Real-Time Optimization and Control of Autonomous Energy Systems: From Theory to Practice
This presentation is about real-time optimization and control of autonomous energy systems from theory to practice.
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Power Electronic Hardware-in-the-Loop (PE-HIL): Testing Individual Controllers in Large-Scale Power Electronics Systems
Large power electronics systems like multi-port autonomous reconfigurable solar power plant (MARS) are increasingly being researched upon to integrate emerging energy sources. MARS connects photovoltaic (PV) systems and energy storage systems (ESSs) to high-voltage direct current (HVdc) links/grids and high-voltage alternating current (ac) transmission grids. As these large power electronics systems incorporate complex hierarchical control systems that are close-by and communicate fast, the control systems require an unique power electronic hardware-in-the-loop (PE-HIL) real-time architecture to evaluate individual controllers. In this paper, a PE-HIL real-time architecture is proposed to evaluate one of the hundreds to thousands of digital signal processors (DSPs) that are a part of the complex hierarchical control system. The DSP connects to a central processing unit (CPU) and a field programmable gate array (FPGA) that form a part of the upper levels of the control system. The DSP is part of the lower level of the control system. The proposed PE-HIL architecture is tested and evaluated. Preliminary test results are presented to showcase the concept.
Debnath, Suman↗
Lessons learned from the Autonomous Power System
The Autonomous Power System (APS) project at the NASA Lewis Research Center is designed to demonstrate the applications of integrated intelligent diagnosis, control and scheduling techniques to space power distribution systems. The project consists of three elements: the Autonomous Power Expert System (APEX) for Fault Diagnosis, Isolation, and Recovery (FDIR); the Autonomous Intelligent Power Scheduler (AIPS) to efficiently assign activities start times and resources; and power hardware (Brassboard) to emulate a space-based power system. The APS project had been through one design iteration. Each of the three elements of the APS project has been designed, tested, and integrated into a complete working system. After these three portions were completed, an evaluation period was initiated. Each piece of the system was critiqued based on individual performance as well as the ability to interact with the other portions of the APS project. These critiques were then used to determine guidelines for new and improved components of the APS system.
Ringer, Mark J.↗
Tethered Vehicle Control and Tracking System
A kite system includes a kite and a ground station. The ground station includes a sensor that can be utilized to determine an angular position and velocity of the kite relative to the ground station. A controller utilizes a fuzzy logic control system to autonomously fly the kite. The system may include a ground station having powered winding units that generate power as the lines to the kite are unreeled. The control system may be configured to fly the kite in a crosswind trajectory to increase line tension for power generation. The sensors for determining the position of the kite are preferably ground-based.
North, David D.↗
Tethered Vehicle Control and Tracking System
A kite system includes a kite and a ground station. The ground station includes a sensor that can be utilized to determine an angular position and velocity of the kite relative to the ground station. A controller utilizes a fuzzy logic control system to autonomously fly the kite. The system may include a ground station having powered winding units that generate power as the lines to the kite are unreeled. The control system may be configured to fly the kite in a crosswind trajectory to increase line tension for power generation. The sensors for determining the position of the kite are preferably ground-based.
North, David D.↗
Evolutionary vs imitation learning for neuromorphic control at the edge*
Abstract Neuromorphic computing offers the opportunity to implement extremely low power artificial intelligence at the edge. Control applications, such as autonomous vehicles and robotics, are also of great interest for neuromorphic systems at the edge. It is not clear, however, what the best neuromorphic training approaches are for control applications at the edge. In this work, we implement and compare the performance of evolutionary optimization and imitation learning approaches on an autonomous race car control task using an edge neuromorphic implementation. We show that the evolutionary approaches tend to achieve better performing smaller network sizes that are well-suited to edge deployment, but they also take significantly longer to train. We also describe a workflow to allow for future algorithmic comparisons for neuromorphic hardware on control applications at the edge.
Schuman, Catherine↗
Artificial Reasoning System for Symptom-Based Conditional Failure Probability Estimation Using Bayesian Network
Advances in nuclear power technologies require enhanced capabilities for operator advice and autonomous control. One of the first tasks in the development of such capabilities is the formulation of symptom-based conditional failure probabilities for structures, systems, and components (SSCs) of interest, for which the primary goal is to aid plant personnel in deducing the probabilistic performance status of the monitored SSCs and in detecting impending faults/failure. The task of conditional failure probability estimation is a bidirectional inference problem and shall be logically tackled by the Bayesian network (BN) approach. As a knowledge-based artificial intelligence tool and a probabilistic graphical model, BN offers the capability of reasoning under uncertainty and graphical representation emulating the physical behavior of the target SSC. This paper provides a systematic overview of the BN technique and the software tools for handling implementation of BN models, along with the associated knowledge representation and reasoning paradigm. Both operational data and expert judgement can be readily incorporated into the knowledge base of a BN model. The challenges with data availability are highlighted, and the general approach to target SSC identification is presented. Our focus is upon failure-prone and risk-important balance of plant assets, especially cases having strong operator involvement. An exemplary case study on the failure of a motor-driven centrifugal pump is also conducted to demonstrate the usefulness and technical feasibility of the proposed artificial reasoning system using an expert system shell.
