Summer semester 2011 – Winter semester 2011/12

The "Internet of Things" concept refers to the networking of any devices in everyday life. Using the latest microelectronics, it is now possible to realise sensors, actuators and power supplies in the smallest of spaces. This results in a wide range of possible applications, from pure entertainment and convenience functions to security systems and automation technology.

In the field of environmental informatics, the aspect of optimising the consumption of appliances with regard to ecological and economic criteria is interesting. To this end, it is necessary to write intelligent software that can be used to control the individual appliances in a meaningful way. This control can either take place centrally or by means of distributed intelligence on the appliance side in the form of autonomous software agents.

The scenario of an electrically self-sufficient house will serve as a framework for the project group. This is a household equipped with local energy generation systems such as photovoltaics (PV), wind energy (WEC) and a micro combined heat and power unit (µCHP). Due to the lack of options for efficiently storing electrical energy, the aim is now to coordinate the consumers based on feed-in forecasts and actual feed-in in such a way that the available energy is utilised as optimally as possible.

The ability of some appliances to shift their electrical load by a certain period of time offers opportunities for this. For example, thermal appliances such as fridges and boilers with water storage tanks are not dependent on consuming energy at exact times. New types of appliances such as programmable washing machines and dishwashers, which allow the latest time at which the work should be completed to be specified, are also suitable for this purpose.

A software system for in-house automation is provided and can be used by the PG if desired. This system makes it possible to communicate with devices via the power line, provided they have the appropriate hardware. Alternatively, the system supports a simulation mode in which the devices are available virtually in the form of software models and are addressed via the same interface as in real mode. This makes it possible to first implement a control system virtually and then, if necessary, convert it into hardware or even carry out a hardware-in-the-loop simulation.

Specific tasks of the PG:

• Extension of a software system for in-house automation to include virtual models of consumers and local generators (the formal models are known and do not have to be developed first), which can be addressed in simulation mode
  
• Realisation of an intelligent coordination process, preferably by means of autonomous software agents in the virtual appliance models
• Implementation of a suitable visualisation in order to be able to use the system as a demonstrator
  

The initial aim of coordination is to optimise the "self-consumption" of the modelled house (i.e. the prioritised consumption of self-generated electricity). In a second step, an externally specified target load curve (e.g. from an energy supply company) could serve as the optimisation target. For this purpose, feed-in forecasts from local producers and, if necessary, consumption forecasts from consumers must be considered in order to shift the use of certain appliances based on this information.

Marketplace processes or other self-organisation processes could be used as coordination mechanisms, for example.

The results of the project group should be able to be used as a demonstrator at trade fairs using the visualisation to be developed. A presentation at EnviroInfo or similar may be possible. Participation in the Students Prize competition, which last year was honoured with €300, €600 and €1200 in prize money, is also a regular option. The first prize has already been awarded once to a PG from our department, maybe you can do the same!

Following the project group, there is also the opportunity to write a thesis on this or a similarly interesting topic in our department.

One of the social events is definitely the traditional Environmental Informatics barbecue in the summer.