Internet of Things-aided Smart Grid: Technologies, Architectures, Applications, Prototypes, and Future Research Directions

Traditional power grids are being transformed into Smart Grids (SGs) to address the issues in existing power system due to uni-directional information flow, energy wastage, growing energy demand, reliability and security. SGs offer bi-directional energy flow between service providers and consumers, involving power generation, transmission, distribution and utilization systems. SGs employ various devices for the monitoring, analysis and control of the grid, deployed at power plants, distribution centers and in consumers' premises in a very large number. Hence, an SG requires connectivity, automation and the tracking of such devices. This is achieved with the help of Internet of Things (IoT). IoT helps SG systems to support various network functions throughout the generation, transmission, distribution and consumption of energy by incorporating IoT devices (such as sensors, actuators and smart meters), as well as by providing the connectivity, automation and tracking for such devices. In this paper, we provide a comprehensive survey on IoT-aided SG systems, which includes the existing architectures, applications and prototypes of IoT-aided SG systems. This survey also highlights the open issues, challenges and future research directions for IoT-aided SG systems

ESTABLISHING NEW FOUNDATIONS FOR THE USE OF REMOTELY-PILOTED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS FOR CIVILIAN APPLICATIONS

Abstract. Skyopener is a project funded by the EU through the European GNSS Agency (GSA) in the framework of the Horizon 2020 program. Skyopener's goal is contributing to the roadmap for the integration of civil Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) into nonsegregated airspace, by providing and testing enabling technologies, in particular with reference to European initiative U-Space, aimed at establishing regulations and infrastructure for integration of unmanned aviation into shared airspace. The main outcomes of the project include: implementing and testing a reliable and secure redundant air-ground communication link, based on satellite and 3G/4G networks; integrating the mission management system and ground station with a UTM (Unmanned aerial system Traffic Management) client, and experimenting UTM services being deployed by one of the partners; demonstrating technical and economic feasibility of long- range missions beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) by executing corridor mapping on a high-voltage powerline, and airport area surveys (e-TOD: electronic-Terrain Obstacle Database).</p

Policies for Carbon Energy Footprint Reduction of Overhead Multiple-Input Multiple-Output High Voltage Broadband over Power Lines Networks

The impact of different environmental policies on the broadband performance of overhead multiple-input multiple-output high-voltage/broadband over power lines (MIMO/HV/BPL) networks is investigated in this paper. The examined environmental policies focus on the carbon energy footprint reduction of overhead MIMO/HV/BPL networks while respecting their broadband character.The contribution of this paper is three-fold. First, the spectral and environmental performance of various configurations and topologies of overhead MIMO/HV/BPL networks is assessed with regard to respective spectral efficient (SE) and newly presented environmental efficient (EE) metrics. Second, further insights regarding the performance of overhead MIMO/HV/BPL networks highlight the better spectral and environmental performance of these networks against other today’s overhead HV/BPL networks, such as single-input single-output (SISO), single-input multiple-output (SIMO), or multiple-input single-output (MISO) ones. Third, the definition of appropriate environmental policies that optimize the coexistence of the three main sectors of concern, which are the Quality of Service (QoS) requirements, protection of existing radioservices and promotion of environmentally aware limits, is promoted. Towards that direction, the proposed SE/EE trade-off relation of this paper is expected to prove an extremely helpful SE/EE optimization technique.Citation: Lazaropoulos, A. G. (2015). Policies for Carbon Energy Footprint Reduction of Overhead Multiple-Input Multiple-Output High Voltage Broadband over Power Lines Networks. Trends in Renewable Energy, 1(2), 87-118. DOI: 10.17737/tre.2015.1.2.001

On power line positioning systems

Power line infrastructure is available almost everywhere. Positioning systems aim to estimate where a device or target is. Consequently, there may be an opportunity to use power lines for positioning purposes. This survey article reports the different efforts, working principles, and possibilities for implementing positioning systems relying on power line infrastructure for power line positioning systems (PLPS). Since Power Line Communication (PLC) systems of different characteristics have been deployed to provide communication services using the existing mains, we also address how PLC systems may be employed to build positioning systems. Although some efforts exist, PLPS are still prospective and thus open to research and development, and we try to indicate the possible directions and potential applications for PLPS.European Commissio

Power Systems Stability through Piecewise Monotonic Data Approximations – Part 1: Comparative Benchmarking of L1PMA, L2WPMA and L2CXCV in Overhead Medium-Voltage Broadband over Power Lines Networks

