Agent-based testbed simulator for power grid modeling and control

As control systems become more complex, increased levels of testing and validation can lead to improvements in their robustness and reliability. In this paper, the authors describe a testing and validation system in which control and plant algorithms are executed on real-time targets in a multi-agent platform, then mapped to a distributed simulation platform. This simulation platform combines state-of-the-art control automation, simulation and artificial intelligence technology into an integrated testbed simulation platform, allowing different aspects of new generation power grid management and control to be tested and measured. Preliminary results from this testing have provided important advances toward an understanding of information management in highly dynamic distributed power systems.