Troms Kraft Nett entered Astrum in January, a three-year R&D project focusing on AMI operations, grid operations, grid development and grid maintenance.
The objective is to make an intelligent decision support tool for the operation and advantage of smart grids. The project addresses solutions for the industry based on brand new technology using artificial intelligence and machine learning.
The grid industry and Troms Kraft Nett are facing major challenges in the future. We need to invest in an aging power grid, while it is important to think new and smart in order to make effective use of the company’s resources. This requires good decisions based on available and relevant information. We are therefore very pleased to be part of the Astrum project led by eSmart Systems. Here we can solve our future challenges in cooperation with competent partners
We appreciate that Troms Kraft Nett has chosen eSmart Systems as a long-term partner in systems for AMI and utilities. We are really looking forward to starting the collaboration through the Astrum project together with the four other highly competent partners
In addition to Troms Kraft Nett and eSmart Systems, Glitre Energi Nett, SFE Nett, Ringeriks-Kraft Nett and Norgesnett are participants in the project.
SFE Nett and eSmart Systems have signed an agreement for the delivery of Connected Grid.
Since 2013, eSmart Systems has been developing Connected Grid in close cooperation with DSO’s SFE Nett, Norgesnett, Ringeriks-Kraft Nett and Glitre Energi Nett through an industrial research and development project. Connected Grid is an intelligent top system based entirely on a forward-looking architecture utilizing cloud services, IoT, Big Data and digital intelligence.
We look forward to use Connected Grid to capitalize on our investments in a smarter grid, by giving better operational control and make greater value out of the vast amount of data we collect in the future
We are very pleased that SFE Nett has chosen to go in operative use with Connected Grid. We strongly believe that our technology will lead to significant savings for SFE Nett
On November 8th, 2017, Norway’s and the world’s largest electronic security supplier entered a partnership agreement with a corresponding world-leading supplier of artificial intelligence and machine learning. The parties will collaborate on deliveries of innovative, forward-looking solutions in the welfare and security sector.
Stanley Security is a leading company within electronic security in Norway and the world. The company has long roots both nationally and internationally and is considered the preferred supplier of alarm security, security cameras and access control solutions related to one of Norway’s most technologically advanced alarm and 24/7 response centers.
For a long time, we have been looking for an innovative partner who can lift our own digitization process, while also being so complementary that we can have a concrete market cooperation. This collaboration between Stanley and eSmart Systems provides this combination, enabling us to deliver smart and future-oriented security services to our customers
Exploring New Opportunities
Together, eSmart Systems and Stanley Security focus heavily on innovation and development of future security services. Entering a partner agreement, the companies show that they will work together to explore new technological opportunities in emerging markets such as Internet of Things (IoT), Smart Office, Smart Home, Welfare Technology and Smart City.
eSmart Systems develops digital intelligence for the energy industry and smart communities. The company is based on more than 20 years of international experience in establishing and managing knowledge-based, leading IT and energy-related companies targeting global markets.
Previously, the parties have entered an agreement for delivery of a backend support system for a new and flexible alarm solution at Stanley Security. This solution handles incoming alarms and connects them to Stanley Security’s 24-hour alert station.
eSmart Systems is responsible for software delivery, while eSmart Systems’ subsidiary, E2U, has entered a similar agreement for hardware and logistics delivery. Stanley Security delivers the service – including surveillance and alarm service – to their end customers.
Equipped for Further Development
With a platform allowing the usage of IoT and Artificial Intelligence (AI) for collecting market-leading data, the partners are well equipped for further development as well as reduction of operating costs.
The cooperation with Stanley Security is important to us in eSmart Systems. Stanley Security is large on security both nationally and internationally. Through this collaboration we will be able to deliver competitive solutions and services to the security market, which shows the width of our platform’s areas of application
Using eSmart Systems’ solutions in the field of AI and machine learning at Stanley Security, the security giant will be able to improve existing market offerings. For example, they could reduce the number of false alarms with subsequent callouts or achieve faster and better response on alarms. They will also be able to create predictive safety analyzes, where it will be possible to uncover unwanted events before they occur.
The signing of the new partnership agreement took place in the Simulation Center at Remmen Business Park in Halden, Wednesday, November 8th.
Read also (external link): Inngår partnerskap med verdensledende selskap
eSmart Systems and Border States Electric to bring drone technology and high-end analytics to U.S. utility industry.
FARGO, N.D. — Innovations in the power generation and utility industries are leading to safer, more efficient ways to inspect infrastructure, and detect outages and leaks. For more than five years, researchers have been looking for ways to improve the safety and efficiency of the utility industry using drone technology to inspect electric, gas and oil infrastructure.
