Introduction to the Electronic Power Specification Standardization activity

The Electronic Power Specification Standardization (EPSS) activity is consistent with DOD´s Open System Joint Task Force (OS-JTF) strategy to reduce systems acquisition and lifecycle costs through judicious use of commercial resources (standards, products, processes, and services). As a result, the deliverables from this activity are commercial industry-based guidelines/standards for use by the government and industry to enhance use of commercial resources. The EPSS activity focuses on standardization of elements relevant to electronic power distribution systems. Therefore this paper will describe: (1) the rationale for partitioning an electronic power distribution system into primary/secondary power distribution and power supply systems, (2) the various ongoing activities in electronic power distribution standardization as they relate to EPSS, and (3) the progress to date and plans of the present focus of the EPSS activity: (a) IEEE P1515 Working Group, and (b) EPSS Power Supply System Consortium