CPS: Medium: Honeybee-Inspired Coordination & Control of Distributed Energy Resources for Resilient Electric Grids at the Distribution Level
Sponsored by U.S. Department of Energy (2025 – 2028)
Project Description
This project takes inspiration from trophallaxis—the way honeybees share food—to design bio-inspired cyber-physical systems where resources like EVs, heat pumps, batteries, and water heaters can dynamically exchange energy. By applying principles from collective insect behavior, we aim to develop new mathematical models, bio-inspired control strategies, and real-world demonstrations that can make our grids more efficient, adaptive, and resilient.
Project Team
Pennsylvania State University
Wangda Zuo, Ph.D.
PI - Professor at Department of Architectural Engineering, Penn State University, United States
Juan Diego Flores Garcia
Department of Architectural Engineering, Penn State University, United States
Tahiya Hossain
Department of Architectural Engineering, Penn State University, United States
University of Colorado – Boulder
Kyri Baker, Ph.D.
PI - Assistant Professor at Department of Architectural Engineering, University of Colorado – Boulder, United States
Orit Peleg, Ph.D.
Co-PI - Associate Professor at Department of Computer Science, University of Colorado – Boulder, United States
University of Vermont
Katy Hinkelman, Ph.D.
PI - Assistant Professor at Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Vermont
Malihe Davari
Ph.D. student at Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Vermont
EVoke Systems
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Di Wu, Chief research engineer, Ph.D.
Optimization and Control group at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Press Release
- Bee-Inspired Research Featured 2025 Penn State News
- National Science Foundation 2025 Award Announcement