Demos

This activity is in the form of a computer game that anyone can play. The objective of the game is to select nodes in a given graph such that all the other nodes in that graph are adjacent to the selected nodes. The individuals who identify the least number of selected nodes to satisfy this objective are declared to be the winners of the game. This game introduces an actual power system planning problem, namely, placing minimum number of intelligent sensors to get real-time visibility of the electric grid.

Demonstration of GPS Spoofing

This demonstration presents a hypothetical example of a spoofing attack on a PMU inside a substation and the response of the proposed hardware developed LoRa anti-spoofing countermeasure to it. The process of attempting an attack and its countermeasure is demonstrated using different colored light-emitting diodes (LEDs) which will indicate different actions and responses. A green LED in the substation represents an active PMU receiving GPS signals constantly and generating time-synchronized phasors in real-time. The three yellow LEDs represent the three remote anti-spoofing units located on power line towers roughly one mile from the substation. They too actively receive GPS signals at their respective locations and communicate them to the central unit inside the substation. A red LED represents a spoofing attempt in progress.  A blue LED indicates that the anti-spoofer system successfully detected the spoofing attack on the PMU using a majority voting algorithm, and it started notifying this to the operator. A detailed explanation of the proposed GPS anti-spoofing system can be explored further in the Thesis topic: GPS Spoofing Attacks on Phasor Measurement Units: Practical Feasibility and Countermeasures. Topics introduced in this video are further explored by Fakhri Saadedeen within his Thesis “GPS Spoofing Attacks on Phasor Measurement Units: Practical Feasibility and Countermeasures”.

Synchrophasor Error Characterization

This video explains the work of the undergraduate students in Dr. Pal’s lab. Demetra Salls and Jairo Ramírez Torres have been working with Dr. Pal for over a year. They have mainly focused their work on Synchrophasor Error Characterization using a Fluke Calibrator and Python. They were able to successfully submit a paper for the PESGM Conference in 2021, it was accepted for the conference and will be presented in Summer 2021.

Arc Flash Test Bench

This video demonstrates a test bench setup that utilizes microwave oven transformers (MOTs) to generate a 4,400-volt AC supply with 500-1000mA of fault current. The test bench is employed to generate electrical arcs in close proximity to a synchronized micro-scale continuous point on wave (micro-CPOW) recorder device that is currently in development at the Pal Lab. This test is used to investigate the response behavior of the micro-CPOW device to the incidence of nearby high-impedance arc flash events. The electromagnetic interference (EMI) susceptibility of the recorder is evaluated based on its ability to continue recording and transmitting data during the arc event. Identification of signatures in the measured current waveform are also investigated to determine suitable markers for potential fire hazards associated with arc fault events in the actual power system.

Wildfire Detection System

This video demonstrates a test bench setup that utilizes microwave oven transformers (MOTs) to generate a 4,400-volt AC supply with 500-1000mA of fault current. The test bench is employed to generate electrical arcs in close proximity to a synchronized micro-scale continuous point on wave (micro-CPOW) recorder device that is currently in development at the Pal Lab. This test is used to investigate the response behavior of the micro-CPOW device to the incidence of nearby high-impedance arc flash events. The electromagnetic interference (EMI) susceptibility of the recorder is evaluated based on its ability to continue recording and transmitting data during the arc event. Identification of signatures in the measured current waveform are also investigated to determine suitable markers for potential fire hazards associated with arc fault events in the actual power system.

Electric Vehicle Emergency Solar Charger

The mission for Team Parallel Values is to provide a product that will assist electrical vehicle owners if stranded on the side of the road when their battery runs out of charge. This will be accomplished by developing a solar array blanket, that will fit in a vehicle’s trunk, to provide emergency charge. Currently still in progress, the ultimate goal of this project is to present to market a portable emergency charger that will use solar energy to charge an electric car. Tasha Reynolds, one of the team members, created and live-pitched a five-minute deck based on this project and was the Fall 2020 Demo Day Winner in her Entrepreneur & Value Creation (FSE301) class. The EVES Charger has also been accepted into the ASU Venture Devil Program.

Power Line Inspection Drone

The current methods of testing for hot spots in sub-transmission and distribution lines includes using thermal cameras that are either too expensive or do not show an actual temperature. Team Maroon Spark aims to popularize a low-cost drone solution for utility companies that inspects power lines for hot spots by recording and analyzing live video feedback and taking photos from the thermal camera after a problematic area has been found. The team has procured a DJI Phantom 3 drone and smartphone-mounted FLIR One thermal camera. The drone mounted with the camera can be used to inspect power lines for failure by detecting hotspots and transmitting the live data through a Wi-Fi network to a PC workstation operated by maintenance employees. The video feed from the thermal camera can be monitored in real-time or screenshots can be taken for further analysis if a problem is detected.