# Sensor Technologies for Transmission and Distribution Systems: A Review of the Latest Developments
## 4 Outlook
### Advances in Transmission and Distribution Systems with Modern Day Sensor Technology  
Modern sensor technology can prove itself instrumental in remodeling the traditional transmission and distribution systems to cope with the impending developments in the near future. Some of the significant developments that can be realized in the existing transmission and distribution systems by their integration with modern-day sensor technology are discussed below and are tabulated in Table 3.  
Modern-day sensor technology has the ability to bring significant developments in the existing structure and functionality of transmission systems. The current operations of the transmission systems are mostly based on operator-based controls. To realize autonomy, synchronicity, efficiency, and faster response of the transmission system in the future, there is a need to replace the operator dependent controls with automatic controls. The  
Figure 6: Current features of the modern-day sensor technology in the utility level grid and consumer level grid. modern-day sensor technology can form an important part of this automation system by enabling the detection and measurement of physical or grid parameter variations which could provide essential information to the control system to take necessary actions without being dependent on the expertise of operator personnel [148]. Automatic controls can also improve the existing islanding and anti-islanding issues in microgrids and configure switchable networks to relieve congestion issues and improve the transmission capacity of the system. Along with this, modern-day sensor technology can help monitor the bidirectional flow of power when the traditional transmission systems evolve into smart grids in the future. Furthermore, the incorporation of machine learning and IOT-based real time condition monitoring and predictive maintenance of the entire system along with strong cybersecurity protocols can vastly reduce the vulnerability to faults, destabilizing issues, and cybersecurity threats [145; 149]. The current transmission system is predominantly equipped with SCADA systems with integrated PMU-based wireless sensing networks for real time monitoring. This situation is expected to be improved with the incorporation of new and forthcoming developments in sensor technology that will allow for real time, time-synchronized monitoring, and adaptive transmission line measuring instrument sensors for multi-level coordination of the entire transmission system. 'Faster-than-real-time' [142] monitoring and predictive maintenance will help build sturdier transmission systems and will enable 'on-need-basis' dispatch and re-dispatch of generation. The inclusion of optimized energy storage systems in wireless sensor networks will reduce the dependency on the main grid, thereby not affecting the normal operation of the transmission system due to the failure of sensors or a wireless sensor network [150; 151]. The modern-day sensor technology has also brought significant developments to the existing structure and functionality of distribution systems. The current structure of the distribution system is mostly 'floating on the transmission line' [142] with limited monitoring and controls that are restricted to the substation. Furthermore, the topology of the distribution systems is mostly a radial structure that supports power flow in a single direction. The coming age of smart grids calls for the facilitation of bidirectional power and distribution system automation. Distribution system automation is essential for the real-time adjustment of the system in response to the dynamic changes in loads and other fault conditions without operator intervention. This automation with advanced distribution management systems for automatic controls and monitoring can be brought about with the help of modern-day sensor technologies. Autonomous controls can be realized by installing sensors and PMUs and MUs-based wireless sensing networks outside the substation along the entire length of the distribution system.