This first paper assesses the performance of three well-known piecewise monotonic data approximations (i.e., L1PMA, L2WPMA, and L2CXCV) during the mitigation of measurement differences in the overhead medium-voltage broadband over power lines (OV MV BPL) transfer functions.The contribution of this paper is triple. First, based on the inherent piecewise monotonicity of OV MV BPL transfer functions, L2WPMA and L2CXCV are outlined and applied during the determination of theoretical and measured OV MVBPL transfer functions. Second, L1PMA, L2WPMA, and L2CXCV are comparatively benchmarked by using the performance metrics of the percent error sum (PES) and fault PES. PES and fault PES assess the efficiency and accuracy of the three piecewise monotonic data approximations during the determination of transmission BPL transfer functions. Third, the performance of L1PMA, L2WPMA, and L2CXCV is assessed with respect to the nature of faults —i.e. faults that follow either continuous uniform distribution (CUD) or normal distribution (ND) of different magnitudes—.The goal of this set of two papers is the establishment of a more effective identification and restoration of the measurement differences during the OV MV BPL coupling transfer function determination that may significantly help towards a more stable and self-healing power system.Citation: Lazaropoulos, A. G. (2017). Power Systems Stability through Piecewise Monotonic Data Approximations – Part 1: Comparative Benchmarking of L1PMA, L2WPMA and L2CXCV in Overhead Medium-Voltage Broadband over Power Lines Networks. Trends in Renewable Energy, 3(1), 2-32. DOI: 10.17737/tre.2017.3.1.002

Capacity Performance of Overhead Transmission Multiple-Input Multiple-Output Broadband over Power Lines Networks: The Insidious Effect of Noise and the Role of Noise Models

Extending the analysis already presented in [1], this paper considers broadband potential of overhead (OV) transmission multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) broadband over power lines (BPL) networks when different noise conditions occur and different well-proven noise models are adopted.The contribution of this paper is two-fold. First, the broadband potential of a great number of indicative OV high-voltage (HV) BPL topologies and of MIMO transmission schemes is studied in terms of appropriate capacity metrics. The relevant numerical results reveal the significant dependence of ΜΙΜΟ capacity metrics on noise conditions. Second, various well-known BPL noise models from the literature are compared on the basis of their achieved OV HV MIMO BPL capacity. Through the careful study of the capacity results of noise models, it is demonstrated that spectrally flat additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN) may be comfortably assumed as an efficient noise model in transmission MIMO BPL networks. Also in MIMO BPL networks, the comparative capacity analysis of noise models shows small differences among them in the 3-88MHz frequency range.Citation：Lazaropoulos, A. G. (2016). Capacity Performance of Overhead Transmission Multiple-Input Multiple-Output Broadband over Power Lines Networks: The Insidious Effect of Noise and the Role of Noise Models. Trends in Renewable Energy, 2(2), 61-82. DOI: 10.17737/tre.2016.2.2.002

Measurement Differences, Faults and Instabilities in Intelligent Energy Systems – Part 1: Identification of Overhead High-Voltage Broadband over Power Lines Network Topologies by Applying Topology Identification Methodology (TIM)

This first paper considers the identification of the structure of overhead high-voltage broadband over power lines (OV HV BPL) network topologies by applying the best L1 Piecewise Monotonic data Approximation (best L1PMA) to measured OV HV BPL transfer functions. Even if measurement differences occur during the determination of an OV HV BPL transfer function, the corresponding OV HV BPL network topology may be revealed through the curve similarity of the best L1PMA result compared with the available records of the proposed OV HV BPL transfer function database.The contribution of this paper is triple. First, based on the inherent piecewise monotonicity of OV HV BPL transfer functions, best L1PMA is first applied during the determination of theoretical and measured OV HV BPL transfer functions. Second, the creation procedure of the OV HV BPL network topology database is demonstrated as well as the curve similarity performance metric (CSPM). Third, the accuracy of the proposed Topology Identification Methodology (TIM) is examined in comparison with the traditional TIM with respect to the nature of the measurement differences during the determination of OV HV BPL transfer functions.Citation: Lazaropoulos, A. G. (2016). Measurement Differences, Faults and Instabilities in Intelligent Energy Systems – Part 1: Identification of Overhead High-Voltage Broadband over Power Lines Network Topologies by Applying Topology Identification Methodology (TIM). Trends in Renewable Energy, 2(3), 85-112. DOI: 10.17737/tre.2016.2.3.002

Development of portable air quality sensor network based on IoT devices

Air pollution has been one of the major agendas around the globe in recent years. With rising awareness among all citizens, it's of extraordinary importance to measure data related to air pollution in order to have interested parties making informative decisions. Network composed of IoT devices has been one of the tools researchers relied on. Recent years saw rapid progress in sensor technology, which in turn flourished the market for low-cost sensors, giving citizens opportunities to measure various physical properties with affordable and portable sensors. Countless organizations have deployed wireless sensor networks (WSN) involving the usage of IoT devices and budget-friendly sensing hardware. Statistical Analysis of Networks and Systems (SANS) is a research group of the Computer Architecture Department at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia, which has launched several campaigns using WSN composed of Captor devices. Researchers then use relevant machine learning techniques to provide more meaningful information out of otherwise flawed data. A platform using a technology stack composed of Captor devices and machine learning techniques has gone through several stages and is still in the progress of improving itself. This thesis discusses the latest iteration of such a platform, by means of introducing characteristics of hardware, software, as well as machine learning methodologies used. By overviewing and comparing the older iterations of Captor and similar platforms used by other researchers, this thesis hopes to serve as a reference outlook into the current and future development of WSN (with focus on air-quality), where innovations are constantly needed to improve its capabilities. The result of the thesis is an autonomous IoT device, Captor4b, that is self-sufficient for at least 1 month and half where the autonomy can be further tweaked by adjusting duty cycle of Raspberry Pi and Arduino Nano separately from a software perspective