Monday, eSmart Systems Inc., U.S. announced they finalized an agency agreement with Border States Electric (BSE) to provide eSmart Systems’ Thundercloud, Connected Drone and Connected Grid systems to customers in the 48 contiguous states. Both companies have been instrumental in advancing the technology specifically for the utility and power generation industries.
Thundercloud is an end-to-end solution for infrastructure inspections, featuring the Connected Grid and Connected Drone software components. The main client, Connected Grid, provides real-time monitoring of the grid allowing operators access to detect faults, plan maintenance needs while reducing investments and reduce costs related to outages. The Connected Drone uses artificial intelligence to catalog infrastructure components and monitor their health. The results are used to view infrastructure status and provide a basis for maintenance tasks. This not only brings a significant safety component to the inspection of utility assets using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV’s), or drones, but allows for safe, efficient, reliable and intelligent grid operations.
Gerald “Poke” Buck, BSE’s senior vice president utility sales, said, “The Thundercloud, Connected Drone and Connected Grid solutions from eSmart Systems are just what our utility, gas and oil customers have been asking for. We are thrilled about our new relationship with eSmart Systems and the high-quality, end-to-end, complete solutions that we will be supplying to the utility and industrial markets.”
The partnership with BSE is an important milestone for eSmart Systems and our continued growth in the U.S. market. We are very excited to work with an industry leader such as BSE to further advance the applications of drones, big data analytics and intelligent asset management through our Thundercloud solution, to help utilities and their customers across the U.S. to lower costs and experience a more reliable service.
Read the full press release here.
About BSE
BSE supplies products and services to construction, industrial and utility customers. The 100 percent employee-owned company is rated the seventh largest electrical distributor in the U.S. by Electrical Wholesaling magazine. BSE has more than 2,500 employees and 111 branches in 20 states. The Branch Support Center (corporate office) is located in Fargo, North Dakota.
About eSmart Systems
eSmart Systems develops digital intelligence for the energy industry and smart communities. The company is based on more than 20 years of international experience in establishing and operating knowledge based, leading IT and energy related companies targeting global markets. eSmart Systems provides software solutions to the energy industry, service providers and smart cities. Its platform is designed to handle and exploit the Internet of Things, Big Data and Analytics in real time. It has broad application possibilities that give grid operators insight into their distribution network.
Latest from our blog: Alchemy for Grid Operators Turning Your Smart Meter Data Into Gold
TEA and eSmart Systems help JEA restore power to Hurricane Irma victims.
JACKSONVILLE – September 15, 2017
In the aftermath of Hurricane Irma, JEA, the largest municipal utility in Florida, was able to deploy advanced drone technology to safely and quickly assess damage from the storm. As an owner of The Energy Authority (TEA), a non-profit Data Analytics, Energy Trading, and Risk Management company, JEA has full access to many unique resources. For example, TEA utilizes eSmart Systems’ (eSmart) Connected Grid© software to perform big data analytics functions for the benefit of JEA and other public power utilities. As Irma approached the Florida peninsula, TEA and eSmart identified an opportunity to help JEA in its post-storm recovery.
While JEA currently has four employees licensed as drone operators, eSmart and its partner firm, SkySkopes, were able to provide the equipment, expertise, certifications, and cutting edge software features to quickly add capacity and structure to JEA’s efforts that delivered information in real time to work crews more safely and quickly than could be accomplished otherwise.
We at eSmart Systems are once again proud to be a valued partner of TEA to bring solutions to its utility members. And no solution could be more important than helping the people of Florida to more quickly and safely get their lights back on after Hurricane Irma
From Harvey to Irma
Prior to the storm, SkySkopes’ operators arrived in Jacksonville from Houston where they had recently been providing similar services to assist Texas utilities in recovering from Hurricane Harvey. The team weathered the storm in a downtown hotel so they were assembled and ready to begin operations as soon as wind speeds were at a safe level.
“Safety is always our highest priority, but SkySkopes is also constantly striving to find use-cases for small unmanned aircraft to benefit partners and clients. Using our advanced aircraft, sensors, mobile command stations, and professional UAS pilots we were able to successfully demonstrate the unique value of new aerial data collection methods to TEA, JEA, and eSmart Systems in hurricane damage assessment. Every day we save in the delivery of critical data to a utility such as JEA can save weeks in elements of the recovery process, which ultimately means value to their customers,” said Matt Dunlevy, President and CEO of SkySkopes, Inc.
Proactively Forming Strategic Partnerships
The flight crews went into action on Tuesday, September 12. They were used to assess damage and flooding without putting human crews at risk while relaying essential information that prepared JEA crews to repair damage quickly when they arrived at an impacted site. Additionally, eSmart’s mobile operations center, ThunderCloud©, was driven out to affected areas to serve as a base for flying inspection drones along power lines. A major advantage of the state-of-the-art unmanned aerial systems used by SkySkopes is that they employ machine learning and provide live steaming video to utility professionals who could remotely detect damage or monitor repair and recovery efforts.
