A Concurrent Testing Facility Approach to Validate Small Satellite Combined Operations

Federated remote laboratories allow for the execution of experiments ex situ. The coordination of several laboratories can be used to perform concurrent experiments of combined space operations. However, the latency of the communications between facilities is critical to performing adequate real-time experiments. This paper presents an approach for conducting coordinated experiments between floating platforms at two remote laboratories. Two independently designed platforms, one at Luleå University of Technology and the other at La Sapienza University of Rome, were established for this purpose. A synchronization method based on the Simple Network Time Protocol was created, allowing the offset and delay between the agents to be measured.Both platforms exchange data about their measured time and pose through a UDP/IP protocol over the internet. This approach was validated with the execution of simulated operations. A first demonstrative experiment was also performed showing the possibility to realize leader/follower coordinated operations. The results of the simulations and experiments showed communication delays on the order of tens of milliseconds with no significant impact on the control performance. Consequently, the suggested protocol was proven to be adequate for conducting coordinated experiments in real time between remote laboratories.

First measurement service applied to event dating for reliable business transactions: metrology for digital transformation using Colombian legal time.

Diffusing the legal time in Colombia is one missional assessment of INM (National Metrology Institute of Colombia). This is done via a public IP through an NTP server (Network Time Protocol Server) disciplined to the National Standard of Time and Frequency. So, the companies can synchronize their servers, but they do not have certainty about the difference that exists between the time of the client-server and the legal time of the INM server because there is not a constant verification implemented by themselves. In Colombia, the demand for the legal time service has increased because it is used by many companies due to the rise of innovative applications such as time-stamp, digital signature, electronic invoice, and economic transactions. This has an impact on the economic environment of a country for world trade. For this reason, the INM of Colombia implemented a new service to measure the synchronization offset with the legal time, which allows the companies to have a new service that generates reliability respecting the time they use to provide their services. Inspired by the INM contribution to the international comparison Universal Time Coordinated (UTC) and the intercomparison of the National Standards of Time and Frequency implemented through the SIM time scale (SIMT) using GPS (Global Positioning System), the INM developed a customized application for national comparison using NTP. As a result, this is the first remote measurement service as evidence of metrology for digital transformation in Colombia in the field of time and frequency.

Monitoring of Energy Data with Seamless Temporal Accuracy Based on the Time-Sensitive Networking Standard and Enhanced μPMUs

In the energy sector, distributed synchronism and a high degree of stability are necessary for all real-time monitoring and control systems. Instantaneous response to critical situations is essential for the integration of renewable energies. The most widely used standards for clock synchronisation, such as Network Time Protocol (NTP) and Precision Time Protocol (PTP), do not allow for achieving synchronised simultaneous sampling in distributed systems. In this work, a novel distributed synchronism system based on the Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) standard has been validated for its integration in an architecture oriented towards the high-resolution digitisation of photovoltaic (PV) generation systems. This method guarantees a time stamping with an optimal resolution that allows for the analysis of the influence of fast-evolving atmospheric fluctuations in several plants located in the same geographical area. This paper proposes an enhanced micro-phasor measurement unit (μPMU) that acts as a phasor meter and TSN master controlling the monitoring system synchronism. With this technique, the synchronism would be extended to the remaining measurement systems that would be involved in the installation at distances greater than 100 m. Several analyses were carried out with an on-line topology of four acquisition systems capturing simultaneously. The influence of the Ethernet network and the transducers involved in the acquisition process were studied. Tests were performed with Ethernet cable lengths of 2, 10, 50, and 75 m. The results were validated with 24-bit Sigma-Delta converters and high-precision resistor networks specialised in high-voltage monitoring. It was observed that with an appropriate choice of sensors and TSN synchronism, phase errors of less than ±1μs can be guaranteed by performing distributed captures up to 50 kS/s. Statistical analysis showed that uncertainties of less than ±100 ns were achieved with 16-bit Successive Approximation Register (SAR) converters at a moderate cost. Finally, the requirements of the IEEE C37.118.1-2011 standard for phasor measurement units (PMU) were also satisfied. This standard establishes an uncertainty of ±3.1 μs for 50 Hz systems. These results demonstrate the feasibility of implementing a simultaneous sampling system for distributed acquisition systems coordinated by a μPMU.

A Low-Cost IoT System for Real-Time Monitoring of Climatic Variables and Photovoltaic Generation for Smart Grid Application

Monitoring and data acquisition are essential to recognize the renewable resources available on-site, evaluate electrical conversion efficiency, detect failures, and optimize electrical production. Commercial monitoring systems for the photovoltaic system are generally expensive and closed for modifications. This work proposes a low-cost real-time internet of things system for micro and mini photovoltaic generation systems that can monitor continuous voltage, continuous current, alternating power, and seven meteorological variables. The proposed system measures all relevant meteorological variables and directly acquires photovoltaic generation data from the plant (not from the inverter). The system is implemented using open software, connects to the internet without cables, stores data locally and in the cloud, and uses the network time protocol to synchronize the devices’ clocks. To the best of our knowledge, no work reported in the literature presents these features altogether. Furthermore, experiments carried out with the proposed system showed good effectiveness and reliability. This system enables fog and cloud computing in a photovoltaic system, creating a time series measurements data set, enabling the future use of machine learning to create smart photovoltaic systems.

Security Vulnerability Assessment of Google Home Connection with an Internet of Things Device

With virtual assistants, both changes and serious conveniences are provided in human life. For this reason, the use of virtual assistants is increasing. The virtual assistant software has started to be produced as separate devices as well as working on phones, tablets, and computer systems. Google Home is one of these devices. Google Home can work integrated with smart home systems and various Internet of Things devices. The security of these systems is an important issue. As a result of attackers taking over these systems, very serious problems may occur. It is very important to take the necessary actions to detect these problems and to take the necessary measures to prevent possible attacks. The purpose of this study is to test whether an attack that attackers can make to these systems via network time protocol will be successful or not. Accordingly, it has been tried to attack the wireless connection established between Google Home and an Internet of Things device over the network time protocol. Attack results have been shared.