MapleBee™ Intelligent Sensor Networks for Line Monitoring

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MapleBee Sensor Networks

Electric lines in a rural landscape with blue sky

MapleBee™ Sensor Networks utilizes 2.4GHz ZigBee technology to create a highly scalable and cost effective communications networks..  Each Repeater Sensor Node (SRN) measures electrical parameters in the line and relays this information to the neighbouring SRN in the upstream direction. Data hops between each SRN until it reaches its final destination at the Collector Gateway (CGW) where the data is either analyzed using MapleBee™ analytics software or further routed to the client's control room via their SCADA systems. By using Maple MicroSystems' patent pending algorithms, a highly robust ZigBee-based network architecture is created with very low latency. MapleBee™ Sensor Networks are time-synchronized, enabling data from multiple locations along the distribution network to be aligned to provide a coherent image of the network performance across the entire grid.

 

The Network consists of three main components.

  • Repeater Sensor Node (SRN) performs all the line measurements and sends them regularly upstream to the CGW through the wireless channel. Each SRN device will perform electrical parameter measurements well as repeater functions for the downstream SRN.
  • Collector Gate Way (CGW) does not have any measurement capabilities. It is responsible for traffic management and the connectivity between SRN, and acts as the communication gateway between the MapleBee™ Sensor Networks and the external world. Additionally, it provides connectivity to the sensor applications such as such as the detection, location and analysis of faults, dynamic line rating, maintenance planning and feeder visualization.
  • Controller End Point (CEP) is an end device that is typically a slave to one of the SRN and controls another device on the line such as a circuit breaker or a switch.

MapleBee OSI Software Architecture

Maple MicroSystems' vision of the utility of the future is an agile and progressive enterprise that embraces modern technology and end-to-end integration with different suppliers. This has created a demand for a new generation of intelligent systems, operating platforms and application software that proactively manage grid reliability, grid efficiency and consumer initiatives. Maple MicroSystems' MapleBee OSI (Open System Interface) Architecture offers a flexible, expandable and adaptable smart grid platform for Energy Management, Generation Management, Distribution Management and Outage Management, along with Substation Automation needs of electric utilities. MapleBee Middleware modular "Product" approach offers a breadth of individual applications for Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA), Asset Management, Distribution Grid Analysis, Demand Response, Renewables Management, Voltage and Var Control and Market Management as well as broad, secure communications interfaces with both modern or legacy field devices and control centers.

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A utility may choose to view the data on an existing enterprise software platform such as SCADA/DMS/OMS, on vendor software platforms that are hosted and accessible via the Internet or can use Maple Microsystems’ customized software analytics.

Key Features

  • Seamless integration into SCADA system through DNP3 interface.
  • Self powered with no batteries:
    • Minimum current required for normal operation: 10A
    • Operations with zero line current can be sustained for 24hr.
  • Measurements
    • Load current measurement: up to 2000 A
    • Fault current measurements: up to 20,000A
    • Harmonics measurements: up to 22nd harmonics
    • Phase measurements with 1 degree accuracy and automatic phase ID
  • Very low latency: less than 25ms per hop.
  • Software upgrades over the air
  • Radio Frequency: 2.4GHz
  • Repeater Sensor Node (SRN) Radio Range: up to 1.5Km
  • Weight: 1Kg

About us

Maple MicroSystems is focused on providing Intelligent Sensor Network Solutions. Our featured product, MapleBee™ Sensor Networks, is the industry leader in providing cost effective monitoring systems from large-scale distribution grid down to the microgrid and even individual loads. . Our sensors are self –powered, with no batteries required, and have local intelligence that enables full grid automation. Our wireless network is scalable to thousands of sensors with no operating cost to the end client. To learn more about Maple MicroSystems follow us @MapleMicro

  • Our unique network architecture and communication makes the MapleBee sensor network the most scalable and cost effective in the industry, making it suitable for mass penetration from the substation to the feeder and down to the microgrid level.

  • Unlike most Intelligent Line Monitoring Systems (ILMS) which use cell phone networks for reporting the status of the grid, MapleBee™ Sensor Networks is based on ZigBee communications with data hopping between sensors until it reaches its destination.

  • Maple Bee patent pending technology, extends the ZigBee technology to create a more robust network with very low latency per hop, Along with special decision making algorithms on board each Repeater Sensor Nodes (SRN), the MapleBee is the only sensor network in the industry that is suitable for the future needs of full grid automation.

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Our Management Team

Samy Hosny

President/CTO and Founder
Samy Hosny: founder and president. He is also the founder and chairman of SilconPro, a company that he started in 2004 as a silicon chip design and consulting business. As a visionary executive champion he was responsible for growing the business of SiliconPro and the launch of a number of products. The most recent was the MapleBee, an intelligent sensor network for the Electric power grid, which was recently spun out from SilconPro and used as a launching pad for Maple MicroSystems. Prior to founding SiliconPro, Samy had more that 15 years experience in Telecom and Silicon chip development with leading Telecom and Semiconductor vendor such as Raytheon, Nortel, SRTelecom and STMicroelectronics. Samy holds a MASc. from the University of Waterloo, and have several publications, one patent in the area of silicon chip emulation and 4 patents pending in the area of smart grid sensor communications.

 

Steve Leuty

Project Management and Operations
Steve Leuty: Project Management and Operations. Steve is a seasoned project and technical manager with more than 30 years experience in building and managing multi discipline teams for Nortel and Flextronics. He managed every aspect of product lifecycle from concept through development and release to production. End of life and cost reduction programs added millions of dollars to the bottom line. He significantly enhanced product quality through introduction of new test procedures and equipment, Failure Mode Analysis and Factory and Field Failure Analysis. Owned and championed ISO 9001, TL9000 and Disaster Business Continuity within Nortels switching division. He was Responsible for hardware development for the Nortel Multi Service Switch 15000/20000 that delivers industry leading packet networking to enterprises worldwide and managed budgets from $2M to $10M through different phases of the program. Steve carries a BASc in EE from University of Waterloo.

Gary Tomkins

Technical and business advisor
Gary Tomkins: Technical and business advisor. Gary has more than 20 years experience in technical and business leadership position with Chipworks and Nortel Networks. Gary led a team at Chipworks delivering competitive technical intelligence to the world’s leading semiconductor companies. Supplying both process and circuit competitive intelligence responsibilities included marketing, business development, engineering and product management. Previously Gary spent 12 years with Nortel (subsequently Bookham who acquired Nortel’s Optical component business) in semiconductor engineering and operations. Rising to a leadership role as Director of operations he was responsible for production of InP lasers, MZ modulators, optical detectors and GaAs HBT IC’s that enabled very high bandwidth communications systems

Murray Reeves

Technical and business advisor
Murray Reeves: Technical and business advisor: Strong leadership skills with more than 25 years experience in project management, product development and operations at Nortel and Smart Technologies. Project management experience included managing the start-up of Nortel’s Fab2GaAs semiconductor processing facility Including factory layout, capital procurement (in excess of $50M), staffing, and process introduction and qualification for Nortel’s GaAs HBT processor. In product development, lead the GaAs MEFET & SAW process engineering group at Nortel, and drove the improvement of line yield and re-tooling project for efficiency. At Smart Technologies was responsible for outsourced manufacturing support and quality for SMART’s Interactive Flat Panel (IFP) and SMART Room System (SRS) products, and later drove product costs reduction for these product lines in excess of $500K. As a young engineer, was involved in the thermal testing of space hardware at David Florida Laboratory for satellite and Canadarm programs. Murray Holds a BASc. in material Engineering from the University of Western Ontario.

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