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TSU Leads Collaborative Research to Enhance Microgrid Resilience with March 2020 Tornado Simulation

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (TSU News Service) – On May 30, Tennessee State University partnered with local and federal organizations to conduct a virtual simulation of the March 2020 Nashville tornado. This initiative aims to enhance the resilience of Nashville’s infrastructure through innovative microgrid systems and self-contained electrical networks designed to safeguard critical services during extreme weather events.

Dr. Saleh Zein-Sabatto, Professor and Chair of the Department of Electrical Engineering and TSU’s lead on the research, discusses the project to a cross section of community, city and utility representatives. (TSU Public Relations)

The collaboration involves TSU, the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), L&T, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), Nashville Electric Service (NES), and the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County. This simulation is part of the ARCHER (Accelerating Resilience of the Community through Holistic Engagement and use of Renewables) project led by EPRI, which assesses how microgrid systems can better protect vital services in the wake of disasters.

“Here at TSU, we are committed to bridging research with community needs,” said Dr. Saleh Zein-Sabatto, professor and chair of the Department of Electrical Engineering at TSU. “Through the ARCHER initiative, we are not only advancing technology but also empowering neighborhoods to build resilience against climate-induced disasters.”

Jared Green, Principal Technical Leader of Distribution Operations and Planning at EPRI, explains aspects of the simulation. (Photo by Aaron Grayson)

As part of the ARCHER project, TSU established a Community Resilience Advisory Board (CRAB) composed of influential leaders in the North Nashville community. The board gathered insights on which community assets should be prioritized for energy resilience, infrastructure hardening, and power restoration following outages. This inclusive approach ensured that community feedback was integral to the simulation model.

“Integrating distributed energy resources like microgrids and solar power is vital for enhancing the reliability and resilience of our grid,” said Tony Richman, engineering manager for grid transformation at NES. “Projects like ARCHER that engage our customers help us prepare for unexpected disruptions while strengthening relationships in the communities we serve.”

Engineers and other researchers observe the simulation in one of the many labs set up for the project in the College of Engineering. (Photo by Aaron Grayson)

Georgia Caruthers, senior project manager at TVA, emphasized, “We are proud to collaborate with TSU and others on the ARCHER project, as it underscores TVA’s mission to continuously enhance the resilience of the systems serving our 10 million customers—especially during severe weather.”

The demonstration showcased the power of combining community engagement with cutting-edge utility planning to bolster resilience strategies. As communities face intricate social, economic, and environmental challenges, the ARCHER project sets a new standard for preparedness against extreme weather.

Key partners and community members receive updates during a briefing prior to the simulation. (Photo by Aaron Grayson)

“This collaboration between Tennessee State University, Nashville Electric Service, and the larger community underscores TSU’s vital role in ensuring the safety and well-being of the neighborhoods surrounding the university,” said State Rep. Harold Love, a TSU alum and staunch supporter. “If a power outage occurs, this initiative will help us prioritize which areas need to be restored first. It exemplifies how TSU is not only committed to educating students but also to safeguarding and valuing the community around it.”

Durgesh Manjure, vice president of Integrated Grid and Energy Systems at EPRI, noted, “Building robust relationships between communities and utilities is essential for driving transformative change. By merging advanced modeling with grassroots insights, we’re charting a course for energy resilience accessible to all.”

Dr. Zein-Sabatto explains the importance of the project to a local news reporter. (TSU Public Relations)

Arindam Maitra, L&T vice president of Power System Innovation, added, “The interactive dashboards developed through the ARCHER project, utilizing the proven L&T-Spark™ platform, provide a cohesive solution for integrating utility and community data, thus enabling enhanced decision-making for utility operators.”

The March 2020 tornado caused significant destruction in North Nashville, which is home to TSU, leading to extended power outages for many residents. The outcomes of this initiative will help Nashville’s residents and businesses better prepare for future natural disasters.

“The research being conducted at TSU has the potential for significant change in Nashville and beyond, shaping our strategies to mitigate disruptions from climate-related events,” said Kendra Abkowitz, senior director of Sustainability and Resilience from the Mayor’s Office. “This collaborative approach ensures that our community will emerge stronger and more resilient against future challenges.”

With the frameworks and methodologies developed through ARCHER, Nashville and other communities across the nation will have a proven blueprint for achieving energy security and resilience in an era of escalating climate events.

