Onr Ship Control Challenge Problem

The Office of Naval Research (ONR) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) have embarked on a collaborative initiative to achieve Electric Power Network Efficiency and Security (EPNES) [1-3]. This paper presents the U. S. Navy research objectives in terms of an ONR control challenge problem. From a shipboard operational perspective the challenge can be stated as: Provide continuous mobility, power, and thermal management for shipboard combat systems despite major disruptions involving cascading failures. A key aspect of this problem involves controlling the dynamic interdependence of a hierarchically structured distributed power and automation infrastructure. A reference problem is posed in terms of continuity of service for a prototypical future power electronics based shipboard Integrated Power System (IPS). The goal is to incorporate fault tolerance and system integrity as an organic component of the system architecture, control strategy, algorithms, and technology base. Innovative research that directly contributes to a more robust automation infrastructure is required. Conceptually, the control system equivalent of an error correcting code is sought [4]. The desired system must maintain situational awareness and control authority despite a variety of component failures, internal errors, and exogenous disturbances.