Zhao, Xingang↗
Advanced technology for a lunar astronomical observatory
Significant new technologies are required for three proposed telescopes to be operated on the moon. These technologies are in the areas of contamination/interference control, test and evaluation, manufacturing, construction autonomous operations and maintenance, power and heating/cooling, stable precision structures, optics, parabolic antennas, and communications/control. Telescopes for the lunar surface need to be engineered to operate for long periods with minimal intervention by humans or robots.
Johnson, Stewart W.↗
Required technologies for a lunar optical UV-IR synthesis array
A Lunar Optical UV-IR Synthesis Array (LOUISA) proposed to take advantage of the characteristics of the lunar environment requires appropriate advances in technology. These technologies are in the areas of contamination/interference control, test and evaluation, manufacturing, construction, autonomous operations and maintenance, power and heating/cooling, stable precision structures, optics, parabolic antennas, and communications/control. LOUISA needs to be engineered to operate for long periods with minimal intervention by humans or robots. What is essential for LOUISA operation is enforcement of a systems engineering approach that makes compatible all lunar operations associated with habitation, resource development, and science.
Johnson, Stewart W.↗
Required technologies for lunar astronomical observatories
Each of the major new observatories proposed to take advantage of the characteristics of the lunar environment requires appropriate advances in technology. These technologies are in the areas of contamination/interference control, test and evaluation, manufacturing, construction, autonomous operations and maintenance, power and heating/cooling, stable precision structures, optics, parabolic antennas, and communications/control. Telescopes for the lunar surface need to be engineered to operate for long periods with minimal intervention by humans or robots. What is essential for lunar observatory operation is enforcement of a systems engineering approach that makes compatible all lunar operations associated with habitation, resource development, and science.
Johnson, Stewart W.↗
Required Technologies for A 10-16 m UV-Visible-IR Telescope on the Moon
A successor to the Hubble Space Telescope, incorporating a 10 to 16 meter mirror, and operating in the UV-Visible-IR is being considered for emplacement on the Moon in the 21st Century. To take advantage of the characteristics of the lunar environment, such a telescope requires appropriate advances in technology. These technologies are in the areas of contamination/interference control, test and evaluation, manufacturing, construction, autonomous operations and maintenance, power and heating/cooling, stable precision structures, optics, parabolic antennas, and communications/control. This telescope for the lunar surface needs to be engineered to operate for long periods with minimal intervention by humans or robots. What is essential for lunar observatory operation is enforcement of a systems engineering approach that makes compatible all lunar operations associated with habitation, resource development, and science.
Johnson, Stewart W.↗
AMO EXPRESS: A Command and Control Experiment for Crew Autonomy
NASA is investigating a range of future human spaceflight missions, including both Mars-distance and Near Earth Object (NEO) targets. Of significant importance for these missions is the balance between crew autonomy and vehicle automation. As distance from Earth results in increasing communication delays, future crews need both the capability and authority to independently make decisions. However, small crews cannot take on all functions performed by ground today, and so vehicles must be more automated to reduce the crew workload for such missions. NASA's Advanced Exploration Systems Program funded Autonomous Mission Operations (AMO) project conducted an autonomous command and control demonstration of intelligent procedures to automatically initialize a rack onboard the International Space Station (ISS) with power and thermal interfaces, and involving core and payload command and telemetry processing, without support from ground controllers. This autonomous operations capability is enabling in scenarios such as a crew medical emergency, and representative of other spacecraft autonomy challenges. The experiment was conducted using the Expedite the Processing of Experiments for Space Station (EXPRESS) rack 7, which was located in the Port 2 location within the U.S Laboratory onboard the International Space Station (ISS). Activation and deactivation of this facility is time consuming and operationally intensive, requiring coordination of three flight control positions, 47 nominal steps, 57 commands, 276 telemetry checks, and coordination of multiple ISS systems (both core and payload). The autonomous operations concept includes a reduction of the amount of data a crew operator is required to verify during activation or de-activation, as well as integration of procedure execution status and relevant data in a single integrated display. During execution, the auto-procedures provide a step-by-step messaging paradigm and a high level status upon termination. This messaging and high level status is the only data generated for operator display. To enhance situational awareness of the operator, the Web-based Procedure Display (WebPD) provides a novel approach to the issues of procedure display and execution tracking. For this demonstration, the procedure was initiated and monitored from the ground. As the Timeliner sequences executed, their high level execution status was transmitted to ground, for WebPD consumption.
