Machfu Inc. — Department of Energy SBIR Phase II: 08a

Description

In grid modernization efforts it is necessary to leverage the extensive investments in existing/legacy infrastructure, extending its life, while allowing for a graceful transition to new and more efficient technologies to support the continued demands on the infrastructure and security.The goal of the Phase IIB effort is to allow legacy devices in IEC 60870 and IEC 61850 frameworks to enhance the utility of the Machfu platform in modernizing substation automation.For example, to allow a legacy DNP3 device to seamlessly and securely integrate and participate in IEC 60870 and IEC 61850 infrastructures, while insulating it at the application layer from access attempts or use cases that are not explicitly allowed by the application.This goal can be achieved by adopting a technology infrastructure that can embrace older and legacy equipment/protocols in a secure manner and firewalling them from directly participating in newer network and protocol connectivity while allowing participation in a controlled and customizable way.Further, it is necessary to do this at the application layer, with edge intelligence and protocol aware brokering, and by leveraging into the implementation the domain expertise of those who maintain and operate the grid.Machfu has developed a platform that can bridge the gap between information and operations technology, supporting both legacy and new protocols and infrastructures, and is positioned to be accessible to domain experts to quickly and efficiently define application logic, and deploy the technologies in a scalable way.During Phase 1/2 SBIR efforts Machfu has developed software tools and workflows that enable domain experts and Utilities to easily implement applications on Machfu's customized Android platform.These tools allow OEMs and Utilities to structure an application, leveraging an underlying event-driven abstract data model, and bind that application via the event-driven paradigm to underlying protocols.Thus, the expert can implement and customize behaviors using protocols such as DNP3 and Modbus, for example to achieve fully-customizable protocol brokering, data point translation, cloud interfaces, and further edge intelligence capabilities such as localized analytics, local storage, and even participating in field area networks.A legacy DNP3 device, for example, can then participate in a fully controlled and customized way via a rapid and purpose-built application to both legacy and modernized infrastructures.In taking this capability forward we have received positive feedback from S&C Electric and Eaton Corporation regarding the overall architecture and approach, and the suitability for utilizing the tools to customize a Machfu gateway application to solve system integration issues.The SBIR Phase IIB funding will lead to commercialization of the product developed in Phase II and extend the work beyond field devices or IEDs in distribution systems to substation automation and building energy management.The Phase IIb funding will allow for a full suite of connectivity and applications for an efficient and secure grid.It enables devices ‘outside the fence’ speaking DNP protocol to participate in decision and control with devices ‘inside the fence’ speaking IEC protocols to optimize the operation of the grid.