criteria for new & existing towers

Resource Allocation

• Damage detection after storms

• Maintenance/Repair crew dispatch priorities

• Focus on permanent deformation after storms

• Detect slack guys & other storm related issues

• Emphasis on critical towers or sites/mounts

with issues

• Streamline maintenance schedules

• Lateral displacements

• Twist / sway & rotations

• Dominate frequencies of structural displacements

• Integration with other sensor types

• Correlation with site weather data

• Algorithms utilizing characteristics unique to towers

• Trend analysis (intermediate to long term)

• Alarm systems

• Monitoring of single or multiple tower sites

Main Design Challenges

• Fixing or determining a point in 3D space without references

• How to filter inherent noise out of the fundamental sensors

• Designing the proper algorithm family to determine movements

• An electronic design with zero EMI emissions

• An electronic design that can operate in areas of extreme RF

• A robust electronic design with withstand multiple lightning hits

• A design that will accommodate a wide variety of installations

• A mechanical design that will withstand the elements / weather

• Physicist

• Mechanical engineer

• Structural tower engineers

• Electrical engineer

• RF engineer

• Software developer

• Digital signal processing expert

• Sensor fusion expert

Conceptual Engineering Meeting

(Ground Control Unit)

STS-TS5 (SmarTOWER Sensor)

Wind Velocity and Azimuth Sensor & / or Ice Sensor

STS-TS5

STS-TS5

Double Shielded Armored Cat 6 Network Cable Tower Site Network

Architecture Example

Heavy-Duty Outdoor-Rated

CAT 6 Solid, Gel-Filled Bulk

Cable, Armored

RS-485 Signaling Protocol

Local Internet Connection

Router

Internet Connected Smart Plug Strip

(Ground Control Unit)

(Sensors On Structure)

(RS-485 Data Path to Sensors)

Remote Tower Site Network Node

Battery B/U

AC Supply Connection

AC Supply (UPS)

Data

Local Internet Connection Via landline or 4G radio

4G Data Radio Unit

Primary & Mirror Data Servers and Storage

WAN Network Operations Topology

(Remote Site) (Remote Site) (Remote Site) (Remote Site)

Users

(Remote Site) (Remote Site) (Remote Site) (Remote Site)

(Remote Site) (Remote Site) (Remote Site) (Remote Site)

Remote Tower Sites

• High voltage and current protection for lightning strikes

• RF protected circuits and connections

• Functions under severe weather conditions

• Internet (or intranet) access / administration / updates

• Secure (encrypted) data transmission & storage

• Backup of key data

• Simple to install, low cost, scalable

• Remote upgrades as products evolve

STS-TS-5 – General Specifications

Approximate Size: 7.5“ W x 9.0" H x 2.25“ D

Approximate Weight: 4.0 lb

Connectivity: Weather tight connector (x2)

Communication Protocol: RS-485

Power source: (PoE)

Power consumption: 100mA @ 5V

Operating temp range: -60° F to 150° F

Environmental rating: IP67 or better

Sensors: MEMS, multi-axis

Measurement range: ± 1.5g

Resolution: .00005g

Frequency response: DC - 200Hz

Output sample rate: Selectable up to 2000 SPS

Output sample rate: Variable up to 100 Samples/sec

Protection Lightning & RF Overload

Universal Sensor Utility Mounting Bracket GCU, Daisy Chain Series and Optional Sensor Ports

RS-485 Communications

Microcontroller

Onboard 3.3 V Power Supply

EMI – sealing gasket

“Keep Alive” – Backup Power Supply

Lightning Protection for RS-485

Lightning Protection for Power Supply

Inertia measurement using MEMS (micro-electro-mechanical systems) technology won out over initial considerations such as time-of- flight measurements and similar technologies. This solution uses a miniature, surface mounted, high-performance Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) and Attitude Heading Reference System (AHRS). The device combines a 3-axis accelerometer, a 3-axis gyroscope and a 32-bit processor into a miniature surface mounted module. The sensor with algorithms & special Kalman filters calibrates for scale, noise, drift and bias inherent with MEMS technology and outputs the displacements, twist and sway of a structure.

Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU)

EMI – sealing gasket

6-Axis MEMS IMU

I /O Connectors

NTS Facility Highlights: Aerospace, Defense, Telecom & Commercial Certified Technicians Electromagnetic Testing Environmental & Dynamic Testing FCC-listed 10-meter Chamber High Intensity Radiation Field Testing (HIRF) Lightning Testing

Extensive Testing Conducted for Temperature, Lightning, RF Survival, Radiation and Emissions

Test Conducted On Ground Control Unit and Tower Mounted Sensor Unit

DO-160 and Lightning Induced Testing Capabilities NTS Rockford is accredited for DO-160 radiated susceptibility HIRF and lightning induced transient susceptibility testing. Their HIRF equipment provides testing from 400 MHz to 18 GHz. Their facility tests for both multiple-stroke and multiple-burst lightning strikes.

Lightning Discharge Testing & Survivability FAA DO-160 Standards

Injection Point Pickup Sensor Detail

Lightning Discharge Testing & Survivability FAA DO-160 Standards

Discharge Current Pickup Sensor Detail

Lightning Discharge Testing Monopulse Lightning Generator

Lightning Discharge Testing

Testing for Unintentional Radiation and FCC Part 15 Emissions Testing

(3 MHz – 3 GHz)

Testing for Unintentional Radiation and FCC Part 15 Emissions Testing

(3 MHz – 3 GHz) – Control Equipment

High RF Field Exposure Testing RF Field Waveform Generator & Amplifier

High RF Field Exposure Testing STS Tower Sensor

Installation on R&D Tower

ROHN FK-55 Tower • 60’ AGL • Movable structure • Un-guyed • Anemometer – 20’

Sensor Commissioning on R&D Tower

Sensor Installation on R&D Tower

Ground Control Unit Cabinet (Artist Concept Drawing)

Ground Control Unit

Approximate Size: 16” W x 20” H x 8” D

Approximate Weight

With Batteries – 28 lbs / 13 Kg

Cabinet Locks

AC Mains Power Input

Remote Sensor Connections

Standby Batteries

Local CPU & Solid State Drive Storage

CPU / Alarm / Control Board

Lightning Protection & Power Supply

4G Radio & Diversity Antennas

Ground Control Unit (Interior View)