For more information on the TSU College of Engineering, visit www.tnstate.edu/engineering/

About Tennessee State University 
Founded in 1912, Tennessee State University is Nashville’s only public university and is a premier, historically black university and land-grant institution offering 41 bachelor’s degrees, 15 graduate certificates, 27 master’s degrees, and nine doctoral degrees. TSU is a comprehensive research-intensive institution with an R-2 Carnegie designation, with a downtown Avon Williams Off-Campus Instructional Site and the Otis Floyd Nursery Research Center in McMinnville, Tennessee. With a commitment to excellence, Tennessee State University provides students with a quality education in a nurturing and innovative environment that prepares them as alumni to be global leaders in every facet of society. Visit TSU at tnstate.edu. 

EVENTS, FACULTY, NEWS

TSU Engineering Students Take Part in Annual Air Force Design Competition

AFRLChallenge
A team of engineering students from Tennessee State University representing the fields of mechanical design, electrical and computer engineering, and computer science joined 15 other universities and three service academies at Arnold Air Force Base recently for the annual Air Force Research Laboratory Collegiate and Service Academy Engineering Design Competition. This year’s challenge centered on a problem routinely faced by Air Force pararescuemen and other military units — lifting up of heavy armored vehicles to rescue fellow soldiers pinned or trapped inside, similar to the vehicle pictured. (courtesy photo)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (TSU News Service) – A team of engineering students from Tennessee State University joined 15 other universities and three service academies at Arnold Air Force Base recently to find a solution to a problem routinely encountered by members of the military…designing a portable one-man heavy lifting device capable of lifting 45,000 pounds.

The teams came together April 14-17 at Arnold Engineering Development Complex in middle Tennessee for the annual Air Force Research Laboratory Collegiate and Service Academy Engineering Design Competition. TSU fielded a 12-person team and joined forces with Prairie View A&M University. Students represented the fields of mechanical design, electrical and computer engineering, and computer science.

Now in its third year, the competition revolves around a single engineering challenge aimed at fostering innovative and creative solutions. This year’s challenge centered on a problem routinely faced by U.S. Air Force pararescuemen and other military units. The weight of armored vehicles and frequent encounters with improvised explosive devices or damage from combat operations occasionally require these up-armored vehicles be lifted to rescue fellow soldiers pinned or trapped inside. These heavy lift devices are also routinely used in rescue operations of collapsed structures or downed aircraft.

The challenge this year was to design a lifting device that was portable, lightweight, and could lift a structure, aircraft or armored vehicles at least 24 inches high that would effectively lift a 45,000-pound vehicle sufficient to retrieve trapped personnel.

“The current constraint is the inability to make kits available in small enough volume and weight factor,” said Dr. Fenghui Yao, professor of Computer Science and the team’s leader. “A successful rescue is a controlled operation that is immediately deployed to prevent crushing or further damage to equipment and personnel. Our mindset was to ‘lift an inch, shore an inch’ for stability of lifting the heavy load.”

Devon Parker, a senior Air Force mechanical engineer at AEDC, was the host and manager for the national competition on behalf of the Air Force Research Laboratory. In addition to managing the competition, he provided regular feedback to the design teams throughout the academic year during design reviews. While this was designed principally to ensure the teams fully understood the problem, it also allowed him to ensure the trial phase conducted at AEDC could safely accommodate all of the various design entries during demonstration.

“The challenge was a 40,000-pound bulldozer resting on an deep incline deep within the Tennessee Guard Volunteer Training Site,” said Parker. “The competition and the teams were supported by a number of experienced Air Force pararescuemen from around the country – who performed work under the load for the student teams, as instructed by the respective student team leader.”

The team from Tennessee State University developed and designed two solutions to the problem. According to Yao, the first solution was entered and competition along with the solution provided by the Prairie View students. Both were able to execute the required lifting task successfully.

Ultimately, the team from Auburn University delivered a design solution that met the objective while also achieving significant progress in many of the additional design constraints. Their solution consisted of a mixed air bag system, built of Kevlar and Vectran in their own laboratory.

Regardless of their performance on the field trial, there were portions of each entry that offered further opportunity for creative development. There were mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, and hybrid solutions developed and demonstrated, said Parker.

“Engineering designs and team creativity were all put to the test,” he said. “Regardless of individual results, every team came away with a more profound understanding of why it is essential that engineers leave their office desks and get their hands dirty when working on a problem.”

Even though the joint TSU/Prairie View A&M team did not win the competition, it provided valuable design experience for the students.

“It is this type of first-hand experience that enables engineers to fully comprehend the scope of any problem,” said Yao. “It allows them to work more effectively as part of any product development or problem solving team.”

Dr. Landon Onyebueke, professor of Mechanical Engineering; and Dr. Saleh Zein-Sabatto, professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, assisted Yao and the Challenge team.

