Modeling and simulating communications of Multiagent Systems in Smart Grid

Multiagent Systems (MAS) are used extensively in Smart Grid research as a means of developing distributed control systems comprised of a network of communicating units. Many previous works have made implicit or explicit assumptions that lead to simplified modeling and simulation of the underlying communication systems. While these assumptions are valid under some cases, they may not hold true when system size and complexity scale up exponentially, which can be anticipated given the rapid development of smart grid technologies. In this paper, we present a more comprehensive modeling and simulation approach that accounts for the MAS related protocols as described in the FIPA (Foundation for Intelligent Physical Agents) specification; together with a co-simulation platform for the investigation of multi-disciplinary interdependencies between MAS, communication, and electrical systems. To show the benefits of comprehensive modeling and simulation, we demonstrate how different network configurations affect system performance in a Fault Location, Isolation and Service Restoration (FLISR) scenario.