Autonomous Mobile Microgrids

The mobile power-grid project envisions a swarm of autonomous robots being inserted into a natural disaster zone. This concept will create a new capability for power-grid deployment in applications such as reestablishing power after a disaster to accelerate search, rescue, and recovery efforts. The aim is to develop a system which will be able to robustly reconfigure itself physically and electrically to adapt in any change in environment situation, power demand, and power generation. The ultimate goal of the proposed work will be intelligent power electronics and a distributed autonomous mobile microgrid capable of regulating power flow at a desired voltage and frequency level, meeting load demands.

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This work focuses on path planning and control of an electric power prepositioning system using lab-size autonomous vehicles each containing  a power electronic building block of a mobile power-grid. The developed system will be scalable to real-size applications.

This is a collaborative effort with Center for Agile Interconnected Microgrids.

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Related Publications:

  1. Weaver  W., Mahmoudian N., and Parker G., “Autonomous Mobile Power Blocks for Prepositioned Power Conversion and Distribution”, TARDEC Ground Vehicle Systems Engineering and Technology Sysmposium, Dearborn, MI, August 14-16, 2012. 
  2. Moridian, B., Bennett, D., Mahmoudian, N., Weaver, W. W., & Robinnett, R.,Autonomous Power Distribution System“, 19th World Congress The International Federation of Automatic Control, Cape Town, South Africa, August 24-29, 2014.
  3. Moridian B., Mahmoudian N., Weaver W. W., and Robinett R. D., “Robotic power distribution system for post-disaster operations”, International Symposium on Safety, Security, and Rescue Robotics. IEEE, West Lafayette, IN, October 18-20, 2015.
  4. Moridian B., Bennett D., Mahmoudian N., and Robinett R., “Design of Mobile Microgrid’s Hierarchy for Power Distribution”, Dynamic Systems and Control Conference. ASME, Columbus, OH, October 28-30, 2015.
  5. Moridian B., Mahmoudian N., Weaver W. W., Robinett R. D., “Post-Disaster Electric Power Recovery Using Autonomous Vehicles”, IEEE Transaction on Automation Science and Engineering, vol. 14, no. 1, pp. 62-72, 2017.