Experimental Investigation and Evaluation of Future Active Distribution Networks

The UK government’s policy to achieve a 20% renewable energy generation target by 2020, will require significant amounts of SSEG (Small-Scale Embedded Generation) to be connected. In addition to the expected economic and environmental benefits, the anticipated growth in SSEG brings with it numerous challenges for the operation of low voltage and medium voltage distribution networks. At present, there are a number of competing active network management concepts being considered to overcome these challenges and at Durham University a concept defined as the Small Scale Energy Zone (SSEZ) has been proposed and is investigated as part of this research. To further this, a bespoke active low voltage distribution network emulator known as the Experimental SSEZ has been developed by the author. Controllable emulated SSEG, controllable energy storage and controllable emulated load are incorporated into this laboratory. A transformation system has been developed to relate the operation of this system to that of low voltage distribution networks. Centralised and distributed network control systems have been developed for the Experimental SSEZ. These systems were used to evaluate, in conjunction with the relevant literature, the implementation of similar systems on future low voltage distribution networks. Both centralised and distributed control system architectures were found to have their merits. This research should therefore be useful in informing design decisions when developing and implementing active distribution network management systems on LV networks

Adaptive multi-agent system for a washing machine production line

This paper describes the implementation of a multi-agent system in a real industrial washing machine production line aiming to integrate process and quality control, allowing the establishment of feedback control loops to support adaptation facing condition changes. For this purpose, the agent-based solution was implemented using the JADE framework, being the shared knowledge structured using a proper ontology, edited and validated in Protégé and posteriorly integrated in the multi-agent system. The solution was intensively tested using historical real production data and it is now being installed in the real production line. The preliminary results confirm the initial expectations in terms of improvement of process performance and product quality

Test bed for applications of heterogeneous unmanned vehicles

Abstract This article addresses the development and implementation of a test bed for applications of heterogeneous unmanned vehicle systems. The test bed consists of unmanned aerial vehicles (Parrot AR.Drones versions 1 or 2, Parrot SA, Paris, France, and Bebop Drones 1.0 and 2.0, Parrot SA, Paris, France), ground vehicles (WowWee Rovio, WowWee Group Limited, Hong Kong, China), and the motion capture systems VICON and OptiTrack. Such test bed allows the user to choose between two different options of development environments, to perform aerial and ground vehicles applications. On the one hand, it is possible to select an environment based on the VICON system and LabVIEW (National Instruments) or robotics operating system platforms, which make use the Parrot AR.Drone software development kit or the Bebop_autonomy Driver to communicate with the unmanned vehicles. On the other hand, it is possible to employ a platform that uses the OptiTrack system and that allows users to develop their own applications, replacing AR.Drone’s original firmware with original code. We have developed four experimental setups to illustrate the use of the Parrot software development kit, the Bebop Driver (AutonomyLab, Simon Fraser University, British Columbia, Canada), and the original firmware replacement for performing a strategy that involves both ground and aerial vehicle tracking. Finally, in order to illustrate the effectiveness of the developed test bed for the implementation of advanced controllers, we present experimental results of the implementation of three consensus algorithms: static, adaptive, and neural network, in order to accomplish that a team of multiagents systems move together to track a target. Keywords Test bed, heterogeneous vehicles, laboratory environment

Multiple energy carrier optimisation with intelligent agents

Multiple energy carrier systems stem from the need to evolve traditional electricity, gas and other energy systems to more efficient, integrated energy systems. An approach is presented, for controlling multiple energy carriers, including electricity (AC or DC), heat, natural gas and hydrogen, with the objective to minimise the overall cost and/or emissions, while adhering to technical and commercial constraints, such as network limits and market contracts. The technique of multi-agent systems (MAS) was used. The benefits of this approach are discussed and include a reduction of more than 50% in the balancing costs of a potential deviation. An implementation of this methodology is also presented. In order to validate the operation of the developed system, a number of experiments were performed using both software and hardware. The results validated the efficient operation of the developed system, proving its ability to optimise the operation of multiple energy carrier inputs within the context of an energy hub, using a hierarchical multi-agent system control structure

DESIGN OF A CUSTOM SOFTWARE APPLICATION TO MONITOR AND COMMUNICATE CNC MACHINING PROCESS INFORMATION TO AID IN CHATTER IDENTIFICATION

