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April 24, 2012
FREEWAVE TECHNOLOGIES ANNOUNCES WIRELESS I/O SOLUTION FOR AUTOMATED MONITORING AND CONTROL OF CIRCUIT BREAKERS IN THE SMART GRID
Circuit breakers serve critical functions in both the protection system and the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system used for power switching
BOULDER, Colo., April 24, 2012 – FreeWave Technologies, (http://www.freewave.com), manufacturer of the most reliable, high-performance spread spectrum and licensed radios for critical data transmission, today announced its wireless I/O radios are enabling real-time automated monitoring and control of circuit breaker technology in Smart Grid systems. FreeWave Technologies is the only wireless data radio provider with expandable I/O devices that offer universally configurable I/O channels for analog input, analog output, digital input, digital output and sensor power, making them ideal for Smart Grid applications, among others.
“We are finding new exciting uses for our wireless I/O radios across multiple industries,” explained Ashish Sharma, chief marketing officer of FreeWave Technologies. “For example, utility operators and technicians at electric power plants can identify the exact circuit breaker that tripped even before the first customer complaint reaches the office, helping them prevent outages before they have a widespread impact. Utilities aiming to improve overall customer satisfaction and reduce fines imposed by regulators (for failing to deliver electric power) can avert them from even happening by deploying FreeWave’s I/O solutions for support.”
Circuit breakers disconnect separate sections of a distribution grid so that an overload condition on one section of a power grid can be isolated. By proper planning and spacing of circuit breakers, utilities can isolate fault conditions to small sections of the grid and reduce the number of customers exposed to possible outages or spotty service. Utilities can further reduce costs of regulatory fines by resolving the fault and restoring service quickly.
In the past, field technicians would have to manually inspect each circuit breaker in the area of a reported power outage and identify the tripped breaker. Now, instead of spending the time and manpower necessary to manually respond to power outage issues, utilities can actively mitigate customer dissatisfaction and regulatory fines through proactive, automated monitoring with FreeWave’s wireless I/O radios and expansion modules. The expansion modules have discrete inputs used to monitor breaker status and condition and discrete outputs used to control the breaker itself. This functionality provides utilities with automated control and monitoring of one of the most critical systems in the entire power grid and points the field technicians straight to the problem, saving both time and money.
“Our radios have been relied on in some of the harshest environments and in the most demanding applications on earth,” continued Sharma. “Since electric utilities are graded on their reliability, the adoption of wireless I/O and the flexibility it offers represents one of the simplest and most straightforward ways to ensure utility performance and uptime and ultimate customer satisfaction.”
For more information about FreeWave’s line of I/O wireless data radios, please visit (http://www.freewave.com/PRODUCTS/ALLPRODUCTS/IOExpansion.aspx).
About FreeWave Technologies
Founded in 1993, FreeWave Technologies manufactures the most reliable, high performing, lowest power consumption, spread spectrum and licensed radios for mission-critical data transmission. Based in Boulder, Colorado, FreeWave designs and manufactures radios that are the leading choice for oil and gas, utility, military and numerous other industrial applications. Organizations that count on radio data communications for operational success – where failure and down-time are not an option – trust FreeWave for custom network design, system engineering and customer support that are unparalleled in the market. For additional information, contact FreeWave directly at 866.399.4930 or at newsinfo@freewave.com. Visit the company’s website at http://www.freewave.com/; connect with the company via Twitter: @freewavetech or follow the company on Facebook at (http://www.facebook.com/pages/FreeWave-Technologies/323638857657624).
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Press Contact:
Christin Jeffers
Catapult PR-IR
303-581-7760 ext. 19
February 2, 2011
Protecting the smart grid with wireless data communications
Protecting the smart grid with wireless data communications
By Matthias van Doorn, Product Manager for Ethernet and Licensed Radio Systems at FreeWave Technologies
Direct link to published article on Smart Grid News: http://www.smartgridnews.com/artman/publish/Technologies_Security/Protecting-the-smart-grid-with-wireless-data-communications-3447.html
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As the need for reliable, real-time data communication in mission-critical SCADA systems continues to increase, electric power utilities are looking for new and better ways to improve the reliability and security of their communication infrastructure.