 

 

 

Department of Media Relations
Tennessee State University
3500 John Merritt Boulevard
Nashville, Tennessee 37209
615.963.5331

 

About Tennessee State University

With nearly 9,000 students, Tennessee State University is Nashville’s only public university, and is a comprehensive, urban, co-educational, land-grant university offering 38 undergraduate, 22 graduate and seven doctoral programs. TSU has earned a top 20 ranking for Historically Black Colleges and Universities according to U.S. News and World Report, and rated as one of the top universities in the country by Washington Monthly for social mobility, research and community service. Founded in 1912, Tennessee State University celebrated 100 years in Nashville during 2012. Visit the University online at tnstate.edu.

NEWS

TSU Trained Engineer Helps NASA Troubleshoot Computer on Malfunctioned Spacesuit

Ron Cobbs, International Space Station Avionics Chief Engineer and TSU graduate, helped NASA engineers identify the cause of a serial interface issue with a spacesuit that malfunctioned during a spacewalk on July 16. (courtesy photo)
Ron Cobbs, International Space Station Avionics Chief Engineer and TSU graduate, helped NASA engineers identify the cause of a serial interface issue with a spacesuit that malfunctioned during a spacewalk on July 16. (courtesy photo)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (TSU News Service) – Teamwork does pay even if you are not part of the team. Just be good at what you do.

Ask Ron Cobbs, a NASA avionics chief engineer assigned to the International Space Station operations. His input has helped investigators trying to unravel the cause of a spacesuit malfunction during a recent spacewalk.

“I personally am not part of the official Extravehicular Mobility Unit (space suit) investigation team that is looking into the suit anomaly,” said Cobb, a 1989 TSU graduate with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering. “

However, Cobbs said, since the problem appeared to be electrical, he was asked to “look into” the situation.

“I discovered that the problem was a systems problem relative to operational use of the serial port on the laptop side of the suit,” he added.

As a result, the procedures for the astronauts were rewritten and retested, and subsequently lead to identifying the problem.

“It worked,” Cobbs exclaimed to the excitement of his fellow engineers.

It all started on July 16 when astronaut Luca Parmitano was doing a spacewalk outside the ISS when his suit malfunctioned, cutting short the spacewalk or extravehicular activity. Water used to cool the suit started to leak into his air ventilation system, causing the astronaut’s helmet to start filling with water. Crewmembers sent a short video describing the incident to ground control engineers.

Immediately, a team of investigators, not including Cobbs, was assembled to see what was the cause of the problem with the spacesuit. However, as astronauts and team engineers were having problem downloading the data from the suit for analysis, Cobbs was called in to troubleshoot the problem.

“I am not a mechanical engineer, nor would I have been able to troubleshoot the air recycling/thermal system, but they did call me because of a serial interface issue and I was able to help,” Cobbs said, adding, “The operations group wrote the procedures and the engineers told them how the hardware works, but forgot to tell them that everything works as a system.”

He said, operationally, the laptop Wi-Fi on the spacesuit was active with software loads operating in the background, but “no one asked how they all interact together.”

“It is not enough to know about the design product, but also how it works in the environment, what are the interfaces to the design, and who are the users. All of this is known as the Concept of Operations, which was not appropriately applied in this situation to find the cause of the problem,” Cobbs added.

Cobbs, who also holds a master’s degree in Space Systems Engineering from Stevens Institute of Technology, said to solve the problem, he repeated the steps of the “documented procedure” to see if he could come out with the same “error.”

“I found out that there were some ambiguities that created the problem. The hardest part in the procedures was making sure they were clear so that anyone could understand them. Never assume that they already know,” he added.

“Ronald Cobbs is a true example of an electrical engineering graduate with passion for life-long learning and professional growth,” Dr. Satinderpaul Singh Devgan, professor and head of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, said of his former student.

“I think Ron Cobbs’ achievement at NASA is a great story,” added Dr. S. Keith Hargrove, dean of the College of Engineering.

Cobbs, who graduated TSU with honors, is a member of the Eta Kappa Nu Honor Society. He joined NASA at the Johnson Space Center immediately after graduating TSU. He has moved through the ranks from design engineer, systems engineer to now ISS avionics chief engineer.

Department of Media Relations
Tennessee State University
3500 John A. Merritt Boulevard
Nashville, Tennessee 37209
615.963.5331


About Tennessee State University

With nearly 9,000 students, Tennessee State University is Nashville’s only public university and is a comprehensive, urban, coeducational, land-grant university offering 38 undergraduate, 22 graduate and seven doctoral programs. TSU has earned a top 20 ranking for Historically Black Colleges and Universities according to U.S. News and World Report, and rated as one of the top Universities in the country by Washington Monthly for social mobility, research and community service. Founded in 1912 Tennessee State University celebrates 100 years in Nashville during 2012. Visit the University online at tnstate.edu