JEA strives to provide excellent service to its customers. Collaborating with companies at the forefront of software and drone technology operations is a great example of how JEA proactively forms strategic partnerships and leverages them to innovate and constantly improve our critical response processes
TEA actively seeks out and builds relationships with industry partners that provide public power with the advantage of flexibility, faster response time, adaptability, and cutting-edge technology. When the stakes are high, like unprecedented hurricane conditions, TEA’s relationships enable public power utilities as they perform essential restoration services to their customers and communities.
Find the full press release here.
Read also: Norwegian eSmart Systems Helps Unpowered Americans After Hurricane “Irma”
Read also: Thundercloud Launched in the USA
By using drones and Artificial Intelligence (AI), Halden-based eSmart Systems aims to help provide Americans with power as soon as possible.
We assist the US authorities with damage control and with finding problems in the power grid as quickly as possible
Representatives from the company are now in place in Florida to assist US power companies in clearing up after the storm.
This article is translated from the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK). Read the full article (in Norwegian) here.
Over six million homes and companies lost power due to destructions caused by hurricane “Irma” in Florida. Local power vendors say it will take weeks before the power grid is 100 percent up and running again.
A great part of the challenge is to find the fractures in the power lines – and here is where eSmart Systems comes in.
We have a mobile operational center consisting of a truck, equipped with all necessary soft- and hardware for identifying grid destructions. This mobile operational center is driven out to actual areas, before flying inspection drones along the power lines while collecting and analyzing data continuously. That way, we can locate fractures quickly
Johansen explains
Developing for Usage on Infrastructure
Data collected by the inspection drones, is analyzed using AI. Machine Learning enables the system to learn from the data it collects; gradually becoming better at identifying fractures and damages in the power grid single-handedly.
eSmart Systems is now working to further developing their technology so that it can be used on other types of infrastructure.
Read also: Thundercloud Launched in the USA
eSmart Systems Connected Drone solution to employ Kongsberg Geospatial IRIS situational awareness display for power line inspection in North America and Europe.
Kongsberg Geospatial, an Ottawa-based developer of real-time, mission critical, geospatial visualization software, and eSmart Systems, who develop digital intelligence for the energy industry and smart communities, announced today that they have integrated the Kongsberg Geospatial IRIS UAS situational awareness system into the eSmart Systems Connected Drone solution for powerline inspection.
The Connected Drone solution collects real-time powerline inspection data for analysis in the eSmart cloud, which provides actionable data that helps utility companies to reduce power failures and operational costs.
Kongsberg Geospatial has been providing technology for military UAV platforms for over a decade, and is now actively working with industry and regulatory groups in the United States and Canada to develop a simple, portable display for civilian UAV operators that provides them with a unified situational awareness picture combining a wide range of live data feeds into an easy to understand display format.
Read the full press release here.
“Exactly the type of enterprise partnership we are looking for”
The IRIS display for eSmart Systems will enable multiple drones to be managed simultaneously by a single operator and provide real-time calculation of communications line-of-sight to enable BVLOS operations. IRIS will provide the operator with real-time 2D and 3D visualization of airborne track and weather data, as well as geo-fencing capabilities.
The expertise and capability of eSmart Systems is exactly the type of enterprise partnership we are looking for to employ our technology. We are very pleased to join with eSmart Systems to help lead the way in the emerging drone aviation market where real-time situational awareness will be needed to ensure safety.
eSmart Systems has five years of expertise and experience in Norway of providing software solutions for energy companies and their service providers using UAS tools. We have identified strong partners like Kongsberg Geospatial to enable Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) flights that will accelerate the usability for the utility industry. Visualizing this information within the Kongsberg Geospatial IRIS display is a very powerful tool to enhance safety for UAS operations
Read also: eSmart Systems partners with Atea
About Kongsberg Geospatial:
Based in Ottawa, Canada, Kongsberg Geospatial creates precision real-time software for mapping, geospatial visualization, and situational awareness. The Company’s products are primarily deployed in solutions for air-traffic control, Command and Control, and air defense. Over nearly three decades of providing dependable performance under extreme conditions, Kongsberg Geospatial has become the leading geospatial technology provider for mission-critical applications where lives are on the line. Kongsberg Geospatial is a subsidiary of Kongsberg Defence Systems.
Wednesday afternoon, Crown Prince Haakon Magnus and Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway arrived eSmart Systems at Remmen Business Park in Halden. The Royal Highnesses’ goal for theCrown, Prince, Princess, Norway, eSmart Systems, day, was to learn more about the possibilities that lie within current and future technologies.
