Development of Communication and Control (C 2 ) Subsystems

1. Development of Communication and Control (C2) Subsystems AIF Research Forum, Fredericton, New Brunswick, May, 19, 2006 Julian Meng and Shane Barnes

2. Task Description • Development of cost-effective communication and supervisory control technologies for DPG. • Concentrate on internet access and low-cost point-to-point (multipoint) wireless solutions. • Simple but effective link between Energy Control Center (ECC) and desired DPG device.

3. DPG Network

4. DPG C2 Requirements • Requirements: Modular, Reliable, Flexible • Bandwidth: Low, kbps (based on anticipated control requirements) • Distance: Variable • Control protocol: MODBUS compliant

5. Deliverables • Solutions for short and long distance communication links to form a DPG network. • Hardware and software for communication links. • Control interface: ECC-DPG. • Demonstration of reliable field operation.

6. DPG Communication System • System components: WAN (Internet), LAN (unlicensed serial radio), Gateway (cellular radio)

7. DPG Communication System

8. Scalable Point-to-point Solution • Low-cost unlicensed (900 MHz ISM band) radios for Gateway to DPG link • Maxstream, Microhard, others • Cost: $200 US (low end) to $1500 US (high end) • Can radios achieve performance of stated specifications?

9. Gateway Solution • Cellular Modems: Airlink Redwing ($500 US) • Low cost wireless access to the Internet

10. Low-cost Radio Specifications

11. Test Bench • Performance expectations of low-cost radio solutions must be managed. • Field deployment testing is difficult. • RF test bench was developed to test and validate performance of radios under varying conditions. • Components include: various RF components, spectrum analyser, signal generator and FPGA channel simulator

12. Test Bench • Performance expectations of low-cost radio solutions must be managed. • Field deployment testing is difficult. • RF test bench was developed to test and validate performance of radios under varying conditions. • Components include: various RF components, spectrum analyser, signal generator and FPGA channel simulator

13. Test Bench

14. FPGA-based Channel Simulator Characteristics: • Low-cost • Quick data collection & analysis • Real-time simulation of real-world channel conditions • Critical performance comparison • Problem identification before costly market failure • Re-configurable FPGA for broad range of scenarios

15. FPGA-based Channel Simulator • Free space loss • Propagation delay and multipath reflections • Additive white Gaussian noise • Multi-access interference • Narrowband interference

16. PER Sensitivity Performance 9600 kbps

17. PER External Interference Performance 9600 kbps

18. MODBUS Protocol Control layer: • Internet based • Open standard • Scaleable • Universal recognition

19. MODBUS Protocol MODBUS Communication Drive PLC HMI I/O PLC I/O MODBUS on TCP/IP Gateway Gateway Gateway PLC PLC MODBUS on RS232 MODBUS on RS485 MODBUS on MB+ HMI I/O Drive I/O I/O I/O Device Device

20. Where we are … • Two low-cost P-to-P radios have been bench tested. • Simple Gateway/P-to-P solution was shown to be successful. Meaning: From anywhere in the world where we can access the internet, we can observe/control the DPG conditions. • The selected (as are most) telemetry radios are MODBUS capable to allow for flexibility, interoperability and industry compliance.

21. Where we need to be … • Communication layer utilization by the application layer i.e. ECC to DPG. • Bench level mockup. • Field testing and validation.