Variational integrators

My major research project is about how to numerically solve differential equations of motion of mechanical systems subjected to holonomic constraints and dissipative forces, using variational integrators. Two are the main targets of this research:

• studying numerical properties of variational integrators (conservation of some properties of the system dynamics, numerical stability);
• using discrete time equations for modeling the mechanical system in control applications.

During my first year of PhD I focused on the tippe top system, subjected to a friction force, and I solved its equations using a splitted approach: a variational integrator combined with an exact integrator. In this video you can find a tippe top simulation. This work is carried out under the supervision of Alessandro Saccon, PhD, and prof. Alessandro Beghi.

Modeling energy market

Energy market, which is the place where supply and demand meet, is getting of paramount importance, since market liberalization has expanded the role of the market in electricity sectors. There is no single model for reform, so choices about market structure, liberalization strategies, sequencing of reforms, regulatory regimes, and institutions are critical. Nevertheless, demand response (DR) plays a lead role in renewed markets. Demand response refers to all the mechanisms aimed to manage electricity demand of customers in response to supply conditions. Recent researches point out that energy system benefits with as little as 5% improvement in demand response, since any improvements in demand responsiveness of consumers will lead to increased network security and economic efficiency; but there’s a need of well designed programs providing opportunities, incentives and information for customers. As well as DR made the interactions between supplier and end-user more complex, it becomes necessary a study of the performance of the whole system in terms of environmental impact and global efficiency. Such a study on the electricity market will allow the implementation of some suitable strategies of DR; and that is the point we are proposing to focus on. This activity would be prevailing made up for suppliers, since they are particularly interested in a possible way to control the market actors.

Localization and tracking in WSN

During last year of my Undergraduate career, I addressed the problem of localizing and tracking mobile nodes associated to operators acting in a fixed wireless sensor network (WSN) using only RF information. In particular, my colleagues and I developed a strategy that is well suited in low sensor density environments, is real-time working and allows to monitor the positions of the target objects from an external coordination center.