School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering Seminar Series, “Network-Wide Autonomy in Cyber-Physical Infrastructures” Presented by Dr. Sandip Roy

About the event

Presented by
Sandip Roy, Professor, School of Electrical Engineering & Computer Science, Washington State University

Abstract
 New cyber technologies are providing profound opportunities for network-wide autonomy in critical infrastructures, but also introducing new complexities in infrastructure operations. At its essence, achieving network-wide autonomy requires coordinating sensing and control resources across a dynamical network to achieve resilient operations in the face of disruptions. My group’s recent research has been primarily centered on developing methods and tools to support resilient autonomy in terrestrial-scale infrastructures, through a study of input-output channels and control interdependencies in dynamical networks. In this talk, I will overview two recent projects in this space – one focused on cyber-security of the air traffic management system, the other on oscillation mitigation in the bulk power grid using remote controls. Using the power-grid case study, I will also illustrate some of our contributions to the input-output analysis of dynamical networks, which depend on invariants-based transformations of linear systems, nonnegative matrix properties, and algebraic graph theory. These formal analyses yield methods and tools for oscillation monitoring and wide-area control of the bulk grid. Additionally, I will briefly highlight other outcomes of my group’s research on dynamical networks, which encompass sleep neuroscience and infectious-disease management. Finally, I will present a vision for future collaborative research with two facets: 1) a focus on community grand challenge problems in infrastructure, health, and sustainability; and 2) core systems research on data-rich dynamical networks to address these challenges.

Biography
Sandip Roy is a Professor in the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at Washington State University. His research is focused on developing techniques for estimation and control in dynamical networks, and applying these techniques to support autonomy in cyber-physical infrastructures. He is also interested in developing network-theoretic analytics for epidemiology and neuroscience applications. The research has led to tools and software that have been prototyped/deployed in several settings (e.g., the Western U.S. power grid, and the U.S. air transportation system’s central command center). The outcomes of the research are described in about 90 journal papers and 165 conference papers across multiple disciplines. He just completed an appointment as a Program Director at the National Science Foundation, and also holds a joint position at Pacific Northwest National Laboratories.