In any manufacturing environment, it is important to be able to monitor the Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machining process so that high quality parts can be produced in the least amount of time in order to be profitable. This involves acquiring the proper parameters needed from the machine\u27s controller, which can prove to be difficult with proprietary machine tools that tend to limit access to the internal data collected by the controller. This closed approach to controller design also means that many technological advances that have recently become prevalent in society are not being adopted in the manufacturing industry, preventing the interoperability between hardware and software components and adding to the shortcomings in communicating the necessary machining parameters to machine operators. The project described in this thesis offers a solution to some of the communication, productivity, and part quality problems in the American manufacturing industry by providing a custom software application that integrates MTConnect, an emerging interoperable data communication standard, with proprietary data acquisition tools and custom sensors to monitor and communicate CNC machining process information. The application described in this thesis was designed to aid in the identification of chatter conditions to the machine operator and to other users to take action for chatter suppression and avoidance. Chatter is an undesirable phenomenon that can reduce part quality and increase tool wear. These consequences result in higher costs to replace damaged parts and tools as well as increasing the amount of machine downtime which can reduce a company\u27s overall productivity. Once chatter is detected in the audible frequency range, damage to the workpiece has already occurred. Therefore, an early identification and communication method with the machine tool is warranted to easily monitor the machine in the event of impending dynamic part damage. This application was developed to provide a means to monitor cutting conditions to reduce and prevent chatter in the machining process and to aid in analysis to avoid subsequent unstable operating conditions. Preserving part quality and productivity in manufacturing is also dependent on accurate information provided about the specific parts involved in the machining process. In addition to monitoring the process, this application facilitates the communication of part-specific information by improving the input and tracking of part numbers, and organizes the machining process information in a central location according to the specific part. Improving the part tracking process can aid in the organization of data to analyze the machining process for increased quality in future operations. The application can also be customized for other implementations, which can benefit many different industrial manufacturing facilities as well as academics in performing experimental research. It is important for the manufacturing industry and its partners in academia to be able to bridge the communication gap to increase the knowledge of the machining process and therefore manufacturing productivity and profitability

Multi-agent systems for power engineering applications - part 1 : Concepts, approaches and technical challenges

This is the first part of a 2-part paper that has arisen from the work of the IEEE Power Engineering Society's Multi-Agent Systems (MAS) Working Group. Part 1 of the paper examines the potential value of MAS technology to the power industry. In terms of contribution, it describes fundamental concepts and approaches within the field of multi-agent systems that are appropriate to power engineering applications. As well as presenting a comprehensive review of the meaningful power engineering applications for which MAS are being investigated, it also defines the technical issues which must be addressed in order to accelerate and facilitate the uptake of the technology within the power and energy sector. Part 2 of the paper explores the decisions inherent in engineering multi-agent systems for applications in the power and energy sector and offers guidance and recommendations on how MAS can be designed and implemented

Cognitive Vehicle Platooning in the Era of Automated Electric Transportation

Vehicle platooning is an important innovation in the automotive industry that aims at improving safety, mileage, efficiency, and the time needed to travel. This research focuses on the various aspects of vehicle platooning, one of the important aspects being analysis of different control strategies that lead to a stable and robust platoon. Safety of passengers being a very important consideration, the control design should be such that the controller remains robust under uncertain environments. As a part of the Department of Energy (DOE) project, this research also tries to show a demonstration of vehicle platooning using robots. In an automated highway scenario, a vehicle platoon can be thought of as a string of vehicles, following one another as a platoon. Being equipped by wireless communication capabilities, these vehicles communicate with one another to maintain their formation as a platoon, hence are cognitive. Autonomous capable vehicles in tightly spaced, computer-controlled platoons will lead to savings in energy due to reduced aerodynamic forces, as well as increased passenger comfort since there will be no sudden accelerations or decelerations. Impacts in the occurrence of collisions, if any, will be very low. The greatest benefit obtained is, however, an increase in highway capacity, along with reduction in traffic congestion, pollution, and energy consumption. Another aspect of this project is the automated electric transportation (AET). This aims at providing energy directly to vehicles from electric highways, thus reducing their energy consumption and CO2 emission. By eliminating the use of overhead wires, infrastructure can be upgraded by electrifying highways and providing energy on demand and in real time to moving vehicles via a wireless energy transfer phenomenon known as wireless inductive coupling. The work done in this research will help to gain an insight into vehicle platooning and the control system related to maintaining the vehicles in this formation