Robotic power distribution system for post-disaster operations

Barzin Moridian, Michigan Technological University
Nina Mahmoudian, Michigan Technological University
Wayne Weaver, Michigan Technological University
Rush D. Robinett III, Michigan Technological University

© 2015 IEEE. Publisher’s version of record: https://doi.org/10.1109/SSRR.2015.7442998

Abstract

This paper presents an architecture for autonomous mobile microgrids to ensure robustness and scalability of such systems for power distribution applications. A schema for development of mobile microgrids is presented based on the feasibility and experimental studies performed using ground robots for establishing microgrids. A microgrid system built with this architecture win act as an autonomous power network capable of connecting to different power nodes (generators, loads, storage units, converters, etc.) and interacting with them accordingly. This system will have the scalability characteristics of an ad-hoc system and could reconfigure itself depending on available power nodes.