Background: Safety at sea is a major concern, with many dangers such as strong winds, rough waves, navigation issues, vessel maintenance, and collisions with other ships. One of the biggest risks is lightning, which can be deadly to crew members and destroy electrical equipment. However, lightning is not fully understood, making it harder to predict and protect against. Before and during electrical storms, corona discharges can occur. These are small electrical sparks that release high-frequency radio signals, ranging from a few hundred hertz to over 300 MHz, but modern radio equipment is designed to ignore these corona signals, making it “mute” during such events.
Technology Overview: The technology developed is an “antenna-less” corona detector/sensor is designed to detect corona events preceding a lightning strike. It can be integrated with protective systems to automatically disconnect electronics and redirect lightning-induced currents to the ground. Additionally, the sensor can trigger warning systems to alert users of potential danger. A proprietary method has been developed to assess the likelihood of an imminent lightning strike at locations such as a sailboat at sea. Rather than measuring atmospheric electrical potential, this sensor detects coronal discharge in the immediate vicinity. The sensor generates a signal by monitoring the electrical activity of existing onboard equipment. As a result, this approach eliminates the need for a specialized antenna, offering greater reliability compared to traditional antenna-based lightning detectors. Any detected signal signals that the area is becoming highly charged, indicating the approach of dangerous atmospheric conditions that could lead to a lightning strike.
Benefits:
- Eliminates the need for specialized antennas, reducing complexity and installation requirements
- Early detection capabilities
- Real‑time response
- Applicable in diverse environments, particularly useful for mobile or isolated locations where traditional methods may not be effective
Applications:
- Lightning detection for vessels at sea
- Marine research platforms
- Electrical grid protection
- Construction sites
- Telecommunications infrastructure