The smart grid is a part of the critical infrastructure that is composed of all the services and assets that make civilized life possible. It also includes our water supply, heating, electricity, telecommunication, oil and gas, transportation systems, airports, harbors, financial services (banking), public health services, public safety and many other items.
The one common link between all the components of the infrastructure is computers. With the introduction of computer technology, the proliferation of networks has enabled data exchange between computers and given birth to the Internet. Now, mankind is experiencing the dawn of a new, virtual environment aptly named “cyberspace.”
The evolution of cyberspace has also made it both more attractive and more vulnerable to exploitation. There has been an increase in attacks, stealing, corruption, harm and destruction to our systems.
A class of wireless data transmission radios exists that is proven to be both cost-effective and secure. These long-range radios offer a high throughput, both upstream and downstream. As far as communication technologies, distribution automation is a time-sensitive application. A lot of the equipment requires very low latency – meaning the time it takes for control signals or packets to travel across the link and cause the intended action. These wireless radios especially have high throughput and very fast latency – so they are more suitable for automation for SCADA applications.
Threats on the smart grid today
Two of the most common security threats to the smart grid today are Denial of Service (DoS) and intrusion.
DoS is an attempt to make a computer resource or network unavailable to its intended users. DoS could be as simple as jamming an electric or electromagnetic signal or as sophisticated as saturating a system or network with communication and data traffic intended to overwhelm and avoid legitimate data to get through and be processed.
Penetrating and intruding into a network or computer resource requires a different level of sophistication. Consequences can range from simply spying or stealing information to corrupting data or maliciously and intentionally causing harm or destruction by taking over network and/or computers and control systems.
Wired vs wireless
Unlike traditional wire-line data communication, which typically uses copper or fiber-optic cable between communication endpoints, wireless data communication is based on electromagnetic waves using radio frequencies (RF) propagating through open space, literally the air. This gives wireless some unique advantages, as communication endpoints don’t need to be tied down to a fixed location and dependent upon a physical cable. In addition, running cable, conduit or even digging trenches can be a time-consuming, expensive and sometimes dangerous proposition.
The flexibility of wireless data communication comes at a price though. Electromagnetic waves are non-discriminatory when it comes to access. A wired connection requires physical access to the cable. Wireless connections can be made anywhere along the path on which the electromagnetic waves propagate. Consequently, security (as in secure access) becomes much more important for wireless data communication.
Wireless resiliency
The electric grid has been recognized as a prime strategic target for attacks since back in World War II, when allied bombing raids on power plants, substations and electric transmission lines attempted to reduce the industrial capacity and output of the enemy by depriving them of the much-needed electricity to run those factories.
In 1941 Hedy Lamarr, an Austria-born actress, together with George Antheil, co-patented a “secret communication system” where coordinated, rapid changes in radio frequencies “hop” in the radio spectrum, thus evading detection and the potential of interference.
Lamar’s idea was ahead of its time and not implemented in the U.S. until 1962. It is now the basis for modern Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS) wireless communication systems. FHSS wireless systems are very resilient when it comes to impairments such as interference (deliberate or coincidental) and “jamming,” making DoS attacks on FHSS systems difficult if not completely impossible.
However, a resilient wireless system needs more than a rugged transmission system. Access control is one of the most important security features to prevent unauthorized access and intrusion. It is the equivalent of the security guard at the main door of an office building who makes sure only people with the correct badge can enter. In addition, encryption provides an extra layer of protection and maintains the privacy of the actual data between the sender and recipient. These are just a few basic features that can help with creating a resilient wireless data communication system for critical infrastructure.
Any chain is only as strong as its weakest link. If we don’t start building and properly implementing adequate protections for our wireless data communication networks, (especially for our critical infrastructure, with the goal of making them more resilient) malicious hackers will keep exploiting, attacking and ultimately destroying our way of life.
Matthias van Doorn is the product manager for ethernet and licensed radio systems at FreeWave Technologies Inc. He has more than 15 years experience in the telecommunications industry and previously has worked for CalAmp Corp., ADC Telecommunications, Digi International and Siemens.
