Fresno State Professor Patents Power Line Monitoring System
The newly patented technology uses solar-powered sensors and artificial intelligence to help detect potential wildfire risks.
Updated on Oct. 31, 2026 in Utilities
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Fresno State professor Kerry McBee has received a patent for a new electrical infrastructure monitoring system designed to mitigate wildfire risks. Known as the Real-Time Overhead Autonomous Monitoring System, or ROAM, the technology identifies deteriorating power lines and vegetation encroachment.
Why it matters
The system aims to identify dangerous equipment conditions before they can spark a wildfire. By providing real-time data on electrical activity and pole movement, the technology seeks to proactively address infrastructure hazards.
The California Energy Commission provided a $150,000 grant for the development of the system. Each individual sensor costs approximately $300 to manufacture, with a projected deployment cost of $5,000 between each set of utility poles.
The players
Kerry McBee
Kerry McBee is a professor at Fresno State who developed the ROAM system to improve electrical grid safety.
California Energy Commission
The California Energy Commission is the state's primary energy policy and planning agency responsible for funding energy research.
The details
The ROAM sensors are powered by solar energy and transmit data to an artificial intelligence network that monitors field conditions. The AI analyzes the data to detect signs of infrastructure degradation, pole instability, and vegetation threats.
Timeline
October 31, 2026: Article publication date.
Coming months: Planned launch of pilot programs with utility providers.
Market Landscape
The ROAM system represents a specialized advancement within the California Energy Commission's wildfire mitigation grant programs. This technology reflects a broader industry shift toward integrating AI and remote monitoring to enhance utility grid resilience against climate-related threats.
The pilot programs in the coming months could lead to more robust infrastructure monitoring, potentially reducing the frequency of preventative power shutoffs for local residents. If successful, the widespread adoption of such technology aims to improve public safety across the state.
The takeaway
Proactive monitoring of electrical equipment is becoming a standard approach for preventing wildfire ignition. Residents in fire-prone regions should watch for future updates on how these sensor networks might stabilize grid reliability in their communities.
Further reading
For more on the regional energy infrastructure landscape, visit Fresno Utilities.
Source note: This article includes information reported by ABC30 Fresno.
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