Exploring Novel Internet-of-things Based on Free Space Optical Communications for Smart Grids

With the fast development of information technology, the wide application of Internet-of-things (IoT) will become a significant part of smart grid. It will integrate information infrastructure, equipment, devices and other components with power grid infrastructure, and provide effective services to the functions of power grid system, promote the extent of informatization, and upgrade the use of current electricity system. The major aspects of power systems: power generation, transformation, conversion, transmission, distribution, and consumption will be significantly enforced with the implementation of IoT in smart grid. It will also contribute to the national energy conservation and emission reduction goals. Nowadays, Internet of things are generally based on radio frequency (RF) wireless communications to support wide access. Nevertheless, this traditional approach faces increasing challenges of high expenses of infrastructure construction, expensiveness of frequency band cost due to its scarcity and strict regulation, and being subject to electromagnetic interference (EMI). The authors explore a novel technique based on free space optical communications (FSOC) to help mitigate the problems. Applications of this technology in power transmission line statues monitoring and information collection are explored.