Coordination-based optimization framework for engineering systems design considering both individual and cooperative performance objectives

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Today's engineering problems are so complex that they cannot be solved by means of monolithic system approaches. Different systems must cooperate to meet socio-technical challenges. For example, different systems of energy generation, conversion and storage must cooperate to satisfy demands while fostering sustainability and minimizing adverse environmental impact. To date, no quantitative methodology exists in the engineering design literature for systematic optimal design of such configurations of heterogeneous systems. Therefore, the goal of this research program is to develop the necessary theoretical and computational tools for simulation-based analysis, design and optimization of engineering systems that are built and configured to accomplish not only individual but also collective objectives so that they can provide functionalities that neither of the systems is capable of providing by itself. The first 5-year stage of the proposed research will focus on addressing the issues of (1) capturing, understanding and accounting for unexpected or undesired interactions among the interconnected systems, (2) dealing with the time-dependent nature of configurations of cooperating systems and assessing their performance and efficiency, (3) identifying, modeling and quantifying uncertainties related to the varying composition and collective design objectives of interconnected system networks and (4) integrating heterogeneous systems involving multiple disciplines and different space/time scales. Our approach will be based on mathematical programming, coordination methods, graph-based network theory and Bayesian statistics. The successful implementation of this research will result in a foundation necessary for future development of methods for control and life-cycle management of very large-scale system networks to ensure robust and efficient interoperability. From an educational perspective, the research methodology will infuse interdisciplinary collaborative systems thinking into engineering students and practitioners who will learn to formulate and solve complex engineering problems in creative and innovative ways.