Melbourne researchers have invented and patented a way of detecting and locating potential electrical faults along large stretches of power line before they occur.
The invention was inspired by a boyhood interest in electric fishes, such as the black ghost knifefish.
The patented detection system, already being employed by local electricity companies, could help prevent the major discharges that lead to sparking and blackouts, says Dr. Alexe Bojovschi, a post-doctoral fellow in electrical and computer engineering at RMIT University.
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