Systems and methods for distributed sensing of a powerline conductor

1. A system comprising:

a signal transmitter comprising:

a radio frequency generator that generates a first radio frequency electromagnetic signal; and

a first transducer that converts the first radio frequency electromagnetic signal to a first surface wave mode signal imposed onto a powerline conductor at a first location in a first direction toward a second location along the powerline conductor;

a signal receiver comprising a second transducer located at the second location along the powerline conductor that converts the first surface wave mode signal into a second radio frequency electromagnetic signal; and

an analysis subsystem that monitors a signal strength of the second radio frequency electromagnetic signal over time to determine whether a physical encroachment of the powerline conductor exists between the first location and the second location.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein:

at least one of the first radio frequency electromagnetic signal or the second radio frequency electromagnetic signal comprises a transverse electromagnetic mode signal; and

the first surface wave mode signal comprises a transverse magnetic mode signal.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system further comprises:

a first device at the first location and comprising the radio frequency generator and the first transducer; and

a second device at the second location and comprising the second transducer.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein:

the first device comprises a first clamping device that mechanically couples a fiber optic cable to the powerline conductor at the first location; and

the second device comprises a second clamping device that mechanically couples the fiber optic cable to the powerline conductor at the second location.

5. The system of claim 3 , wherein:

at least one of the first radio frequency electromagnetic signal or the second radio frequency electromagnetic signal has a carrier frequency for a wireless local area network; and

the first device transmits data to the second device using the carrier frequency for the wireless local area network.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the wireless local area network comprises a Wi-Fi communication network.

7. The system of claim 5 , wherein the analysis subsystem determines a received signal strength indication associated with the wireless local area network to monitor the signal strength of the second radio frequency electromagnetic signal.

8. The system of claim 5 , wherein:

the analysis subsystem, to monitor the signal strength of the second radio frequency electromagnetic signal, determines at least one of:

a magnitude of at least one carrier signal of the wireless local area network; or

a phase angle of the at least one carrier signal of the wireless local area network.

9. The system of claim 5 , wherein the first device further comprises:

a detection circuit that detects a characteristic of power carried on the powerline conductor; and

a communication timing circuit that causes the first surface wave mode signal to be imposed onto the powerline conductor according to a timing that is based on the characteristic of power carried on the powerline conductor.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the characteristic of power carried on the powerline conductor detected by the detection circuit comprises a zero-crossing of a voltage carried on the powerline conductor.

11. The system of claim 3 , wherein:

the first device further comprises a third transducer that converts the first radio frequency electromagnetic signal to a second surface wave mode signal imposed onto the powerline conductor at the first location in a second direction opposite the first direction along the powerline conductor;

the system further comprises a third device that is located at a third location in the second direction from the first location and that comprises a fourth transducer that converts the second surface wave mode signal into a third radio frequency electromagnetic signal; and

the analysis subsystem monitors a signal strength of the third radio frequency electromagnetic signal over time to determine whether a physical encroachment of the powerline conductor exists between the first location and the third location.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the first device further comprises a radio frequency switch that directs the first radio frequency electromagnetic signal to at least one of:

the first transducer; or

the third transducer.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first transducer and the second transducer comprises a conically-shaped waveguide defining an axis aligned along the powerline conductor.

14. The system of claim 1 , wherein the analysis subsystem determines whether a physical encroachment of the powerline conductor exists between the first location and the second location based on a rate of change of signal strength of the second radio frequency electromagnetic signal.

15. A method comprising:

transmitting a surface wave mode signal imposed on a powerline conductor at a first location along the powerline conductor toward a second location along the powerline conductor;

receiving at least a portion of the transmitted surface wave mode signal at the second location along the powerline conductor; and

monitoring a signal strength of the received portion of the transmitted surface wave mode signal over time to determine whether a physical encroachment of the powerline conductor exists between the first location and the second location.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein a determination whether a physical encroachment of the powerline conductor exists between the first location and the second location is based on a rate of change of the signal strength associated with the received portion of the transmitted surface wave mode signal.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein:

the surface wave mode signal comprises a wireless network communication signal; and

the signal strength associated with the received portion of the transmitted surface wave mode signal is indicated as a received signal strength indication associated with the wireless network communication signal.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein:

the surface wave mode signal comprises a wireless network communication signal; and

the signal strength associated with the received portion of the transmitted surface wave mode signal is indicated as at least one of a magnitude or a phase angle associated with the wireless network communication signal.

19. A method comprising:

installing a first device onto a powerline conductor at a first location along the powerline conductor, wherein the first device transmits a surface wave mode signal imposed on the powerline conductor at the first location for propagation along the powerline conductor toward a second location along the powerline conductor;

installing a second device onto the powerline conductor at the second location along the powerline conductor, wherein the second device receives at least a portion of the transmitted surface wave mode signal at the second location; and

providing an analysis subsystem, communicatively coupled to at least the second device, that monitors a signal strength of the received portion of the transmitted surface wave mode signal over time to determine whether a physical encroachment of the powerline conductor exists between the first location and the second location.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein at least one of the first device and the second device comprises a clamping device that secures a fiber optic cable to the powerline conductor.