Having the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess here, was a good experience for several reasons. There is no doubt that they are genuinely interested in the technological development and the IT revolution we are experiencing. They take interest in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and understand the potential effect this will have on society
Arriving Halden and Remmen Business Park, the Royals were greeted by several children from the local kindergartens before being guided through eSmart Systems’ offices and having lunch with representatives from eSmart Systems, Smart Innovation Norway, Smart Cognition and Halden municipality.
are shown around eSmart Systems’ offices.
Engaging in the IT Revolution
Then, the Crown Prince and Crown Princess were more thoroughly introduced to the IT revolution, AI, machine learning and drone operations – before given the chance to perform a physical task; Coding the drone so that it would recognize one of the attendees from the Royal staff.
During presentations and coding, both the Crown Prince and the Crown princess actively participated in discussions, asking questions and even filming and taking pictures with their private mobile phones.
CTO, Davide Roverso.
Read the full article from Smart Innovation Norway here (in Norwegian)
Read also: The Norwegian Crown Prince and Crown Princess are visiting eSmart Systems
Read also: eSmart Systems expands – Opens new office in Oslo
The new office will provide eSmart Systems a base to accelerate its expected growth.
eSmart Systems US Inc, a subsidiary of eSmart Systems AS from Norway, has just opened its new US headquarters in Bellevue, WA.
eSmart Systems develops digital intelligence for the energy industry and smart communities, and already has a large customer base in Europe. The Bellevue/Seattle area is one of the fastest-growing high-tech regions in the US – and the Global Hub for any Cloud related services.
With this location, eSmart Systems is close to two strategic partners; One is Microsoft, which provides eSmart Systems with both the Azure Cloud platform and a Board Member – Joseph Sirosh, CVP over Microsoft’s Cloud AI Platform. The second local strategic partner is The Energy Authority (TEA), which offers TEA Connected Analytics to public power utilities nationwide.
These Bellevue area partners provide eSmart Systems a base to accelerate its expected growth.
This is not only an important step into the US market, but it is also a big step in eSmart Systems’ global expansion
It is a pleasure to have eSmart Systems here in Bellevue, and we look forward to further joint engagements that grow analytical utility services in the US market
Read also: Thundercloud Launched in the USA
Read also: eSmart Systems to Open Office in North Dakota
Read also: eSmart Systems Expands – Opens New Office in Oslo
Thundercloud and Connected Drone were officially launched in the US market on August 22nd, 2017.
The announcement was presented on stage at the UAS Summit in Grand Forks, North Dakota.
eSmart Systems was given a one-hour keynote time slot on the agenda, and Knut E. Gustavsen from eSmart Systems was invited to take the stage by U.S. State Senator John Hoeven. Knut was then leading a panel consisting of Xcel Energy (among the 10 big utilities in the US), SkySkopes (drone operator), Robot Aviation (drone manufacturer), Kongsberg Geospatial (flight operation SW), Microsoft Fargo and Tore Lie from eSmart Systems. Tore gave a 30 min. presentation about technology trends and Connected Drone and Thundercloud, which was very well received.
Taken by Storm
Later in the afternoon, eSmart Systems was sponsoring an ice cream social event in the Alerus Center arena. Following this networking event, the CEO of eSmart Systems, Knut H. H. Johansen, took the stage and shortly informed about eSmart Systems – before making the grand announcement of THUNDERCLOUD.
The arena went dark as the yellow signal light started to blink on the rooftop of the Thundercloud truck at the far end of the arena. It drove up to the audience with all lights on. The rear hatch folded down and the drone automatically came out on the extracted platform. The drone pilot stepped out of the Thundercloud Mobile Operation Center, prepared the drone for operation and lifted off from the platform for an inspection in the arena. The drone camera streamed live images on the big screen in the arena and found Tore Lie who was hidden high under the roof in the arena. Tore announced a scenario from a power line inspection from Nodak. And after the inspection, the pilot landed the drone safely on the platform of the truck. Knut Gustavsen ended the show with presenting the Thundercloud partners on stage and concluded a very successful launch of Thundercloud in the US market.
We are extremely happy and proud to launch Thundercloud at the UAS Summit here in the Silicon Valley for Drones. eSmart Systems has had an extremely fast turnaround time building this first Thundercloud truck here in North Dakota, thanks to good partners. The feedback is overwhelming and we are determined to roll out the Thundercloud solution in the North America market
Read also: eSmart Systems to Open Office in North Dakota
Thanks to all eSmart Systems resources and partners who made this possible, and to our fantastic media partner Nordic Media Lab represented by Trond-Atle Bokerød.