A Trusted WLAN-Based Intelligent Patrol Network for Substation Applications

Driven by emerging technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), Big Data, and Artificial Intelligence (AI), traditional power grids are rapidly evolving toward digitalization and intelligence. This transformation is reshaping substation operation and maintenance (O&M) into a data-driven, intelligent, and collaborative model. Applications including IoT-based data acquisition, intelligent patrol, real-time visualization, and condition monitoring demand high connectivity, mobility, and bandwidth—requirements that traditional communication systems fail to meet. To address these challenges, this paper proposes a trusted WLAN-based communication solution for intelligent substation patrol. The proposed architecture combines the Wireless LAN Authentication and Privacy Infrastructure (WAPI) protocol with IPsec VPN to establish dual-layer authentication and encryption, ensuring secure and reliable wireless data transmission. A pilot deployment in an actual substation demonstrates that the solution effectively meets the communication requirements of intelligent patrol tasks. The results confirm its feasibility in supporting substation digitalization and highlight its potential as a practical reference for advancing smart grid O&M innovations.