Stetson, Howard K.↗
Autonomous power expert system
The goal of the Autonomous Power System (APS) program is to develop and apply intelligent problem solving and control technologies to the Space Station Freedom Electrical Power Systems (SSF/EPS). The objectives of the program are to establish artificial intelligence/expert system technology paths, to create knowledge based tools with advanced human-operator interfaces, and to integrate and interface knowledge-based and conventional control schemes. This program is being developed at the NASA-Lewis. The APS Brassboard represents a subset of a 20 KHz Space Station Power Management And Distribution (PMAD) testbed. A distributed control scheme is used to manage multiple levels of computers and switchgear. The brassboard is comprised of a set of intelligent switchgear used to effectively switch power from the sources to the loads. The Autonomous Power Expert System (APEX) portion of the APS program integrates a knowledge based fault diagnostic system, a power resource scheduler, and an interface to the APS Brassboard. The system includes knowledge bases for system diagnostics, fault detection and isolation, and recommended actions. The scheduler autonomously assigns start times to the attached loads based on temporal and power constraints. The scheduler is able to work in a near real time environment for both scheduling and dynamic replanning.
Ringer, Mark J.↗
Autonomous power expert system
The goal of the Autonomous Power System (APS) program is to develop and apply intelligent problem solving and control technologies to the Space Station Freedom Electrical Power Systems (SSF/EPS). The objectives of the program are to establish artificial intelligence/expert system technology paths, to create knowledge based tools with advanced human-operator interfaces, and to integrate and interface knowledge-based and conventional control schemes. This program is being developed at the NASA-Lewis. The APS Brassboard represents a subset of a 20 KHz Space Station Power Management And Distribution (PMAD) testbed. A distributed control scheme is used to manage multiple levels of computers and switchgear. The brassboard is comprised of a set of intelligent switchgear used to effectively switch power from the sources to the loads. The Autonomous Power Expert System (APEX) portion of the APS program integrates a knowledge based fault diagnostic system, a power resource scheduler, and an interface to the APS Brassboard. The system includes knowledge bases for system diagnostics, fault detection and isolation, and recommended actions. The scheduler autonomously assigns start times to the attached loads based on temporal and power constraints. The scheduler is able to work in a near real time environment for both scheduling an dynamic replanning.
Ringer, Mark J.↗
Development of management technology for large power systems
Autonomous power management has been proposed as a method to perform optimization of power subsystem performance in connection with the management of multikilowatt space platforms. A concept for a 250-kW utility-type power subsystem was developed. A Cassegrain concentrator solar array primary source is conditioned by a solar array switching unit which supplies seventeen 220 +20 Vdc power channels. A power management subsystem provides the monitoring and control of the overall electrical power subsystem. The discussed system concept for autonomous management of high power space platforms utilizes on-board microprocessors in a decentralized data management architecture. A data bus protocol and a data bus contention resolution scheme were selected in conjunction with the dencentralized management architecture.
Decker, D. K.↗
Autonomous Grid Support Functionality in Variable-Speed Drive-Based End-Use Loads
High penetration of inverter-based resources into power systems causes lower inertia, and it becomes more challenging to maintain grid stability during contingency events. While conventional demand response and shedding at the load side suffer from slow response, impact by unavailability, and issues from communication, variable-speed drives (VSDs) are becoming strong candidates for fast frequency response (FFR) thanks to their fast response and reduced user impact from variable power adjustment capability. In this letter, we propose an autonomous frequency support control method for a residential refrigerator with a VSD, a promising target small end-use load for FFR. We analyze the effect of the proposed controller on grid stability, and we verify the performance through laboratory experiments with a commercially available refrigerator.
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Application of New Technology to Future Celestial Trackers
New developments in image sensors and optical materials have opened the door to dramatic mass and power reductions in celestial tracker designs. The rapid development of active pixel sensors (APS) has provided a new detector choice offering high on-chip integration of support circuitry at reduced power consumption. Silicon-Carbide (Si-C) optics are one of the new developments in low-mass optical components. We describe the celestial tracker needs of an Autonomous Feature and Star Tracking (AFAST) system designed for autonomous spacecraft control. Details of a low mass celestial tracker, based on a low power APS array and optimized for an AFAST system, are discussed.
active↗
Real-time space system control with expert systems
Many aspects of space system operations involve continuous control of real time processes. These processes include electrical power system monitoring, prelaunch and ongoing propulsion system health and maintenance, environmental and life support systems, space suit checkout, onboard manufacturing, and vehicle servicing including satellites, shuttles, orbital maneuvering vehicles, orbital transfer vehicles and remote teleoperators. Traditionally, monitoring of these critical real time processes has been done by trained human experts monitoring telemetry data. However, the long duration of future space missions and the high cost of crew time in space creates a powerful economic incentive for the development of highly autonomous knowledge based expert control procedures for these space systems.
Leinweber, David↗