About the Presentation

A network that distributes power generated by Renewable Energy Supplies (RESs) will require a "smart box" in each home in the network to meter power and to connect to and communicate with other elements of the network. These smart boxes will also have to function as control devices to ensure safe and reliable operation of the grid. Use of systems engineering tools such as stakeholder analysis and axiomatic design and STAMP (Systems Theoretic Accident Model and Processes) was effective for development of initial customer attributes and associated functional requirements, design parameters, and process variables, respectively. Inclusion of system-level safety analysis such as STPA in conjunction with the aforementioned systems engineering tools in the conceptual design phase is highly effective in capturing key functional requirements early in the design and development of complex socio-technical systems.

About the Speaker

Jonathan Hickey is a Commander in the United States Coast Guard (USCG). He holds a bachelors degree in civil engineering from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, a masters in civil engineering from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, a masters in project management from George Washington University, and recently completed his masters in engineering and management from MIT's System Design and Management Program.

About the Series

The MIT System Design and Management Program Systems Thinking Webinar Series features research conducted by SDM faculty, alumni, students, and industry partners. The series is designed to disseminate information on how to employ systems thinking to address engineering, management, and socio-political components of complex challenges.