RIT Dubai Partners with SmartKable for AI-Driven Electric Grid Solutions
A Strategic Collaboration
RIT Dubai has entered into an exciting partnership with SmartKable Powerline Solutions, a New York-based company, along with its Middle East and Africa division, SmartKable Equinova. This collaboration aims to develop an innovative AI solution designed to enhance the efficiency of electric grids. As part of this agreement, RIT Dubai will acquire a minor equity stake in SmartKable Equinova, paving the way for a long-term and mutually beneficial relationship.
Engaging Students and Faculty
The partnership will see active participation from both faculty and students at RIT Dubai, who will work closely with SmartKable to advance smart grid technologies. The focus will be on integrating generative AI and predictive analytics into SmartKable’s Line Analyzer software. Students are already engaged in this initiative, with some undertaking capstone projects through Dubai’s Smart Energy Lab. Additionally, a postdoctoral researcher based in Rochester will provide architectural oversight and integration for the project.
Goals of the Initiative
Jinane Mounsef, chair of the electrical engineering and computing science department at RIT Dubai, is one of the project leaders. She emphasizes that the team aims to create solutions that automate power assessment reporting using AI-driven insights. The project will also focus on providing real-time notifications for grid reliability, enhancing predictive capabilities to forecast failures, and optimizing planning. Furthermore, the initiative seeks to support intelligent demand-supply control, contributing to more resilient energy systems.
“This initiative highlights how, together, academia and industry can transform challenges into opportunities for innovation and sustainable growth,” Mounsef stated.
SmartKable’s Innovative Technology
SmartKable’s Line Ranger network is a cutting-edge tool that measures line voltage, current, and other related parameters in real time. This technology can identify and track losses, differentiate between commercial and technical issues, enable dynamic line rating, and predict the remaining lifespan of power lines.
Bill Collins, co-founder of SmartKable Powerline Solutions, expressed the company’s vision: “We want to help the grid successfully evolve in spite of all the new electrification and items that are happening. Ultimately, we aim to turn the grid into something that is intelligently controlled by AI.”
Future Commercial Applications
Collins also mentioned that the team anticipates commercializing the solution by the end of the project, allowing customers to benefit from these advancements.
Wojtek Bulatowicz, managing director of SmartKable Equinova, highlighted the global significance of this initiative: “The need for a smart, efficient, and predictable grid is a universal, global issue. This is why SmartKable now has its operations in the United Arab Emirates to serve the Middle East and Africa markets.”
A Global Perspective
SmartKable, headquartered in Skaneateles, New York, has already deployed its Line Ranger devices worldwide. The company has previously collaborated with RIT through its co-op program and was drawn to partner with RIT Dubai after recognizing the campus’s expertise in engineering and AI. This agreement is crucial for providing RIT students with hands-on experience in real-world scenarios, equipping them with the skills to devise solutions that can be implemented globally.
For more details about RIT Dubai, visit the RIT Dubai website. To learn more about the Line Ranger Network, check out the SmartKable Powerline Solutions website.
